I am learning to count. So far, I can get to 5 - most of the time. I know, I know, that is pretty impressive isn't it? From almost the day I was born, daddy counted things. He counted my fingers and my toes, my ears and my nose. When we use the elevator, we count down from 5 when we leave, and up again when we return. When I am bored, he puts up his hand with fingers out and I count them all and then excitedly shout 'Gen! Gen!' It is the Australian way to say Again. Good pronunciation is important.
So, daddy wants me to learn to count which I think is because he didn't do so well in math class and wishes he had paid more attention as it got difficult. he also thinks that simple calculations should be done easily without reliance on tools. But, he did buy me an abacus, which is a tool. I count a little on it but I do know all of the colours.
Daddy is going to teach me but, he has to learn himself first. He has talked about these things called competitive cognitive artefacts or something or other and how they are slowly stealing our skills away. He thinks it is important for the brain to develop before removing its need to. Looks like I am not getting a calculator anytime soon...
Okay, So an abacus is pretty cool anyway and is pretty old. It dates back about 4000 years to some Mesopotamia place (I think it is near New Zealand) but has appeared in many cultures and in many forms.
The reason it was so important is that it allows for the calculations of very large numbers relatively easily. This was excellent because people started storing and trading large quantities of things so keeping track became really difficult.
Using it is simple but time consuming considering calculators exist but, what they have found is that people who learned how to use an abacus well actually didn't need it in time as they were able to do much of the calculations in their head. The reason for this is that through usage, the patterns and processes become so natural, the tool is no longer needed. Take that competitive cognitive artefacts that steal my mental abilities!
I was going to show you how to use one but there are so many resources online I found a video instead. This one stars the guy from Terminator 2 who played the evil T1000, molten metally guy. He isn't wearing a police uniform in this but is clearly recognisable. Celebrities help children learn.
What a tool! The guy not the abacus. I hope daddy does a better job than that.
Anyway, daddy makes me learn lots of stuff. We play with cards with pictures on them, we build stuff out of lego and of course, all of the books. We kind of live like those Amish people but instead of a horse, we have a Honda. Well, I have my unicorn too.
Mummy and daddy are trying really hard to make sure I learn how to use my body and brains to do things before all of the technology takes them away. I have never met granddad but I heard he would say television rots your brain but, what happens if the brain hasn't yet developed, what gets rotten? Maybe it just fills with rot instead.
As hard work as the days are, they are fun. I learn so much and my parents are really surprised at how fast I pick up on things. Damn it! I say, learning is awesome. Daddy teaches me most of my English and I am pretty sure I am not going to be able to use most of it outside of the house.
Some people say 'Kids should be kids' and I agree completely. They should be introduced to many things and given the opportunity to play and learn to see what interests them. For the adults out there with skills and passions, where did the seeds of interest start for you?
For the coders and developers, the mathematicians and scientists, the engineers and astronauts, I think most will find that the interests to be great at something started around where I am, in the home playing and learning without thinking about why? Just doing. If you want your children to have skills, give them the space to develop them in the home, don't wait until school kills their spirit.
Anyway, bedtime. See you Gen! soon.
<3
Smallsteps