Kids Totally Know That You're Being Sarcastic
Forget Cricket, maybe you should get your little niece or nephew a subscription to McSweeney’s:
Parents have been warned to choose their words carefully after research indicated that children as young as four can understand irony. While previous studies has suggested that children may not appreciate sarcasm until the age of 10, the latest work shows that many develop a sophisticated knowledge of non-literal language before primary school. The report also found that many young children are confident users of irony — in news that may not come as a shock to parents who have been the butt of withering asides from their angel-faced offspring.
Even more tellingly, 72% of 6-year-olds in the study were correctly able to note that a “black fly in your chardonnay,” while undeniably unpleasant, did not approach any level of irony. The kids get it, man.