Think of the children facts for kids

"Think of the children" (also "What about the children?") is a phrase people use in arguments. It can be used to talk about children's rights, like making sure kids are safe from child labor. But often, people use it to make others feel emotional. They hope that by making you think about children, you will agree with them, even if their argument isn't logical.

Experts say this phrase often makes people use their feelings instead of facts when arguing. In 2005, a writer named Jack Marshall said the phrase is popular because it can stop people from thinking clearly, especially when they are talking about what is right or wrong.

People who wanted to control what others could see or read, called censorship supporters, sometimes used this phrase. They said they were protecting children from things they believed were harmful. A book from 2009 said that treating children as just innocent babies needing protection was a way of focusing too much on the idea of being pure. An article in 2011 suggested that "Think of the children" came from people trying too hard to tell others what to do and decide what is right and wrong.

How the Phrase is Used

In Movies and TV Shows

The phrase "Think of the children" has appeared in many popular movies and TV shows. It helps show how characters try to convince others by appealing to their emotions.

Mary Poppins (1964)

In the 1964 Walt Disney Pictures film Mary Poppins, Mrs. Banks uses this phrase. She begs her nanny not to leave, saying, "Think of the children!" This shows how she tries to make the nanny feel guilty and stay.

Images for kids

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  David X. Cohen wrote the 1996 Simpsons episode "Much Apu About Nothing", where Helen Lovejoy begs her listeners to "think of the children".

See also

In Spanish: Piensa en los niños para niños