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Sign at NASA facility, site of a recent Four Hour Expedition.
Awhile back, I read that one simple tool that helps children increase working vocabulary, improve language fluency, combat shyness and even develop speaking skills is…letting them finish their sentences!
As my DS was a late talker (probably because I interpreted and talked for him) I took this rule to heart and will wait excruciatingly long periods of time for him to search for just the right word to complete his sentences. Recently I’ve noticed that this is atypical behavior.
The Hamster, now 5, is a fluent and somewhat excessive talker. Out in the world with him, I’m surprised at how many adults, even those with children, who I regret to say, I judge a wee bit more harshly, will finish my child’s sentences. I’m sure, since I am considered a bit hyper, I did the same pre-children.
Not surprisingly, there is some research that confirms my niggling suspicion that, this has less to do with lack of respect for children or any intention to offend and more to do with expectations.
Not surprisingly, people think faster than they speak. With limited vocabulary and experience in talking, children often take longer…often take a LOT longer… than adults to find the right word.
Most children take 3 to 5 seconds to respond. Adults usually give … children .5 or 1 second to respond.
In other words, children respond to us 3 – 10 times slower than adults typically do! As one might expect, the more time spent around adults, the more accustomed to this response time we become.So...we interrupt and complete sentences for those who do not meet the anticipated response time...in other words, most kids!
If you’ve ever tried to learn a second language, as I have, you know fluency comes from practice, not reading and writing. It is, of course the same in learning a first language. As annoying as it can be to wait, parents presumably can increase their children's language fluency by doing so. The down side of course, is that they might come up with a logical argument in response to, "because I said so..."
Be that as it may, not interrupting my DS, not only improves his speaking skills but, also models good listening skills. And since, in my opinion, there are far too many talkers and not enough listeners in the world, that’s not a bad thing. Not interrupting is just a start. Maybe I’ll become a better listener along the way too!
For more great Works for me Wednesday ideas visit Rocks in My Dryer
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Welcome news for parents concerned about kids and the media.
Like many who live in the greater Los Angeles area, I am aware of but normally do not attend entertainment industry award ceremonies, of which there are many. Given my stance (or sometimes rants ) about television shows and films, it is not surprising that I am not often invited. Saturday night I was - to the 2007 CAMIE Awards.
Awhile back, I wrote about the insidious ratings creep
in film, TV and toys that results in much more sexually explicit and violent themes being targeted to ever younger consumers. This, in general seems to slide under the radar of most parents who struggle to recall exactly when they were allowed to watch an R rated movie. The fact that what was R rated in 1980 is often now PG rated falls well under the radar.
Fortunately ever more parents are vocally tackling this issue and Hollywood luminaries have stepped up to support their efforts. If not exactly highly attended and a bit disorganized, The 2007 CAMIE awards ceremony was star-studded and presented in true Hollywood style.
CAMIE stands for “Character And Morality In Entertainment”. Started by a retired pediatrician, Dr. Glen C. Griffin, advisors include politicians, religious leaders from a variety of faiths, and entertainment industry types. Awards are given to films, theatrical and made-for-TV that are uplifting and entertaining - that just about anyone can enjoy without being offended, or as one recipient put it, “ I can enjoy with my ten-year-old son on one side and my mother on the other without being nervous”.
Not all of these films would I show to my 5-year-old, which to me was surprising. The CAMIE’s reward rather mainstream and some PG rated films. This year’s winners included, among others: Charlotte’s Web and Disney's Eight Below .
On balance, considering the CAMIEs focus on films appropriate for children, not specifically 5-year-olds, I was pleased with the choices and happy that consideration was given to more than just G-rated films appropriate for preschoolers. While my DS doesn’t watch TV, he does view an occasional movie and will perhaps view more as he gets a bit older.
The CAMIE organization does more than just sponsor an award ceremony each year. Their web site, Moviepicks.org, continuously updated, is a great resource and gives parents a variety of movies from which to choose, all of which meet the criteria of no gratuitous violence language or sex. Parents still need to evaluate whether each film is appropriate for their children, considering both age and maturity but, at least we have a much better place to start.
