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Reader question: What does “informed decision” mean, as in “Kids can’t make an informed decision”? My comments: Children cannot make an informed decision…. Therefore parents must make decisions for them, is that it? Well, first, definitions. An informed decision is a decision based on information – facts, that is. Say you want to go watch the latest blockbuster movie imported from Hollywood. You go online to check which cinemas have it on show, what times they have it on and whether tickets are available, etc. Then you pick the cinema nearest to where you live and go directly there 20 minutes before show time. That’s an informed decision, a decision based on research – or fact finding. If, on the other hand, you hear the movie is on and do no additional research, you may make a few mistakes and waste your precious time – supposing, of course your time is precious and you don’t have much of it to waste over movies. You may, for instance, run to a cinema only to discover it doesn’t show that particular movie or even if it shows that movie the only tickets available are for five hours later and things like that. This time, your decision is not an informed one, i.e. not one based on fact finding but merely on rudimentary hearsay. OK, let’s return to children being unable to make an informed decision. Being children, they’re too young to know everything. They don’t have a rich pool of knowledge to draw upon when it’s time to make certain decisions. Therefore, for example, children under a certain age are not allowed to board the bus or an airplane without adult guidance. | 
