does it matter?
m_aduhene
hi,
the other day i was given a compliment about my children that they seemed more animated and alive than a whole class of children. this was a great confidence booster for me. today i was told that two of my children have smiles on their faces all of the time.
i would like to ask does it matter where your children's interests lie. my children do not lean towards any one area of interest eg. i know a few people who say that their child is into for example dogs and knows every breed of dog and it's markings etc. i also have other friends who say their children are really into for example a particular period in history etc. we go to lots of different places like the other day when we went to Isaac Newton's house and tomorrow we are going to a dance performance. we had a play day at a soft play area today. i try to offer varied things they can take or leave and they mostly enjoy it when we go places. when we are home we chat about anything and everything, watch tv and dvds, computer etc. BUT does it matter that they prefer Club Penguin, acting out the panto my dd starred in, over and over and just hanging with me AND that they don't know all about Romans in-depth.
blessings
michelle
the other day i was given a compliment about my children that they seemed more animated and alive than a whole class of children. this was a great confidence booster for me. today i was told that two of my children have smiles on their faces all of the time.
i would like to ask does it matter where your children's interests lie. my children do not lean towards any one area of interest eg. i know a few people who say that their child is into for example dogs and knows every breed of dog and it's markings etc. i also have other friends who say their children are really into for example a particular period in history etc. we go to lots of different places like the other day when we went to Isaac Newton's house and tomorrow we are going to a dance performance. we had a play day at a soft play area today. i try to offer varied things they can take or leave and they mostly enjoy it when we go places. when we are home we chat about anything and everything, watch tv and dvds, computer etc. BUT does it matter that they prefer Club Penguin, acting out the panto my dd starred in, over and over and just hanging with me AND that they don't know all about Romans in-depth.
blessings
michelle
Pam Sorooshian
On 3/12/2009 10:49 AM, m_aduhene wrote:
wouldn't say she was "knowledgeable," more that that was what she most
loved to do (along with other stuff). My middle child IS a kid who
always delved deeply into her passionate interests and she seems to soak
up detailed knowledge like crazy. She is one who people might think
knows everything there is to know about -- name the subject. <G> My
younger one is more of a dabbler/sampler - she enjoys lots of things, is
very happy, doesn't separate learning from living. Her passions tend to
be physical activities - karate and soccer these days.
This is at 18, 21, and 24. When they were younger, they played with
their American Girl Dolls - played Star Trek a lot. Swam in the pool
every day for about 8 hours all summer. Watched tv. Played video games.
All good!
You sound fine. Enjoy.
-pam
> BUT does it matter that they prefer Club Penguin, acting out the panto my dd starred in, over and over and just hanging with me AND that they don't know all about Romans in-depth.I have three kids. One was always into all things artistic - but I
> blessings
>
wouldn't say she was "knowledgeable," more that that was what she most
loved to do (along with other stuff). My middle child IS a kid who
always delved deeply into her passionate interests and she seems to soak
up detailed knowledge like crazy. She is one who people might think
knows everything there is to know about -- name the subject. <G> My
younger one is more of a dabbler/sampler - she enjoys lots of things, is
very happy, doesn't separate learning from living. Her passions tend to
be physical activities - karate and soccer these days.
This is at 18, 21, and 24. When they were younger, they played with
their American Girl Dolls - played Star Trek a lot. Swam in the pool
every day for about 8 hours all summer. Watched tv. Played video games.
All good!
You sound fine. Enjoy.
-pam
Kris
My daughter Lanora (18) tends to concentrate on one thing at a time, her
most constant passion has been drawing. Jonathan (11) tends to concentrate
on the computer but dabbles in many things via that tool. I have always
been a dabbler in many things, perhaps due to this I can't claim to be an
"expert" in any field but what it gave me was enough knowledge on almost any
subject to learn more. I can start a good search based on what I already
know.
I think we learn what is important to us and the most valuable thing we can
possess is confidence that we can find the information we need. I think you
stated the important thing about your kids, they are happy and feel free to
indulge their desire to learn.
Kris
most constant passion has been drawing. Jonathan (11) tends to concentrate
on the computer but dabbles in many things via that tool. I have always
been a dabbler in many things, perhaps due to this I can't claim to be an
"expert" in any field but what it gave me was enough knowledge on almost any
subject to learn more. I can start a good search based on what I already
know.
