Tell an opinion you have that is in the strong minority

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think reading to young kids/babies is ridiculous. They have no idea what's going on as they're chewing and drooling on the book, yet the parents seem to congratulate themselves on how advanced their kid will turn out due to this nightly activity. Equally ridiculous is when baby gift questions come up and people suggest books; I'd like to give a gift that's useable before age 5 -- I'm not sure an infant who sleeps 20 hrs a day is the right audience for Goodnight Moon. I come from one of the higher academic performance cultures (ppl talk about it on here all the time) where reading to a kid is not even a consideration -- the past generations wouldn't even have thought to do it though my peers who were born and raised in the US are into it bc they hear it's SO important from their "American" friends.

Thanks for chiming in, Tiger Mom. Yes, please don't read to your kids before age 5.

I'm a mother and an experienced nanny. Many babies and children respond in amazing, positive ways to the pictures in books and the cadence of reading. My current nanny child istwo and carries books around all day. We read to her as a baby bbecause she adored it and would sleep more easily. She will be reading by 4, but there's no congratulations involved- it's just who she is. Some children don't respond to books at a young age. The idea is to be in tune with the child and follow their lead on thesIe things.

My own daughter was also into books very early, read at 4, and is a bookworm at age 17. I'm glad I didn't withhold books from her, thinking it was silly.

That's great for your nannying child and your own child. I personally don't see the value in it. They don't end up any further ahead than anyone else just bc they were read to; or conversely they don't end up behind due to lack of reading from infancy.

Can'g you just do things with/for your child becuase of pure and simple enjoyment, anymore???!!!!!

Well I don't enjoy reading to a squirming toddler or a sleepy infant, so I wouldn't do it for enjoyment.

My toddlers don't squirm during book time. They sit still, and listen, because they love it. Same with library story times. There's huge value in learning to listen, see, read. It's more of a lifetime gift to children, than some score maker on a test later. Apparently, that's all you value.

[Anonymous]

http://www.unitedwayhaysco.org/importance-early-childhood-readingeducation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think reading to young kids/babies is ridiculous. They have no idea what's going on as they're chewing and drooling on the book, yet the parents seem to congratulate themselves on how advanced their kid will turn out due to this nightly activity. Equally ridiculous is when baby gift questions come up and people suggest books; I'd like to give a gift that's useable before age 5 -- I'm not sure an infant who sleeps 20 hrs a day is the right audience for Goodnight Moon. I come from one of the higher academic performance cultures (ppl talk about it on here all the time) where reading to a kid is not even a consideration -- the past generations wouldn't even have thought to do it though my peers who were born and raised in the US are into it bc they hear it's SO important from their "American" friends.

Thanks for chiming in, Tiger Mom. Yes, please don't read to your kids before age 5.

I'm a mother and an experienced nanny. Many babies and children respond in amazing, positive ways to the pictures in books and the cadence of reading. My current nanny child istwo and carries books around all day. We read to her as a baby bbecause she adored it and would sleep more easily. She will be reading by 4, but there's no congratulations involved- it's just who she is. Some children don't respond to books at a young age. The idea is to be in tune with the child and follow their lead on thesIe things.

My own daughter was also into books very early, read at 4, and is a bookworm at age 17. I'm glad I didn't withhold books from her, thinking it was silly.

That's great for your nannying child and your own child. I personally don't see the value in it. They don't end up any further ahead than anyone else just bc they were read to; or conversely they don't end up behind due to lack of reading from infancy.

Can'g you just do things with/for your child becuase of pure and simple enjoyment, anymore???!!!!!

Well I don't enjoy reading to a squirming toddler or a sleepy infant, so I wouldn't do it for enjoyment.

My toddlers don't squirm during book time. They sit still, and listen, because they love it. Same with library story times. There's huge value in learning to listen, see, read. It's more of a lifetime gift to children, than some score maker on a test later. Apparently, that's all you value.

Yeah that is all I value. At least I admit it. I could care less if they end up with a love for the arts or not, that's not where the money is -- so I wouldn't be encouraging them to go in those directions anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think reading to young kids/babies is ridiculous. They have no idea what's going on as they're chewing and drooling on the book, yet the parents seem to congratulate themselves on how advanced their kid will turn out due to this nightly activity. Equally ridiculous is when baby gift questions come up and people suggest books; I'd like to give a gift that's useable before age 5 -- I'm not sure an infant who sleeps 20 hrs a day is the right audience for Goodnight Moon. I come from one of the higher academic performance cultures (ppl talk about it on here all the time) where reading to a kid is not even a consideration -- the past generations wouldn't even have thought to do it though my peers who were born and raised in the US are into it bc they hear it's SO important from their "American" friends.

Thanks for chiming in, Tiger Mom. Yes, please don't read to your kids before age 5.

I'm a mother and an experienced nanny. Many babies and children respond in amazing, positive ways to the pictures in books and the cadence of reading. My current nanny child istwo and carries books around all day. We read to her as a baby bbecause she adored it and would sleep more easily. She will be reading by 4, but there's no congratulations involved- it's just who she is. Some children don't respond to books at a young age. The idea is to be in tune with the child and follow their lead on thesIe things.

