TheHermit writes:
>I wrote:
>> You haven't spent much time around children, have you?
>I have and then some.
>
>Mainly in Africa and in the near and far east, where Santa Claus is an
alien
>to most children. Also in the ex Soviet Union and Republics, where this
kind
>of nonsense has died out.
Then you are aware of how children play with ideas through make-believe; how they are actually, on one level, aware that this is both play and make-believe, but still able treat it as significant on another level anyway; and the role that this fantasy life plays in their development and understanding of new concepts. And you understand, as well, that learning stratagies that work for one age group are completely useless on another age group. (This is why Mr. Rogers and the Teletubbies are unwatchable for most adults, but highly effective learning tools for their intended audiences.)
>For some reason the children in the places I mentioned seem to be
>so much "nicer", so much more responsible than most Western
>children I have met. I wonder if Santa "Claws" has anything to do
>with this?
I wonder as well. But the number of other variables that are dissimilar between our culture and theirs would make any such simple claims both foolish and unprovable. Not a stance I would expect you'd support upon reflection.
-Prof. Tim,
raised by an Early Childhood Education scholar/applied Pre-school/Day-care
program director.