I think we learn what is important to us and the most valuable thing we can
possess is confidence that we can find the information we need. I think you
stated the important thing about your kids, they are happy and feel free to
indulge their desire to learn.
Kris
On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM, m_aduhene <m_aduhene@...> wrote:
> hi,
> the other day i was given a compliment about my children that they seemed
> more animated and alive than a whole class of children. this was a great
> confidence booster for me. today i was told that two of my children have
> smiles on their faces all of the time.
> i would like to ask does it matter where your children's interests lie. my
> children do not lean towards any one area of interest eg. i know a few
> people who say that their child is into for example dogs and knows every
> breed of dog and it's markings etc. i also have other friends who say their
> children are really into for example a particular period in history etc. we
> go to lots of different places like the other day when we went to Isaac
> Newton's house and tomorrow we are going to a dance performance. we had a
> play day at a soft play area today. i try to offer varied things they can
> take or leave and they mostly enjoy it when we go places. when we are home
> we chat about anything and everything, watch tv and dvds, computer etc. BUT
> does it matter that they prefer Club Penguin, acting out the panto my dd
> starred in, over and over and just hanging with me AND that they don't know
> all about Romans in-depth.
> blessings
> michelle
>
--
If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself.
CS Lewis
I haz a blog, u can reedz it!
www.krisspeed.blogspot.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Verna
My oldest has a tendancy to get very intested in things and kind of delve into them. He is 7. But he doesnt learn lots of facts and stuff to rattle off, he just enjoys the things. My other kids just enjoy life and move from interest to interest. Right now, sports are big around here (soccer and gymnastics primarily). A few years ago it was vikings and pirates. We just got rock band and so that is a big thing and honestly we have spent several days doing little else.. although they havnt gotten it out today yet.
I have at times worried about the fact that my kids dont know their birthdays or the months of the year for example. But then we move on.
I have at times worried about the fact that my kids dont know their birthdays or the months of the year for example. But then we move on.
Sandra Dodd
-=-the other day i was given a compliment about my children that they
seemed more animated and alive than a whole class of children. this
was a great confidence booster for me. today i was told that two of my
children have smiles on their faces all of the time. -=-
That's a sweet compliment!
-=-i would like to ask does it matter where your children's interests
lie. my children do not lean towards any one area of interest eg. i
know a few people who say that their child is into for example dogs
and knows every breed of dog and it's markings etc. i also have other
friends who say their children are really into for example a
particular period in history etc-=-
Holly was particularly interested in the Great Depression for a while,
and I suppose she'll be collecting more information on it for the rest
of her life, and making more connections. There's no hurry. She
might have learned all she'll ever learn about it, and that's fine too.
Your description of your days sounds great to me!
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
seemed more animated and alive than a whole class of children. this
was a great confidence booster for me. today i was told that two of my
children have smiles on their faces all of the time. -=-
That's a sweet compliment!
-=-i would like to ask does it matter where your children's interests
lie. my children do not lean towards any one area of interest eg. i
know a few people who say that their child is into for example dogs
and knows every breed of dog and it's markings etc. i also have other
friends who say their children are really into for example a
particular period in history etc-=-
Holly was particularly interested in the Great Depression for a while,
and I suppose she'll be collecting more information on it for the rest
of her life, and making more connections. There's no hurry. She
might have learned all she'll ever learn about it, and that's fine too.
Your description of your days sounds great to me!
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joanna Murphy
I have one who appears to be more of a "skimmer" and one who appears to be more of a "depth diver," but then I'm continually surprised with the depth of knowledge the skimmer has, and the breadth of knowledge the diver has. They pick up so much more than I think they have.
Joanna
Joanna
Sandra Dodd
-=-I'm continually surprised with the depth of knowledge the skimmer
has, and the breadth of knowledge the diver has. They pick up so much
more than I think they have.-=-
It's good evidence that everything's connected!
http://sandradodd.com/connections
I wrote something about WWII once, and am looking for it. Not about
WWII, but a response to a mom who said her son didn't care about
anything except WWII.
