h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think it's worth saying that putting children off answering questions altogether is a bad move. I think if adults had the same natural inquisitiveness as children, then the world would be a much happier place, with more chocolate hand- prints. And mud pies.

TK

Yes you're right - from the perspective of someone ABOUT TO become a mother! I'm certain that in two years, you'll be reminding me I agreed we should encourage inquisitive questions... and I'll be swearing blue at you! (But then you'd know about what will happen in two years' time, wouldn't you, Sir Temporal?)

The other part of "the world would be a happier place" wouldn't change, though - give a kid a toy gun and s/he will pretend to shoot it; give a kid a banana, and keep them away from toy weapons, and s/he will still pretend to shoot it. And then will eat it. (Is that symbolic of anything? Eating your weapon? Freud would have a field-day!)

x x Driven By Baby

I believe that if and when I have kids of my own, I'll feel the same as current parents seem to about constant questions- i.e, why won't they stop?!?!

BUT I will do everything I can to remember that a child must be encouraged to ask questions- the most boring people I know are the ones who just accept what they've been told, rather than questioning it and developing their own opinions.

TK

Eek - I've typed a huge long response and it's not coming up on my screen! Either it's not refreshing properly (so I'm trying with this shorter posting) or I've lost it totally. I'll wait and see what happens before retyping (esp since I can't remember what I said!)

x x Driven Mad by Internal Movements

OK - well, I remember most of the content of the original posting (made around 5am this morning) so it's just a matter of retyping it. What an irritating thing to disappear! I shall make sure I save a text copy of this *just in case*!

You're right, in that inquisitivity and questions are to be encouraged. I'm a little closer to that "If And When" event than you, it appears (take a look at my journal if you don't believe me) so I've been doing a little research on baby mind development, and have read a very good book (I won't give the title in case it's ****ed out) that agrees strongly with your points.

Did you know that a one-day-old baby has the weak potential to mimic the facial movements of the adult it sees? If the first time Dad picks him up, he smiles at him, the baby will try to smile back; if the tongue is stuck out, baby does its feeble best to put its own tongue out in response! If on the other hand, people coo at it and don't try to engage it interactively, it will just lie there and not learn.

In a similar vein, a baby that's put under a cot-mobile will watch the parts spinning, but a baby who has been attached via a piece of string to one of the parts will learn that waving the arm/leg in the air will result in a much more exciting mobile! Add a bell to the mobile and it will provide an even bigger excitement; vary the limb that is attached to the mobile, and the baby will have lots to think about.

Now obviously this book was a good one - I could spend all day writing the synopsis - but you could just go out and acquire the book anyway, and I'm sure you don't have my up-close-and-personal interest! But one other thing springs to mind as a nice example of children's ability to learn even before they begin the eternal "Why?/How?/What?" questions: children pick up the universal signs for very quickly, but aren't able to manipulate words to communicate until they're around 2 years old. Teaching babies signs for important words (like the waving I mentioned above, or signs for , , <I'm tired&gt will increase their ability to communicate with adults near them, for about a year before they can talk properly. End to frustration, end to whinging babies.

And a distinct way of sparing the child from the patronising behaviour of "Seen And Not Heard" that you started this thread with!

There you are - that's more or less what I put earlier today. Now, trusting my luck, both messages will reappear!

x x Driven To A Second Childhood