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
19 comments:
It is interesting to read that Sweden has gone back to books and pencils in the classroom. Children understand and retain information better when it's on paper. It will also save people money from buying expensive gadgets.
I do enjoy a chat, in queues, and in waiting rooms. I had a career where I had to speak to strangers and colleagues, all day or night, and work closely with them, and now I hardly speak to anyone all week. We got so isolated and a bit lonely during the long lockdown. I try to remember to say, “Good morning,” first to the shop assistant or person at the checkout.
I'm fortunate that the workers in my small grocery are friendly and I do chat a bit with a few but not enough to interrupt their work. and my librarians are always glad for a chat. Helps my otherwise quiet week.
I grew up in a small town where you spoke to everyone with a smile whether you knew them or not. I still do when appropriate. People in larger cities think you're weird when you do that.
The pandemic caused a lot of problems for children. All kinds of developmental things didn't happen because of isolation. And screens! Those are definitely a problem.
I was chatting today to the Scottish guy staying airbnb next door. He's a long line of transients from the UK. They all say the same thing, they want to stay here. But he's heading home as his family are there. I don't usually chat to the transients as
I know they're not here long. I just want a stable neighbour.
I chatted to my children all the time. The first had an amazing vocabulary and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. The second didn't, as a result of severe learning difficulties and autism. I still remember how amazed and offended I felt when a teacher who had taught both suggested that the second child's problems were caused by a lack of parental engagement.
I really can't understand parents who spend the first few years ignoring their kids, the next few yelling at them to behave and/or shut up and their remaining school years moaning that they can't do anything with them.
Yes, I am a chatter, and smiler, and greet checkout people and sales clerks, etc. Always have been, always will be. And oh, I am an AVID reader...of actual books, in my hand, turning real pages. I tried Kindle and just didn't like it - I want the 'real thing'. Dawn P. Albany, Georgia USA
It's good to chaat and pass the time of day. It makes everyone feel noticed. It is very sad that so many little children have a poor vocabulary and little experience of pens, paper, crayons, books.They start school at such a disadvantage.
I chat to most everyone I see when out and about. Chatted with my children when they were young, also my grandchildren. Now I also get to do it with my great grands, and they all love reading books.
I enjoy chatting with strangers most of the time, but there are times when I just want silence. I smile, though. And I usually chat with checkout people.
The pandemic has had some terrible effects on youth. I was teaching during the pandemic, on line for part of the time, and many students withdrew into themselves in a drastic manner.
I am a chatterbox and I talk to everyone, lol. I force people to talk to me. Sometimes I drive my grandkids nuts - when they want to be on devices but have to be nice to Gramma and answer her questions. They all have great vocabularies because I use the "big words". And I love it when children use big words.
I am old school with books too. It's to hard to go back and review with a kindle. I want to have words printed on paper.
I do enjoy a chat.
The early years of a child are so important in their development, they need to interact with people not with touch screens!
All the best Jan
We speak to everyone we meet along the boardwalk. After a while, faces are familiar and conversation happens naturally. Chatting is a great part of our walks.
A few years ago, I accompanied our granddaughters when they were behind the stage during their dance performance. I didn’t scroll a phone while I was there. Another grandmother and I eventually met up and chatted. The younger women scrolled the entire time. One couldn’t get a hello out of them. Sad! They weren’t interacting with the children either.
Perfectly described!
I'm like you and start conversations with others all the time. That's how I came to know so many people in my little town while out walking!!
I too talked to my children like you did.
We West Virginians are notorious for talking to strangers...and to everyone else as well! We are a state of storytellers, that the truth. But we are also behind in technology, with many areas having little or no internet or cell phone service, so maybe that's why we're still talking? Reading levels here are abysmal, even so. Many people simply don't read anything except a screen.
Yes, I chatted with a stranger just tonight. It wasn't along ago---2 -3 years ago that I'd take myself out to lunch in hopes of finding someone who liked to talk and it usually worked. I got tired of being alone back in those days, and needed a people fix. I have noticed though that teens out and about aren't quick to talk to strangers even when called for.
I must admit that I do not like to chat. I find small talk quite difficult as I am an extreme introvert. I find it really stressful too. That being said, I do smile and say hello to people as I'm out walking.
Hello Chris. I've only found you recently, but I suspect we're on the same page with a lot of things! My daughter cringes when I talk to strangers, but if someone is wearing a beautiful hand made cardi, I will tell them it is so. 😅
Yesterday we were out shopping together and the young man at the till told her how much her item was...no please or anything. Thankfully for him, he did say thank you when she paid for it. I might not have been able to hold my tongue! Daughter is a teacher of early years and would agree with many of the comments here.
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