Your kid wants to go vegan. Should you let them?

Your child, aged 9, has decided to become vegan, much to the surprise of her parents who are not vegetarians. She learned about veganism from her friends at school and seems to have developed this stance independently. The parents are concerned that allowing her to follow this diet may lead to picky eating habits. They worry that she may become uncomfortable when they cook meat for shared meals and prefer to provide her with alternative options.

Despite this, the parents feel that it is important to encourage her ethical choices. To support her, they should consider her current stage of moral development, which is transitioning from "preconventional morality" to "conventional morality" as described by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg. At this age, children begin to take their friends' perspectives and past experiences into account when making moral decisions.

The parents should also remember that parenting is more like gardening than carpentry, as psychologist Alison Gopnik suggests. It is essential to cultivate an environment that allows for growth and learning through personal experiences rather than imposing rigid rules.