My own daughter was also into books very early, read at 4, and is a bookworm at age 17. I'm glad I didn't withhold books from her, thinking it was silly.

That's great for your nannying child and your own child. I personally don't see the value in it. They don't end up any further ahead than anyone else just bc they were read to; or conversely they don't end up behind due to lack of reading from infancy.

Can'g you just do things with/for your child becuase of pure and simple enjoyment, anymore???!!!!!

Well I don't enjoy reading to a squirming toddler or a sleepy infant, so I wouldn't do it for enjoyment.

My toddlers don't squirm during book time. They sit still, and listen, because they love it. Same with library story times. There's huge value in learning to listen, see, read. It's more of a lifetime gift to children, than some score maker on a test later. Apparently, that's all you value.

Yeah that is all I value. At least I admit it. I could care less if they end up with a love for the arts or not, that's not where the money is -- so I wouldn't be encouraging them to go in those directions anyway.

You COULDN'T"T care less....

[Anonymous]

I love the arts and am not in a creative artistic profession (I'm an attorney). Teaching your children about books, music, art, etc. is about exposing them to things in life that they may enjoy. I believe STEM education is important, but how sad would it be if all society cared about was math and science. I hope to expose my children to all these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the arts and am not in a creative artistic profession (I'm an attorney). Teaching your children about books, music, art, etc. is about exposing them to things in life that they may enjoy. I believe STEM education is important, but how sad would it be if all society cared about was math and science. I hope to expose my children to all these things.

It's more than just enjoying it, it's part of the human experience. Humans were making art since the dawn of time. Imagine a world based only on money. Even science and math would suffer, since art and music are highly mathematical. It's been proven over and over that exposure and training in the arts help children with math and scientific reasoning. Would you be happy in a world with no libraries, artists or musicians, no literary works? Early exposure is the key to a love of these things, and these things are the core to a civilized society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the arts and am not in a creative artistic profession (I'm an attorney). Teaching your children about books, music, art, etc. is about exposing them to things in life that they may enjoy. I believe STEM education is important, but how sad would it be if all society cared about was math and science. I hope to expose my children to all these things.

It's more than just enjoying it, it's part of the human experience. Humans were making art since the dawn of time. Imagine a world based only on money. Even science and math would suffer, since art and music are highly mathematical. It's been proven over and over that exposure and training in the arts help children with math and scientific reasoning. Would you be happy in a world with no libraries, artists or musicians, no literary works? Early exposure is the key to a love of these things, and these things are the core to a civilized society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the arts and am not in a creative artistic profession (I'm an attorney). Teaching your children about books, music, art, etc. is about exposing them to things in life that they may enjoy. I believe STEM education is important, but how sad would it be if all society cared about was math and science. I hope to expose my children to all these things.

It's more than just enjoying it, it's part of the human experience. Humans were making art since the dawn of time. Imagine a world based only on money. Even science and math would suffer, since art and music are highly mathematical. It's been proven over and over that exposure and training in the arts help children with math and scientific reasoning. Would you be happy in a world with no libraries, artists or musicians, no literary works? Early exposure is the key to a love of these things, and these things are the core to a civilized society.

+100 to both PPs. There was a movement recently in my community to *close* the libraries because a vocal minority felt that everyone nowadays has access to books and information via their computers, smart phones, etc. They actually felt that because they didn't personally visit the library, that it shouldn't be accessible to those who do. Thankfully, this nonsense was shot down almost immediately. Every time I take my children to the library, it's packed. I can't imagine a world without books (the real kind, not digital), art, libraries, and museums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the arts and am not in a creative artistic profession (I'm an attorney). Teaching your children about books, music, art, etc. is about exposing them to things in life that they may enjoy. I believe STEM education is important, but how sad would it be if all society cared about was math and science. I hope to expose my children to all these things.

While I agree that STEM education is important, I am frankly so over the extreme emphasis on it, to the exclusion of everything else. How boring this world would be if all we had were mathematicians, scientists, and techies, but no one recognized or cared about literary references or famous works of art. The way STEM is being pushed on kids these days makes me very worried that the next generation may very well be culturally bereft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think reading to young kids/babies is ridiculous. They have no idea what's going on as they're chewing and drooling on the book, yet the parents seem to congratulate themselves on how advanced their kid will turn out due to this nightly activity. Equally ridiculous is when baby gift questions come up and people suggest books; I'd like to give a gift that's useable before age 5 -- I'm not sure an infant who sleeps 20 hrs a day is the right audience for Goodnight Moon. I come from one of the higher academic performance cultures (ppl talk about it on here all the time) where reading to a kid is not even a consideration -- the past generations wouldn't even have thought to do it though my peers who were born and raised in the US are into it bc they hear it's SO important from their "American" friends.

Thanks for chiming in, Tiger Mom. Yes, please don't read to your kids before age 5.

I'm a mother and an experienced nanny. Many babies and children respond in amazing, positive ways to the pictures in books and the cadence of reading. My current nanny child istwo and carries books around all day. We read to her as a baby bbecause she adored it and would sleep more easily. She will be reading by 4, but there's no congratulations involved- it's just who she is. Some children don't respond to books at a young age. The idea is to be in tune with the child and follow their lead on thesIe things.