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Wake up
Read a story or play quietly together (inhale)
Eat breakfast (more inhale – we’re a little slow in the morning)
Work in the garden (exhale)
Get dressed (inhale)
Out the door for a scheduled activity or to play outside (exhale)
Lunch (inhale)
More outside play or activity (exhale)
Quiet time – read a story or listen to a story CD (inhale)
Scheduled creative “make something” play, indoors or out (exhale or exhale depending )
Dinner (inhale)
Story time and bed (more inhale to wind down)
Sometimes a post is serendipitously confirmed by a news article.
Yesterday, over at gnmparents I wrote a post concerning parents’ awareness of the “No TV under Two Guidelines” put out by The American Academy of Pediatrics. Today, an article in the NY Times confirms that 40% of 3-month-olds and over 90% of 2-year-olds watch television REGULARLY. A fifth of two-year-olds and over 40% of 3-4 year-olds have televisions in their rooms. All this despite the clear guidelines set down by The American Academy of Pediatrics.
Until more research is done about the effects of TV on very young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television for children age 2 or younger. http://www.aap.org/family/tv1.htm
One of the reasons that I am so interested in Waldorf education is their emphasis on preserving childhood. Usually unknowingly, parents today expose their children, at an early age, to ideas and concepts well beyond their understanding. Driven by the relentless marketing of entertainment properties, more suitable for older children, our preschoolers and toddlers happily play violent or inappropriate games far earlier than we did as children.
In our eagerness for our children to enjoy the games and stories that entertained us as children, we introduce many ideas too early. Part of that, of course is that we often have few memories of exactly WHAT we did prior to age 5.
I too am guilty of this. I find if I am not vigilant with myself, I buy books, introduce subjects or visit places that, had I given it extra thought, I would not have. Limiting media and avoiding mass market retailers isn’t enough. I need to monitor myself. This is perhaps one of the hardest challenges I face. Classical literature, umm..too violent…modern children’s literature…too disrespectful….action figures/dolls…unrealistic body image. Sigh.
What’s a parent to do. Limiting media is a start. Previewing books, movies and toys prior to purchasing or presenting them to the intended recipient helps. Supervising play dates, not believing the “recommended age” labels and shunning popular kid venues, computer games and CDs makes a difference.
In the end, it’s all about shifting focus. This generation of parents spends more time and effort on ensuring their children are academically prepared for life. Perhaps a shift to ensure they are more emotionally prepared is in order. Same time, different focus.
The time has come. The moment is here. The final hurdle has been crossed
My very mainstream sister has cut back on sweets in her household and started purchasing organic food!!!
It seems everyone if buying organic these days. And now that major food manufacturers have introduced a slew of organic products, not only those of us who have been buying organic for years but, the whole world of consumers now faces the big organic dilemma –
How can I pay for this stuff?
Face it, organic food is expensive! Kudos to those of you who can afford it, or choose to forgo other accoutrements of 21st century life to do so. Most of us, I think dither and dally and try to justify not buying everything organic and hope we are not putting our lives and the lives of our tiny offspring in danger.
So how does one decide to allocate the meager grocery money each week? Every so often I hunt around for a list of the most important products to buy organic. My doctor friend tells me, “buy fresh food organic – don’t worry so much about processed food”. My crunchy friends tell me, “buy everything organic, and just eat less of those things that are expensive.”
Both of these work for me. In a nutshell, here’s what the experts advise – Buy organic:
Those (foods) that are commonly heavily treated, such as strawberries and animals;
Those (foods) where you consume the parts that are sprayed, as in leafy greens or broccoli;
Those (foods) that you consume frequently, whereby you'll get higher accumulated exposure over time, as in apples or bananas. http://www.elsonhaas.com/articles/article_02.html
The top 13 items to buy organic from a variety of sources are:
1. Baby Food.
2. Strawberries.
3. Rice and wheat
4. Meat
5. Milk
6. Leafy greens
7. Cruciferous Vegetables (Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, and Cauliflower)
8. Green Beans
9. Peaches
10. Apples
11. Cherries
12. Grapes and raisins
13. Tomatoes, Peppers and
Cucumbers.
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