Hey parents! Are you raising a generation of nincompoops?

[NotUrsula]

I don't know many adults who wear a watch anymore, either.

I see no need for a watch. A watch has batteries that need replacing, or needs to be wound. A watch can be slow or fast. Watches have to be worn, and remembered to be put on. Watches affect tan lines.

A phone's time is synced with cellphone towers, so it's always right, or at least very close to right.

Why should I wear a watch when I can just look at my phone?

Because the phone won't do you much good in a classroom or in a courthouse where they are not allowed -- or if you forgot to charge the battery last night.

(The battery in my watch is good for about 3 years instead of 3 days, and being a modern watch, it doesn't die if it gets wet. Also, I can use it hands-free to tell time.)

Kidding aside, I think it's rather hilarious how younger people have now essentially returned to the era of the pocket watch. Folks, we DID the thing with the watch that you had to take out of your pocket to check; the wristwatch was an improvement for a reason.

 

[Magpie]

My 14yo daughter went to Europe with my mother last summer. A few days into their trip, my mother mentioned to me during the nightly phone call that my daughter needed a watch!

I asked what the problem was and my mother complained that my daughter was constantly asking her the time. "I'm not a walking timepiece! Why isn't she wearing a watch of her own? Doesn't she know how to tell time?"

Well, I know for a fact the kid CAN tell time. Not only did I teach her myself when she was six, but she has a wall clock in her bedroom that she uses to go to bed and get up in the morning. I also know that she thinks wearing a wristwatch is "uncomfortable" and "no one does it" - which is why all the wristwatches my mother has ever given her are in a pile at the bottom of her jewelry box.

So I got my daughter on the phone and asked her why she couldn't just haul her phone out of her pocket and find out the time for herself.

"Well," replied my daughter, "Grandma's got her clock right there on her wrist. So I figured it was easy for her to check!"

So I got Grandma back and told her, "Next time she asks what time it is, tell her to look it up herself!" Grandma was quite surprised to learn that my daughter's cellphone actually tells time. (Talk about a generational gap!)

I can totally see the kid's perspective, however. If you're going to walk around dressed like a timepiece, you shouldn't be shocked when people treat you like one.

 

[luvsJack]

Watches are needed in places where cell phones are not allowed. Personally, I think it is important to know how to tell time on a non-digital clock.

I don't know about ice trays and hangers but I find it very sad when a 19 year old stands in front of me and has no clue how to write a check. I have had students come to register with only one check from mom or dad. They start trying to make out the check and mess it up so bad it cannot be fixed--so they cannot complete registration and they cannot get books. Its ridiculous. Check writing should be taught in high school.

As for tying shoes (and if you are a preschool/K teacher; you would probably think that shoe tying is much more important than some people seem to), one of the teachers at our child care center taught dd when she was 3. That was something we tried to teach most of the kids. I HATE velcro shoes and I HATE seeing kids go around with their shoelaces always untied. So we taught them how. Made the kids very proud of themselves when they learned how.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Because the phone won't do you much good in a classroom or in a courthouse where they are not allowed -- or if you forgot to charge the battery last night.

(The battery in my watch is good for about 3 years instead of 3 days, and being a modern watch, it doesn't die if it gets wet. Also, I can use it hands-free to tell time.)

Kidding aside, I think it's rather hilarious how younger people have now essentially returned to the era of the pocket watch. Folks, we DID the thing with the watch that you had to take out of your pocket to check; the wristwatch was an improvement for a reason.

And kidding aside--my DS11 actually HAS a pocket watch which he uses to tell time in places he cannot have his cell on (like flying, some museums, etc) because he does not like the feel of a watch on his wrist

My mom has severe reactions to any metal touching her skin for long periods of time (and even plastic watches tend to have metal pins holding the face to the strap) so she adores being able to check the time with her cell phone (prior to that she kept a wrist watch in her purse but never wore it).

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Because the phone won't do you much good in a classroom or in a courthouse where they are not allowed -- or if you forgot to charge the battery last night.

Classrooms have clocks on the wall.

And if I am in a courthouse, I'm probably not worried about what time it is, as long as it isn't jail time. Although last time I had jury duty, I was allowed to have my phone in the courthouse.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Watches are needed in places where cell phones are not allowed. Personally, I think it is important to know how to tell time on a non-digital clock.

I never said I didn't think it was important to be able to tell time on an analog clock. I just said I didn't see a reason to wear a watch.

 

[Magpie]

Watches are needed in places where cell phones are not allowed. Personally, I think it is important to know how to tell time on a non-digital clock.

I don't know about ice trays and hangers but I find it very sad when a 19 year old stands in front of me and has no clue how to write a check. I have had students come to register with only one check from mom or dad. They start trying to make out the check and mess it up so bad it cannot be fixed--so they cannot complete registration and they cannot get books. Its ridiculous. Check writing should be taught in high school.

