Del, if Brandon is pointing to letters in books of his own volition, and asking you what they are, then he is learning because of his own interest, and I certainly think that is great. All of my own personal philosophies of child rearing are child-led, responding to the child's own readiness and interest. I particularly like a quote by Yeats, which I cannot remember in its entirety, but the jist of it is that a child is not a bucket, to fill up, but a fire to light, in the sense of learning and keeping the joy of knowledge alive.
Now, does anyone know how to get a teenager out of the family bed and into her own?? Some things work best in theory!!!! At least she has been nurtured well, and is secure and happy.
I loved the box with all the tactile adventures. I included my excitement of hearing about it in my general comments about the great way you are spending time with Brandon, but just didn't mention it separately.
I really try to take my child to movies, or to sit down with her and watch public television programs, to keep stretching her attention span. Short programs are usually pretty stupid, and when she watches comedies on television I point out sometimes how predictable and trite they are. Unfortunately, she is a "Simpsons" fan like my husband, so in some way I have failed.
I think I remember a study which showed that while for underprivileged children whose parents spent little time with them, "Sesame Street" was better than nothing, it did not create any measurable positive effect in other children. Since it definitely shortens attention spans, to the extent that the program has deliberately started making its sequences longer in response to complaints from educators, it is not just totally, unadulteratedly wonderful. Most children really love it, though, and I think my daughter sneaks a peak at it once in awhile, even now. I am more concerned when I discover my husband watching it!!! |