My own daughter was also into books very early, read at 4, and is a bookworm at age 17. I'm glad I didn't withhold books from her, thinking it was silly.

That's great for your nannying child and your own child. I personally don't see the value in it. They don't end up any further ahead than anyone else just bc they were read to; or conversely they don't end up behind due to lack of reading from infancy.

Can'g you just do things with/for your child becuase of pure and simple enjoyment, anymore???!!!!!

Well I don't enjoy reading to a squirming toddler or a sleepy infant, so I wouldn't do it for enjoyment.

My toddlers don't squirm during book time. They sit still, and listen, because they love it. Same with library story times. There's huge value in learning to listen, see, read. It's more of a lifetime gift to children, than some score maker on a test later. Apparently, that's all you value.

Yeah that is all I value. At least I admit it. I could care less if they end up with a love for the arts or not, that's not where the money is -- so I wouldn't be encouraging them to go in those directions anyway.

This is incredibly sad and exactly what I was referring to one or two posts back. You are what's wrong with our current society; STEM is not the end-all-be-all, regardless of what kind of paycheck it may (or may not) draw. Your kids are going to be so culturally lacking and incredibly shallow, boring people if you don't expose them to the arts. How pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think reading to young kids/babies is ridiculous. They have no idea what's going on as they're chewing and drooling on the book, yet the parents seem to congratulate themselves on how advanced their kid will turn out due to this nightly activity. Equally ridiculous is when baby gift questions come up and people suggest books; I'd like to give a gift that's useable before age 5 -- I'm not sure an infant who sleeps 20 hrs a day is the right audience for Goodnight Moon. I come from one of the higher academic performance cultures (ppl talk about it on here all the time) where reading to a kid is not even a consideration -- the past generations wouldn't even have thought to do it though my peers who were born and raised in the US are into it bc they hear it's SO important from their "American" friends.

Thanks for chiming in, Tiger Mom. Yes, please don't read to your kids before age 5.

I'm a mother and an experienced nanny. Many babies and children respond in amazing, positive ways to the pictures in books and the cadence of reading. My current nanny child istwo and carries books around all day. We read to her as a baby bbecause she adored it and would sleep more easily. She will be reading by 4, but there's no congratulations involved- it's just who she is. Some children don't respond to books at a young age. The idea is to be in tune with the child and follow their lead on thesIe things.

My own daughter was also into books very early, read at 4, and is a bookworm at age 17. I'm glad I didn't withhold books from her, thinking it was silly.

That's great for your nannying child and your own child. I personally don't see the value in it. They don't end up any further ahead than anyone else just bc they were read to; or conversely they don't end up behind due to lack of reading from infancy.

Can'g you just do things with/for your child becuase of pure and simple enjoyment, anymore???!!!!!

Well I don't enjoy reading to a squirming toddler or a sleepy infant, so I wouldn't do it for enjoyment.

My toddlers don't squirm during book time. They sit still, and listen, because they love it. Same with library story times. There's huge value in learning to listen, see, read. It's more of a lifetime gift to children, than some score maker on a test later. Apparently, that's all you value.

Yeah that is all I value. At least I admit it. I could care less if they end up with a love for the arts or not, that's not where the money is -- so I wouldn't be encouraging them to go in those directions anyway.

This is incredibly sad and exactly what I was referring to one or two posts back. You are what's wrong with our current society; STEM is not the end-all-be-all, regardless of what kind of paycheck it may (or may not) draw. Your kids are going to be so culturally lacking and incredibly shallow, boring people if you don't expose them to the arts. How pathetic.

Live and let live. I'd rather have boring kids who have financial stability than artistic kids who end up majoring in liberal arts, have no idea what to do and then end up as teachers. Life is expensive and I'd like my kids to be prepared -- literature and art won't do that for the vast vast majority.

[Anonymous]

Why can't they be well rounded? There's plenty of wealthy people that love the arts. Many of them support the arts. Wouldn't you rather your children have the best of both worlds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they be well rounded? There's plenty of wealthy people that love the arts. Many of them support the arts. Wouldn't you rather your children have the best of both worlds?

+1

It's not a one-or-the-other proposition. Honestly, some people are so blind in their STEM obsession that they forget there's a whole wonderful world out there full of beauty and art.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't they be well rounded? There's plenty of wealthy people that love the arts. Many of them support the arts. Wouldn't you rather your children have the best of both worlds?

+1

It's not a one-or-the-other proposition. Honestly, some people are so blind in their STEM obsession that they forget there's a whole wonderful world out there full of beauty and art.

And they don't understand what the world would be like without it.
Imagine the pain of having ancient art in your country destroyed. Like what isis just did in Iraq. This is akin to making a whole people less than human, by stealing their heritage andIidentity. It's as evil as anything they've done, and they commit murder and destroy these things not because of religion, but because they don't care. It's the end of civilization if people don't care. Murder and pillage at will. It's up to all of us to educate our children on all the arts, beginning with music and reading, as early as possible, to create this appreciation and love.

[Anonymous]

bump