Your first point is substantially caused by the issues about sexuality that you highlighted. Sex can reasonably be explained a “special hug” to a two-year-old. But I’m not prepared to give truthful, coherent, useful answers to any followup questions, so I’m ready to say “ask when you’re older.” I think a young child can understand that their understanding of the world will increase over time. I agree that negative incentives for curiosity is not good child-raising, but that doesn’t mean a parent is required to answer every question.
I also think you underestimate the parents’ unwillingness to say “I don’t know.” That answer shows a lack of curiosity. Since curiosity is mostly a virtue, revealing lack of curiosity to a child is drawing back the veil of omniscience and perfection of the parents. Retaining that veil is useful for controlling the child. Many parents lack the capacity to develop a more sophisticated system for controlling their child, so they stick with what works even though it should be obvious that it could stunt their child’s intellectual growth.
Your first point is substantially caused by the issues about sexuality that you highlighted. Sex can reasonably be explained a “special hug” to a two-year-old. But I’m not prepared to give truthful, coherent, useful answers to any followup questions, so I’m ready to say “ask when you’re older.” I think a young child can understand that their understanding of the world will increase over time. I agree that negative incentives for curiosity is not good child-raising, but that doesn’t mean a parent is required to answer every question.
I also think you underestimate the parents’ unwillingness to say “I don’t know.” That answer shows a lack of curiosity. Since curiosity is mostly a virtue, revealing lack of curiosity to a child is drawing back the veil of omniscience and perfection of the parents. Retaining that veil is useful for controlling the child. Many parents lack the capacity to develop a more sophisticated system for controlling their child, so they stick with what works even though it should be obvious that it could stunt their child’s intellectual growth.