From 1952 to 1970, millions of American households tuned in to Art Linkletter’s “House Party” on weekday afternoon.  One segment of each show consisted of Linkletter interviewing children (of whom it is estimated that he interviewed more than 20,000).  The answers offered by the children interviewed – sometimes embarrassing, often funny, and always brutally honest – led to a series of books entitled “Kids Say the Darndest Things.”

 

And so, in the same vein as the answers provided by those children of almost a half century or more ago are the following questions and responses I discovered in my email recently.

 

How do you decide who to marry?

 

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
– Alan, age 10

 

No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
– Kristen, age 10

 

What is the right age to get married?

 

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
– Camille, age 10

 

No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
– Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)

 

How can a stranger tell if two people are married?

 

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. (what logic, future MIT student)
– Derrick, age 8

 

What do you think your mom and dad have in common?

 

Both don’t want any more kids.
– Lori, age 8

 

What do most people do on a date?

 

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
– Lynnette, age 8 (isn’t she a treasure)

 

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
– Martin, age 10 (Who said boys do not have brains)

 

What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?

 

I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
– Craig, age 9

 

When is it okay to kiss someone?

 

When they’re rich.
– Pam, age 7 (I could not have said it better myself)

 

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
– Curt, age 7 (Good Point)

 

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
– Howard, age 8 (Who made the rule?)

 

Is it better to be single or married?

 

It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys.  Boys need someone to clean up after them.
– Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

 

How would the world be different if people didn’t get married?

 

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
– Kelvin, age 8

 

And the #1 Favourite is…

 

How would you make a marriage work?

 

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
– Ricky, age 10 (This boy already understands)