More information help us make good long-term decisions or not

[shootingstar]

Cursive writing is fine for young kids since they learn the letters slowly and build up understanding to words, etc. Don't know how kid's brain works learning strictly letters without learning to handwrite.

For adults, computers do help get around atrocious handwriting and may facilitate for some creative writers, even more creative brainstorming. I did handwrite some of my university papers in first 2 years. then my handwriting truly deteroriated to a point where 1-2 professors complained about my essay writing during tests. It affected my mark.

I find computer helps me move along with my thoughts when I want to spit them out as fast as I think. So for some writers and thinkers, computers can help in the creative/brainstorming process. Then I can edit later without physical effort of rewrites.

Had a long chat with 1 of my sisters who is having problems understanding her 8 yr. old daughter whom she knows has fabulous memory and was motivated to read 2 yrs. ago. But now she doesn't seem to be as motivated. I am familiar with the same child who loves hanging around adults and striking up conversations but doesn't naturally talk to children at length, her age.

As an aunt and non-parent, I try to be very careful how to offer advice. But at least sis and I were like all other siblings --all 6 of us became quickly voracious book readers as children. We know the value for lifelong love of reading. None of our parents read to us. Reading book to children is a cultural practice. For traditional older Chinese parents, they weren't raised like that. Nor did I read for baby siblings when I was a teen. It just never occurred to me nor was I told to do so at home.

Besides my mother doesn't know much English and my father was either at work or too tired. (He was bilingual. Taught himself English as an adult here in Canada when he had several young children already...) But he did monitor our academic marks...and if convenient, drive us to the library to drop/get books before he went to work in evening.

Her daughter wants to have her own blog...just like her aunt...me. It's disconcerting to my sister because I do have commenters which immediately sends a signal to daughter that there other people (strangers) out there on the 'Net.

I think it's the blog "stories", photos she likes to look at. I told sis, that blog can be made private to an select audience.... Rightfully, sis has limited her children 6 & 8 to iPad use on weekends.. under 1 hr. each day or something like that.