++++++++++++++++++++
Can one intense interest come to represent or lead to all others? A
mom once complained that her son was interested in nothing but World
War II. There are college professors and historians who are interested
in nothing but World War II. It can become a life's work. But even a
passing interest can touch just about everything—geography, politics,
the history and current events of Europe and parts of the Pacific,
social history of the 20th century in the United States, military
technology, tactics, recruitment and propaganda, poster art/production/
distribution, advances in communications, transport of troops and food
and supplies, espionage, prejudices, interment camps, segregation,
patriotism, music, uniforms, insignia, religion....
When someone really understands one war, he can easily understand
another, because he will have all the framework and questions in his
mind. When he understands how countries are born, invaded, and how a
government can die out, he understands truths about all nations and
civilizations.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's here:
http://sandradodd.com/checklists
Sandra
has, and the breadth of knowledge the diver has. They pick up so much
more than I think they have.-=-
It's good evidence that everything's connected!
http://sandradodd.com/connections
I wrote something about WWII once, and am looking for it. Not about
WWII, but a response to a mom who said her son didn't care about
anything except WWII.
++++++++++++++++++++
Can one intense interest come to represent or lead to all others? A
mom once complained that her son was interested in nothing but World
War II. There are college professors and historians who are interested
in nothing but World War II. It can become a life's work. But even a
passing interest can touch just about everything—geography, politics,
the history and current events of Europe and parts of the Pacific,
social history of the 20th century in the United States, military
technology, tactics, recruitment and propaganda, poster art/production/
distribution, advances in communications, transport of troops and food
and supplies, espionage, prejudices, interment camps, segregation,
patriotism, music, uniforms, insignia, religion....
When someone really understands one war, he can easily understand
another, because he will have all the framework and questions in his
mind. When he understands how countries are born, invaded, and how a
government can die out, he understands truths about all nations and
civilizations.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's here:
http://sandradodd.com/checklists
Sandra
Robin Bentley
>That's some positive feedback, for sure!
> the other day i was given a compliment about my children that they
> seemed more animated and alive than a whole class of children. this
> was a great confidence booster for me. today i was told that two of
> my children have smiles on their faces all of the time.
I often hear "she's so sweet" and "she's so smart" about my dd, from
people out in the world, when we are out in the world (which doesn't
happen too often these days - she's quite the homebody right now).
>I have thought about this recently. Michelle is 14 now and has
> i would like to ask does it matter where your children's interests
> lie. my children do not lean towards any one area of interest eg.
> i know a few people who say that their child is into for example
> dogs and knows every breed of dog and it's markings etc. i also
> have other friends who say their children are really into for
> example a particular period in history etc. we go to lots of
> different places like the other day when we went to Isaac Newton's
> house and tomorrow we are going to a dance performance. we had a
> play day at a soft play area today. i try to offer varied things
> they can take or leave and they mostly enjoy it when we go places.
> when we are home we chat about anything and everything, watch tv and
> dvds, computer etc. BUT does it matter that they prefer Club
> Penguin, acting out the panto my dd starred in, over and over and
> just hanging with me AND that they don't know all about Romans in-
> depth.
definite preferences of what she wants to do and think about. They
don't always have much to do with things we did when she was younger.
However, one constant for her has been a fascination with animals.
That early interest has evolved into a huge collection of stuffed
animals, computer games (Zoo Tycoon, Impossible Creatures) clay
sculpture of animals, horse riding, playing a hunter in World of
Warcraft (because they have pets <g>), reading novels that feature
animals (Warriors, Guardians of Ga'hoole, Silverwing series),
collecting Zoobooks, watching Animal Planet, and delving into anime
and manga that have an animal focus, just to name a few.
She's learned to read, type, spell and punctuate correctly; to read
maps; to sculpt beautifully; to add, subtract, figure out percentages
and estimates; to appreciate music (the Broadway version of The Lion
King's songs and the music written and performed expressly for games
like WoW, for example); to learn some Japanese; and to host funshops
at conferences, all as a result of that continuing interest. But it's
not all in-depth or even about knowledge (though there's that, too).
It's about what makes life fun and happy for her.
I'm glad I facilitated her love of animal stuff, because it's led her
in so many directions, some of which I didn't expect. I could have
tried to funnel her into being a vet or volunteering at shelters or a
starting a dog-walking service. I see many parents trying to turn
their child's passion into something "worthwhile." But, I think it
would have limited her if I'd put her in a "this is what animal lovers
do" box. She's taken it where she wanted it to go.
Robin B.