Comments on: How sons & daughters learn – dads advice you can watch

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:23:43 +0000

I like where this video is going, however I’m still a firm believer in that everything has it place. Todays modern technology brings with it lots of new skills, techniques and things I for one have no concept of because I’m a tad bit old school. It’s not that I don’t want to learn, it’s mainly because I never have the time. In order for me to learn/utilize half of the things that computers and technology have brought us would mean spending all my time on a computer, which would mean that my everyday life and responsibilities would suffer. At times when I’ve been learning new things, I’ll log onto the computer and before I know it half of the night has gone. I feel my eyes are dry and sore and I wake up feeling like I have a hangover.
So as much as believe children require these skills, I also believe that as a race we use these items too much and forget to live in the real world. When I see my younger nieces and nephews spending so much time on facebook and similar, I do question as to why they cannot just visit the friend instead; who actually only lives around the corner?
On the occasion I recieve a text message or email from some of the younger members of my extended family, it takes me quite a few minutes to work out what they are actually saying. There are spelling mistakes all the way through the message and abbreviations that I’ve never seen before. I end up having to get them to explain it. It’s lucky they can nearly speak English because they certainly cannot write in English.

I think what I’m saying is… Is all this technology coming at the expense of basic skills. If I was to ask a teenager of today to work out an equation in their head rather than using a calculator, could tell me the answer? Even with spell checkers, great tool, when you need to check a spelling, rubbish tool if you have no idea of how to spell at all and always rely on it without actually taking the time to learn how to spell the word correctly.

I’m the first to admit that my grammer isn’t perfect, but if I checked it, I’d be able to correct it myself.

So my question at what age should we start introducing our children to computers etc? If my eyes suffer from using one, what are the side effects to young children?

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:19:15 +0000

Another sterotype to avoid is ‘The I know everything Dad’. The one who has answers for everything and doesn’t encourage free or critical thinking.

I agree that children should not only be just be ‘taught’ this in an educational institution but at home role modelled by the parents. School isn’t the only place where learning takes place!!!

By: jOSH

jOSH — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:09:11 +0000

kIDS ALSO LEARN FROM YOU, THE DAD>>…John Lee, At My Fathers Wedding, describes 4 types of defective father figures…
1) The man who would be king: the one who works hard all day and comes home and expects to be treated like a king. AKA the “wait till your father fest home dad”
2)The critical father: Full of put-downs, driven by his own frustrations
3) The passive father: the one who gives up all duties, responsibilities and power to his wife, the mother
4) The absent father. He might have been capable , even powerful man, but not in the family arena. He was off having a career, returning late at night.
Are there any more stereotypes dads need to avoid?

By: Mohash

Mohash — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:59:06 +0000

Have a perspective on Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. Kids are usually taught in written / verbal, yet there are other ways kids can learn e.g spacial, kinesetics, musical interpersonal, intra-personal etc..I’d be drilling your kids’ teachers on how they incorporate these intelligences.

By: Len

Len — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:53:06 +0000

Be sure your kids learn these skills through both their teacher and you:
emotional intelligence, critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, engagement, self directed leadership and creativity.