As for tying shoes (and if you are a preschool/K teacher; you would probably think that shoe tying is much more important than some people seem to), one of the teachers at our child care center taught dd when she was 3. That was something we tried to teach most of the kids. I HATE Velcro shoes and I HATE seeing kids go around with their shoelaces always untied. So we taught them how. Made the kids very proud of themselves when they learned how.

That's hardly new! I remember being that 19yo back in the late 80's. My mother never taught me anything about money and I went to an academic high school so we didn't get anything resembling "life skills". I was pretty lost when I hit university.

I wasn't the only in that boat, either! But we figured it out, usually with the help of very patient registrars.

 

[LiberalPrincess]

Watches are needed in places where cell phones are not allowed. Personally, I think it is important to know how to tell time on a non-digital clock.

I don't know about ice trays and hangers but I find it very sad when a 19 year old stands in front of me and has no clue how to write a check. I have had students come to register with only one check from mom or dad. They start trying to make out the check and mess it up so bad it cannot be fixed--so they cannot complete registration and they cannot get books. Its ridiculous. Check writing should be taught in high school.

As for tying shoes (and if you are a preschool/K teacher; you would probably think that shoe tying is much more important than some people seem to), one of the teachers at our child care center taught dd when she was 3. That was something we tried to teach most of the kids. I HATE velcro shoes and I HATE seeing kids go around with their shoelaces always untied. So we taught them how. Made the kids very proud of themselves when they learned how.

I agree with all of this, and I will also say that shoes are not the only thing that require basic tying skills. I am pretty shocked that so many people in this thread are so defensive and almost proud of the lack of some pretty basic skills their kids don't have. I thought the article was spot on, and after leading an intern program for a US Senator, I was shocked at the lack of practical knowledge coming from both high school and college students. When you have to take time out of job training to explain the basics of laundry and grocery shopping for kids on their own for the first time, I blame the parents, not just technology. I have seen enough posts here from teachers, professors and employers to know that there seems to be a growing problem with lack of basic skills and a sense of entitlement in the coming generations. It is nice that parents want to do everything for their children -- it is not so great when that child enters the working world without some very basic living skills.

 

[Robinrs]

I agree with all of this, and I will also say that shoes are not the only thing that require basic tying skills. I am pretty shocked that so many people in this thread are so defensive and almost proud of the lack of some pretty basic skills their kids don't have. I thought the article was spot on, and after leading an intern program for a US Senator, I was shocked at the lack of practical knowledge coming from both high school and college students. When you have to take time out of job training to explain the basics of laundry and grocery shopping for kids on their own for the first time, I blame the parents, not just technology. I have seen enough posts here from teachers, professors and employers to know that there seems to be a growing problem with lack of basic skills and a sense of entitlement in the coming generations. It is nice that parents want to do everything for their children -- it is not so great when that child enters the working world without some very basic living skills.

It's not just this generation, my son's Dad, my EX, was raised by a enabling mother who taught him NOTHING about life, even how to pay a stinking bill! She did everything from him, even when I was with him, which was 7 years!

This grown man knew only enough to get from one job to the next but nothing about housework or just plain basic skills. I remember thinking "no one is EVER gonna blame me if my son is like that."

My son is 17 and the polar opposite of that. He knows more about life than his father does to this day. It was intentional. The real world shocked ME, I don't want it to shock him.

 

[JVL1018]

I am going to say it,

My name is Ilovejack02 and my 8 yr old cant tie shoes.


Well , he isn't very good at it let's say.


Thanks to crocs, sperrys, flip flops and sketchers zstraps, which he loves because he thinks are cool. I don't think we really have had any shoes that tie since he was 3 lol.

I bought him an new pair of Nike a cpl of weeks ago because I refuse to buy the zstraps anymore . We are working on the tying shoe issue, I promise !

To the rest of the issues, I am trying not to raise a nincompoop lol!

My little guy actually does know what ice trays look like. My ice maker in outdoor fridge died , so I keep ice trays filled out there and his grandmother also uses ice trays.

Ha! If it makes you feel better, my just turned 9 year old son can't tie his shoes. I don't know why, he's tried! I always thought it was because he was a lefty-but I don't think I can use that excuse any more. LOL

He does know what an ice cube tray is for the same reason as above.

He is "normal" in every other way-top of his grade in school, plays sports, can tell time, writes in script, potty trained at 2, no fine motor skill issues, just these dang shoelaces!
My BFF is an OT, I'm going to get her over here and teach him one day.

My daughter learned how to tie her shoes when she was 3 or 4, so i'm not a totally sucky parent.

 

[luvsJack]

That's hardly new! I remember being that 19yo back in the late 80's. My mother never taught me anything about money and I went to an academic high school so we didn't get anything resembling "life skills". I was pretty lost when I hit university.

