Children are essentially walking subconscious mind:
Until about 2 years old, they operate in delta brain waves (0.5-4 Hz) which are present in the adult brain during deep sleep. From 2 to 7 years, they transition to theta brain waves (4-8 Hz) which are linked to the subconscious mind, dreaming, light sleep or meditation. This means that they operate at a level below consciousness.

From 7 years, alpha waves (8-12 Hz) which are linked to the drowsiness, calmness between being awake and asleep in grown-ups start to appear. After around 12 years old, they shift to beta waves, the normal and dominant rhythm of adults.

What this means: Until about 7 or 8, Kids soak up info like sponges. Unlike adults, they can’t (yet) analyze, question or judge it, so they take everything as true and it goes straight into their subconscious without being examined.

From birth to about age eight, they build a collection of ideas and identities that become their life script, shaping their beliefs about themselves.
By age eight, 80% of the beliefs are formed that become habitual and define their reality.
This explains why many of our issues, patterns, behaviors, and beliefs stem from childhood, both positive and negative.

Children are wide open, highly impressionable, and sensitive beings. They have no barriers, no discriminating thinking, and defense mechanisms. We must behave, model, speak, and treat them with this understanding.

Children are beings in their own right. They are deserving of dignity, respect and benevolence.