Should you have to pass a test to have kids?
Short & Curly
abcpodcasts@abc.net.au
4.6 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 1 October 2025
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We test for everything: to get a licence, to move to the next grade, to prove you're ready to use a pen. But when it comes to becoming a biological parent, there's no test to pass. Should there be? Would a parenting test be a good idea?
Brains Trust — Gibbs Street Public School, Perth: Fitzroy, Shahla, Jorja, Nafi, Tabitha, Gumaan
Listen to Short & Curly, the fun and educational ABC kids podcast about philosophy and ethics. Join hosts Molly Daniels, Carl Smith, and philosopher Eleanor Gordon-Smith as they explore big questions about right and wrong, fairness, truth, knowledge, logic, beauty and art.
Perfect for tweens aged 8–12, families, and teachers, Short & Curly is one of the best kids shows for curious minds.
- Combines storytelling, philosophy, and comedy
- Perfect for school listening, car trips, or family discussions
- Created by the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), trusted makers of award-winning children's content
Binge this free educational ABC kids podcast series on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts worldwide
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | ABC Listen |
| 0:02.0 | Okay and Carl your next question. |
| 0:07.0 | We know you love fancy silly hats. |
| 0:11.0 | But if you were given a choice between buying food for a baby |
| 0:17.0 | or buying yourself a new hat, which would you choose? |
| 0:23.3 | Um, okay, that's really hard. |
| 0:26.4 | So obviously fancy hats are the coolest, but the guidebook on raising children says |
| 0:31.9 | responsible parents need to ensure they're fed a healthy diet. |
| 0:37.0 | So I ditch the hat. |
| 0:39.8 | That's correct. |
| 0:41.1 | Yes. |
| 0:41.7 | Well done. |
| 0:43.2 | Okay, and the final question for this round. |
| 0:47.3 | You're having a busy day at work, but you get a call from your child's teacher, |
| 0:53.7 | saying they're looking a bit sick today. |
| 0:57.0 | Do you, A, ignore the call so you can get your work done, earning you more money, or B, drop what you're doing to pick them up. |
| 1:07.2 | Oh, that one is super hard because on the one hand, obviously you have to care for them properly, especially if they're sick. |
| 1:15.0 | But you also need money to do that. |
| 1:17.8 | And there are no alternatives? |
| 1:19.5 | Please just pick option A or B. |
| 1:21.9 | Okay. |
| 1:23.7 | I think I'll just have to drop what I'm doing and go care for them and figure the rest out later. |
... |
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