Does this ever happen? Does the arrogance we hold over children ever become appreciated once the child is older. Here's what it comes down to. We want kids to understand that with age, comes wisdom, right? So, how do you get the child to understand this and willingly start to give you the benefit of the doubt. I have an idea. Ask the child if they're smarter now than they were last year. Then say that you've been getting smarter for the past X years. Kids are smart. They might make the connection.