Several years ago I started writing notes for Smallsteps to inform her of things. It started with notes on weekend mornings to tell her there was some breakfast waiting for her and she could watch a bit of TV, play or read. Sometimes it included a task, like a few maths problems, a maze, and usually a drawing. This have us a chance to sleep in. Now she is old enough to make her own breakfast.
And write me notes.
That was one from this morning.
She snuck into the bedroom, though she didn't know I was already awake. When she realised, she told me to close my eyes and then read it after she left.
She is getting pretty good at writing in English, though she still makes a few spelling errors due to her pronunciation at times, like with. But she is also going to be a better speller than most native English speakers, as she learns the spelling phonetically. The other day, she spent a couple hours talking to me in English said as a Finn would say it.
She sounded like a Finnish rally driver.
I feel it is going to be interesting to see what kind of effects being language heavy at home is going to make. There was a study many years ago about the differences in outcomes between kids who spoke with parents a lot, and those who went home to empty houses and watched TV, and the variation was clear. Now with changes in technology with screens everywhere, I suspect that it will be even starker.
We have been pretty analogue with Smallsteps, talking to her constantly from birth, reading to her, teaching her to count and recognise letters from a very young age, and including her in LL kinds of conversations. It made a huge difference when she was younger, but those gaps are closing to some of her friends, but her friends now tend to come from households with parents who are also pretty active at keeping the kids off of screens for the most part.
But it is interesting to consider that a lot of the kids who are consuming a lot seem smart, because they can repeat a lot of what they have heard. However, the same kids don't seem to be overly creative, rather they are regurgitating what they have consumed from creative people.
We all copy.
However, I do consider there is a difference forming where the copying is no longer a learning process toward creativity, but a conditioning that restricts creative freedom, narrowing the ability to create. Thinking outside the box has been replaced by repeating what is within it. But because there is such a huge variety of consumables, the repetition goes unnoticed.
We are moving quickly into a phase where people are not skilled enough to create much of use, but will still have to generate some kind of value in order to live. As I see it, human skills might become highly valuable, because most people won't have a strong command of them, after being raised on digital aids.
What we say matters, and what we do matters more. It could be that there is nothing we can offer the world after we have been automated out of usefulness. But if that is the case, we are all screwed. So, I think that spending time developing human interpersonal skills, communication skills, and the ability to engage well, is time well spent.
At least, I will get cute notes.
Taraz
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Ahhh so cute XD I remember when my daughter used to leave me little notes and things she'd made for me at the same age ^_^ usually on my keyboard as that's where I will definitely see things XD
unlike J where if you leave things on his keyboard where he should theoretically definitely see it he just moves it out of the way without bothering to look at what it is and carries on -_-
Despite daily reading when young and pretty much never ending conversations with mostly me (because they were homeschooled) my kids still managed to develop what sounds like American accents (or occasionally borderline British in the case of Middle). We have decided to blame the over-representation of American media but it is entirely possible I have something that vaguely resembles some kind of American accent seeing as I have been asked numerous times :S
My kids are at that age where they're trying to find some kind of way to make money so I think they're particularly feeling this right now. They're all currently doing/going into things that can't be automated that well/yet (Eldest seems to have been accepted into his horticulture course and is awaiting confirmation, Middle is doing early childhood education and Youngest got accepted into music and is waiting for term to start) so they at least have a way forward for now.
Did you keep any for posterity sake?
My wife leaves bills on my keyboard - we have a lot of unpaid bills.
I would never have imagined you with an American accent!!! :D
That is great to hear. As a parent, I worry ()and assume others do too) that they won't find anything that supports them and is rewarding. I like the idea of horticulture too.
Always loved the notes economy you have with Small Steps.
Notes economy! I like it. I guess everything is an economy of some sort and I do like that Smallsteps and I have a lot of little things we do to trade with each other :)
I've learned the hard way that a short note is better than a long memory. It’s a gift to our future selves, who will inevitably forget the context of today’s 'great idea.' Being realistic about our cognitive limits is the first step to being more effective. Spot on.
Perhaps in the near future, we will have augmented cyborg bodies that will remember for us, or leave notes for us. AI reading what we do and deciding what is important to tell us about. And then, we needn't think at all.
Your daughter is going to be well rounded having many skills others will be lacking. My grandson has very poor eyesight so we do allow him more freedom to watch things and he actually chooses documentaries and learns all sorts of stuff. He definitely thinks differently as well as being very good with numbers. I am fascinated when I watch him play as he is the first child I have seen turn those play floor tiles into a building that becomes his castle. We are hoping the technology will be around soon enough to fix his eyesight because it is a worry.
I wonder how much is "normal" and how much is a compensation for the eyesight? Given that yes, technology might be able to fix his sight in the nearish future, having the background of not relying on it might give him a huge advantage later.
I'm guessing most Finnish families just kind of sit in silence and don't do much talking. That sounds a lot like my family. My wife on the other hand has a extensive loud Catholic family which takes a lot of getting used to. You honestly can't get a word in edgewise.
Your guess would be correct. Not all of course, but many. They don't mind sitting there in silence and at times, it drives me nuts.
Growing up in that kind of family definitely teaches a different set of skills, as well as what a quiet family might consider rudeness. When I first came to Finland, I talked a lot more because others didn't.
It drives my wife nuts too when we visit with my family. I'm kind of used to it and I find a bit of comfort in it. Occasionally I feel like I should be talking, but then I realize I would just be talking to talk, not really because I had something to say.
Now I want to learn to play drums. I want my hands moving faster and faster. No time to lose skills
We should be looking to advance our human skills as much as possible, I feel.
Keep all the notes save to collect them as her memory to show her later "Greatest thing is to write down your each step just to remember what you're going to do".
At some point I feel happy to write notes to myself, but I lost my inner piece and now trying to be the same as I was few years ago...
The 'I’ll remember it later' is easily the biggest lie we tell ourselves. Taking notes isn't just about data; it’s about clearing mental space to actually think instead of just storing. Realizing that our brain is a processor, not a hard drive, changes the game. Great reflection.
I put a lot of things in random places that I will remember later.
What kind of notes do you write to yourself?
The balance between learning from others and developing our own creativity is becoming more important than ever. Those small moment of communication and connection at the home can make a lasting difference.
Learning from others is good, but it doesn't necessarily give the creative edge required.
Very true, creativity makes the difference.
Write me notes: That's a cute gesture
"Reading your post and the comments reminds me of the special moments I share with my own daughter. These small, simple gestures like leaving a note or sharing a quiet morning are what they will remember most when they grow up. Such a beautiful and inspiring tradition!"