On Monday morning, while perusing newspaper Web sites for ideas, something in The Guardian caught my eye. The piece, "Parents too busy to help children learn to talk, expert suggests," reminded me of something in the news last summer—that writing skills are falling prey to technology, and that some schools aren’t actually teaching writing. Furthermore, with all of the distractions we face today, motivating students to read and write seems a more challenging task for teachers and parents than ever before.
Back to Monday’s article in The Guardian, which cites a recent survey showing that one in six kids in the UK has a speech problem. The survey led to speculation over kids' TV and video game habits, byproducts of a lack of parental attention, speech expert Jean Gross suggests. Having less time to talk with their parents and more time to stare at screens seems to have hampered kids’ speaking abilities. As for parents, they’re trapped at work, and slaves to their high mortgages.
Regardless of why, the fact that both speaking and writing skills are suffering has many people concerned. Is communication as we know it rapidly deteriorating? Perhaps. But parents, teachers and librarians may know best. They're in the trenches (hopefully) with children, and could begin to turn these troubling trends around. As Gross told The Guardian, "Think about what children need. It's not expensive toys and big houses. It's you."
For tips and ideas about connecting with your kids, including educational online activities and outdoor (cold weather) fun, take a look at our recent feature on Keeping Kids Active and Engaged During Winter Break. We've also found advice on how to fit in more time with your kids, a popular New Year's resolution for 2010.
Senior Writer
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