Wait a minute, those are my lines! Well they were until they were adopted by my eldest. She is eight and a half with the working vocabulary of a third year doctoral student. How does that happen?
As new parents we made a conscious effort not to 'talk down' to our children. In my line of work I see far too many young people seemly incapable of articulate speech. Who am I kidding, they seem incapable of more than one word answers. Truth be told, I work with some adults who avoid opportunities to engage in rich conversations. Oral communication is fast becoming a lost art. In the age of msn, twitter and hand held texting devices our society values brevity over quality and clarity. I might be in for a long listen when my daughter begins to retell her favourite part in a book or when she launches into a tale filled with imaginative characters and improbable situations, but I applaud her ability to express herself. I admit to occasionally cringing when she sounds like an adult, with her effective use of phrases and one liners, but I rest assured she can communicate. I pray it is a skill she takes with her as she wades into adolescence.
Children really are sponges. There is no doubt in my mind about that. My eldest is living proof that youngsters say what they hear, do what they see and are thirsty for knowledge. As the adults influencing and 'filling' our next generation we have to ensure we are providing the best quality fuel for their growing minds.
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