Comments on: How to Raise Talented Children http://www.scottfreethinking.com/2007/02/how-to-raise-talented-children/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:38:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: the Fish http://www.scottfreethinking.com/2007/02/how-to-raise-talented-children/comment-page-1/#comment-127 the Fish Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:34:33 +0000 http://www.scottfreethinking.com/blog/index.php/how-to-raise-talented-children/#comment-127 Argh. Edit first sentence to read, "...points one and three". So sorry. Argh.

Edit first sentence to read, “…points one and three”.

So sorry.

]]> By: the Fish http://www.scottfreethinking.com/2007/02/how-to-raise-talented-children/comment-page-1/#comment-126 the Fish Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:32:04 +0000 http://www.scottfreethinking.com/blog/index.php/how-to-raise-talented-children/#comment-126 As a mother of four, 5-16 yo, I agree wholeheartedly on points one and two, but you might want to get some more information on point two. The process of learning a language is hardwired into infants' brains, and the baby talk that parents instinctively do is a simplification of the language that biologically dovetails with the way infants learn. For instance, infants are more attracted to higher pitched voices, and will pay attention to them longer. As for saying, “Hey, little guy! Are you smart? Yes! Yes you are! Yes you are!” in a high pitched voice, no, you would not talk to your friend that way, but then neither would you hold both your friend's hands and rub noses while you were doing it. At this point baby is learning cadences, phonemes, and that you are utterly, besottedly delighted with him. This is a good thing emotionally and neurologically . Of course, this can easily be overdone either to the point of unintelligibility, or extended unhelpfully into childhood. Don't artificially talk down to a 3 year old, "Does widdle-ums want his wunch?" However, to speak to a 3 month old the exact same way you would to a business associate is equally artificial and surprisingly counterproductive. Baby talk exists for a reason. Nature provides parents with a built-in language primer that babies are pre-programmed to respond to. Just don't conflate nurture with babying, ok? No offense taken, btw. :) As a mother of four, 5-16 yo, I agree wholeheartedly on points one and two, but you might want to get some more information on point two. The process of learning a language is hardwired into infants’ brains, and the baby talk that parents instinctively do is a simplification of the language that biologically dovetails with the way infants learn. For instance, infants are more attracted to higher pitched voices, and will pay attention to them longer.

As for saying, “Hey, little guy! Are you smart? Yes! Yes you are! Yes you are!” in a high pitched voice, no, you would not talk to your friend that way, but then neither would you hold both your friend’s hands and rub noses while you were doing it. At this point baby is learning cadences, phonemes, and that you are utterly, besottedly delighted with him. This is a good thing emotionally and neurologically .

Of course, this can easily be overdone either to the point of unintelligibility, or extended unhelpfully into childhood. Don’t artificially talk down to a 3 year old, “Does widdle-ums want his wunch?” However, to speak to a 3 month old the exact same way you would to a business associate is equally artificial and surprisingly counterproductive. Baby talk exists for a reason. Nature provides parents with a built-in language primer that babies are pre-programmed to respond to.

Just don’t conflate nurture with babying, ok?

No offense taken, btw. :)

]]> By: kat http://www.scottfreethinking.com/2007/02/how-to-raise-talented-children/comment-page-1/#comment-125 kat Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:34:35 +0000 http://www.scottfreethinking.com/blog/index.php/how-to-raise-talented-children/#comment-125 People who don't have children have NO clue as to how to raise them. Of course you talk baby talk to babies- it is how they learn that they are important and it gets them to smile. Happy babies make happy parents and those emotional interactions are the staff of life in a family. There is more to raising an intellegent child than just sqaffing their heads full of data. They are people, not computers. Play classical music because it is beautiful- not just because it makes them smarter. Teach them manners because it helps them learn to be kind and thoughtful, not just to ace that job interview. Of course, my rule is to not take child-rearing advice from anyone with fewer children than I do- because I have learned that it is easier to say than to do. People who don’t have children have NO clue as to how to raise them.
Of course you talk baby talk to babies- it is how they learn that they are important and it gets them to smile. Happy babies make happy parents and those emotional interactions are the staff of life in a family.
There is more to raising an intellegent child than just sqaffing their heads full of data. They are people, not computers.
Play classical music because it is beautiful- not just because it makes them smarter. Teach them manners because it helps them learn to be kind and thoughtful, not just to ace that job interview.
Of course, my rule is to not take child-rearing advice from anyone with fewer children than I do- because I have learned that it is easier to say than to do.

]]> By: mum of plenty http://www.scottfreethinking.com/2007/02/how-to-raise-talented-children/comment-page-1/#comment-124 mum of plenty Thu, 22 Feb 2007 15:00:18 +0000 http://www.scottfreethinking.com/blog/index.php/how-to-raise-talented-children/#comment-124 Some good and valid points and I agree with some, but as writer suggests, every child is different, Cant wait to see if writers views differ if in fact they do have children themselves. The one thing that really pisses me off is text book ppl or those who think they have all the answers when they have no real experience beyond books, and their so called studies. Unless you have walked a mile or two in the shoes of millions of parents....dont give out your holier than thou solutions. When you have, then you can give advice. Some good and valid points and I agree with some, but as writer suggests, every child is different, Cant wait to see if writers views differ if in fact they do have children themselves. The one thing that really pisses me off is text book ppl or those who think they have all the answers when they have no real experience beyond books, and their so called studies. Unless you have walked a mile or two in the shoes of millions of parents….dont give out your holier than thou solutions. When you have, then you can give advice.

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