5 AM
It's now 6, but I have been up since 5 and awake since 4:30. I suppose this is what a couple of glasses of wine does to me? I finally gave up trying to sleep and came downstairs to play Lexulous and catch up on email.
Yummy Group didn't disband until 11 pm last night! I was shocked when we got in the car and I saw it was 11. I had no idea it was that late. And the restaurant was still quite full when we left. As usual, I had a great time. It was very nice to see everyone and laugh so much. I needed that.
Plugged In
D posted this article on FB: The Risk of Parenting While Plugged In. Both of us definitely suffer from this problem. I find the idea that smartphones may reduce the number of words per hour a child hears to be a compelling argument for reducing smartphone use around children. It's also interesting that, since smartphones are typically part of higher income households, and in higher income households, children hear more words per hour*, that smartphones could have an impact on lessening the gap between income levels (and not in a good way). The number of words per hour affects a child's vocabulary development, with more words being better. Here's a quote from the article:
The book connects language use at home with socioeconomic status. According to its findings, children in higher socioeconomic homes hear an average of 2,153 words an hour, whereas those in working-class households hear only about 1,251; children in the study whose parents were on welfare heard an average of 616 words an hour.
*I just want to note that I am noting income because the article uses it; clearly, it does not take a high income level to expose children to lots of words per hour and I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions to these averages in both directions.
Today & Tomorrow
I've been exceedingly lazy. I dropped my car off to have the brakes serviced due to a recall, so the shuttle brought me home. I slept here until it was ready at 1:30, then walked the dogs when I got home. Elise and Nolan come over tonight for the G's date night. Avery is at school today since she's making up days missed in May.
Avery and I are on our own tomorrow since D is going to watch the World Cup with some friends. If anyone is up for doing anything tomorrow, let me know!
I've read about the words thing before. The info I came across discussed how higher income families were more likely to have their kids spend less time in front of the t.v. (again, not all but on average) but it appears that other forms of distraction might be competing with the t.v. for causing folks to spend less time interacting with their kids. Interesting stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe are berry picking, probably at Kruger Farms, in the AM (I doubt you want to pick twice). In the afternoon we are either doing OMSI, zoo, or staying home with maybe a park run. Our step-cousins will be here with us. You can bring Avery over early for your date night, if you want, or meet us out if we go out.
ReplyDeleteSuper interesting article!
ReplyDeleteI, too, was shocked when I saw the time after we left the restaurant. Then Josie woke up twice last night (after weeks/months? of sleeping all the way through the night) and I had to work at her school today. Needless to say, I'm hoping to be in bed in about 15 minutes! But it was so worth it--I had a great time last night. Such a fun group.