Do you like to chat?

  It seems phycologists and Educationist are increasingly concerned with the lack of vocal interchange between children and how young people speak less too.

The convenience of touch screens, the use of phones to pay for items, self service tills and working from home, all need no vocal interchange between people. And then there was lock down in the pandemic, thousands of people had no contact with anyone for months. 

I often smile at other people when we're out and about, I like to chat. I haven't ever been snubbed, in fact those people I've spoken to are only to pleased to chat, and I've been pleasantly surprised with the reaction from some people. But is it only the older generation, who are willing to talk and chat?.. Although I have spoken to young mums with children too, and the mums have filled me in with all the antics of their children and we've laughed together. I like it and don't find it difficult to start a conversation. 

But it isn't the norm and the lack of speech with young children in schools is causing concern in Educational circles. How many times have you seen a mum pushing a pram/ push chair with the child facing away from her and she is on a phone? And I've seen some children in their prams holding a video phone too, watching a cartoon.  I had my children facing me and I pointed out things we past, as we went along, colours of cars, trees and flowers, food items in shops, in fact anything and everything. We talked about them, did we like them, did we see anything different?

Teachers of Key Stage1 children on entry into school are reporting there are children, who have speech difficulties and are not familiar with books, trying to touch the pages as though they were touch screens. Learning to read is becoming a serious problem.

 Do you automatically say thank you to the person, who has served you Do you add 'its a nice day or ugh rain again today' in a shop? 

Have you chatted to someone you came across in a cafe, or sitting on a bench in town? Do you know sometimes I've been told about a whole life time, they must have been lonely. I hope they felt better after chatting, I was happy to listen and smile as they talked. 

Chrisxx