Some years ago it became popular in the U.S. to hold a ‘Take Your Kid To Work Day’ that was supposed to boost employee morale. I’m not sure that having a bunch of rug rats running through the office was a good idea, nor was the expected resulting pride in their parental unit’s job that forthcoming when little Johnnie asked why daddy spent his entire day toiling in a small cubicle. Sometime you don’t have to think too hard to figure out why the rest of the world finds Americans so funny.
Hauling you kid to your workplace isn’t optional for others in the world. Day care is an extended family concern that often means packing the kids up and taking them along with you. Then mom or dad gets busy trying to make a buck and the kids are left to fend for themselves. It’s not unusual to see vendor’s children trying to amuse themselves at street markets in SE Asia. And they can often be quite entertaining.
This little tyke with her mom at the morning market in Luang Prabang tuned the world out while she played with her new toy: a raw egg. Though not quite at the level of a Game Boy as toys go, it held her attention. I guess it’s nice for kids in the west to have computerized games and portable videos to keep them occupied, but I have to wonder if that constant sensory input doesn’t retard the natural imagination and creativity of children. I think this little Laotian girl may be getting the better end of the deal. And at least she knows what she’ll be having for lunch.
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give it 16 years and she will be swapping the egg for a ping pong ball …
ROFL
You do have a knack for getting to the heart of the matter Tim.
You know, this post has given me much food for thought. It seems like the more hi-tech, educational and entertaining the toys we give children nowadays, the less it promotes their natural creativity and imagination. I’ve observed that with my own family. At nine, I was drawing, painting and doing other artsy stuff that none of my nephews and nieces seem able to do today in spite of all their extra art classes. At twelve, I was writing and illustrating naughty gay stories for my friends in school. I can’t imagine any of my family’s third generation even writing stories, let alone naughty ones of either persuasion.
I’m tempted to suspect that one reason for the Thais’ love of elaborate art and artistic creativity is because so many of their artists grew up without computer games, educational toys or books.
Yup, I saw that even in the difference between my brothers and I and my younger brother. He was raised in front of the TV (Sesame Street, etc.) and has never had the same abilities as us older sibilings, not just with creativity but even with problem solving skills.
Problem-solving. That, too, for sure. I notice my nephews and nieces from poorer branches of the family are more independent and more creative at problem-solving.The rich ones with the I-Pads and extra art/piano/dance/etc. classes seem to need more help and reassurance just getting through the day. Sad really but I doubt that any of my cousins would believe me if I told them to take away their children’s expensive toys to ake them think better – or appreciate my saying so.
Yup that kind of advice is seldom appreciated. I just smile at my nephews and nieces and think how badly their parents will be paying for that in the years to come.
True. You get what you paid for and there are some things you never finish paying for.