I am not a fan of Sid the Science Kid, so my opinion here is a little biased. I don't appreciate a show that depicts children going to school only to learn about science. Plus the cartoon kids on the show are nearly incoherent: "Like wow! The human body is like totally awesome."
So today, as the TV babysat Lucy while I caught up on work, I caught the tail end of Sid the Science Kid. Sid was explaining that he'd learned in school that when your stomach makes noise, it isn't talking to you. I assume he was referring to the ever popular "your belly's talking" set of expressions. Sid cleared the air (thank God!) by saying that the noise is digestion beginning. Now if an 8 year old responded to me saying "your belly's talking" with "no, that's only the beginning of digestion" I'd be apt to find him impertinent and sadly adult.
Fine, teach your kids about the functions of the human body at an early age. But is there anything wrong with something like the body being a little mysterious until a certain age? Is there really any harm in believing your stomach is talking to you, or that watermelon seeds might take sprout if you swallow them, or in the value of lost teeth to some eccentric fairy with a wand and wad of cash? I am often disturbed to see how proud people are when their children see through something like the tooth fairy early on. It as if they are saying "Look at my kid, she's so filled with doubt! I love how realistic my 3 year old is!"
I'd rather Sid the Science Kid not disenchant the world for Lucy quite yet, so he may have to sit out of our viewing line up for a while. Perhaps the lesson is to have her do something more constructive while I'm working...
Monday, September 21, 2009
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3 comments:
well written
amen to that!
thank God for anthony and his laid back and more silly approach to life...it is helping me relax and remember the very simple truth that being a kid is beautiful and the magic and wonder of it all should be savored as long as possible.
Love you
What do you mean the body should be mysterious to a child? I'm twice 40, and it's still a mystery. How can an organism of 40 trillion cells, working as a unit, not cause some wonder? Now there is a theory that each cell may have a rudimentary brain. Think about it. Single cell animals know how to find food, eat, replicate. Is that not something to think about? Love your blog
Thanks, Michelle and Grandpa, for your comments. G, I certainly agree that with most things the more we peel back the layers the more fascinating they becomes. I just think it is sad that my generation is so often bent on raising children that don't hold any wonder at all. If the show explained the body as you did I'd be okay with that-- instead they act as though every child's curiosity can be easily sated with a very adult, very simple explanation. I just don't want to be so quick to explain away everything to my kids as if it is so easily grasped.
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