I wasn't the only in that boat, either! But we figured it out, usually with the help of very patient registrars.

If I know on the front end that they don't have any idea how to fill the thing out, I wil stand there with them and tell them step by step.

We don't have a huge number that can't but we have several, of course these are the same ones that come in and say "I need help with this form" it asks name, address, phone, social, parent's name, income from line xxxx of the tax form (the tax form they have in their hand because it has to be attached to the form they are filling out). I have to bite my tongue not to say, "what exactly is it that needs explaining". I just smile and read it to them. Once I SAY "name", they seem to be able to fill it out.

Edited to add: We do have some special needs students that would have to have the form read to them (we have staff that help these students). I am not talking about them. These are students in medical programs that have high ACT scores, especially in Reading.

 

[luvsJack]

I never said I didn't think it was important to be able to tell time on an analog clock. I just said I didn't see a reason to wear a watch.

I wasn't saying that you did.

I don't think everyone HAS to wear a watch, but if a person is going to be punctual, its usually a good idea to have some type of time piece OTHER than a phone.

 

[NotUrsula]

Classrooms have clocks on the wall.

And if I am in a courthouse, I'm probably not worried about what time it is, as long as it isn't jail time. Although last time I had jury duty, I was allowed to have my phone in the courthouse.

But apparently if those clocks are analog, the students can't read them.

As to courthouses, it depends on the courthouse. The Federal district courthouse here confiscates all cell phones at the security gate; they give you a claim check. It can be difficult if you have several hearings in the building to get to on time. (Lots of people tend to forget to pick their phones up on their way out, too.)

 

[minkydog]

I am the poster who mentioned this.

Honestly I have never asked my daughter how she knows what time it is at school. They are not allowed to use cell phones so that is out. At home, we have one analog clock in our room but in the kitchen it is digital on the microwave and in the living room it is digitial on the cable box.

She is a smart girl but for some reason this escapes her.

I have heard the same issue being discussed on a local radio station. Several people called in saying their children could not tell analog time either.

I have also heard watch sales are down among younger people because they are used to having the time on their phones.

I haven't worn a watch in about 10 years--I keep my cell phone in my pocket. We have several digital clocks and one regular clock in my house. My kids can read them all, but if DH tells you the time on the one in the dining room, you better check it yourself. He's only right about 50% of the time.

 

[minkydog]

It's not just this generation, my son's Dad, my EX, was raised by a enabling mother who taught him NOTHING about life, even how to pay a stinking bill! She did everything from him, even when I was with him, which was 7 years!

My DH is the Golden Boy in his big fat Greek family. As such, he was never required to change sheets, do housework, clean toilets, or do laundry. In his favor, he did work in the family restaurant often opening and/or closing, so he wasn't a total deadbeat. When he went to college he put his sheets on the bed and there they stayed until one day he put his foot through the bottom sheet--it had been on the bed at least 9 weeks. His roommate couldn't believe it, but at least he showed him how to operate the washers and dryers. DH had been just taking his clothes home with him on weekends and letting his mother do them. Yeah...

Obviously, that doesn't fly with me. My kids were taught early on how to clean, cook, do laundry, operate a sewing machine, and pump gas. In an interesting twist, since DH became disabled 4yrs ago *he* has taken over the laundry--I bet I haven't done a whole dozen loads in the last 3 years. DH wants things neat and orderly and has no problem turning his hand to the things he is able to do. His mother can't believe it--he never did that stuff for her. But then she never required it either.

 

[okeydokey]

I think many parents do way too much for their kids these days. I have a friend who teaches kindergarten. This year she got a rough class. Half of them didn't know how to go to the bathroom by themselves. They didn't know how to pull their pants up and work a button or zipper. They asked her to wipe them. Please, teach your kids the basics.

 

[bluesaturn]

You baby boomers better off yourselves now. Those nincompoops are going to be running your nursing homes, and clearly they aren't going to be able to keep you alive and figure out how to use a can opener at the same time.

 

[Art 1]

My parents thought we were "nincompoops" because we had McDonalds, didn't walk five miles to school and had shoes! My grandmother's generation thought we were spoiled because we could vote and were free.

Every generation has it's upgrades. Doesn't make them nincompoops, just makes them adaptable to today.

Well said.

 

[Kathi OD]

nope. my "nincompoops" have all left the nest and somehow have learned to survive on their own. However, I don't think any of them has an ice cube tray, record player, or hand-operated can opener. Doesn't seem to stop them from doing what they need to do.

 

[crashbb]

My 14yo daughter went to Europe with my mother last summer. A few days into their trip, my mother mentioned to me during the nightly phone call that my daughter needed a watch!

I asked what the problem was and my mother complained that my daughter was constantly asking her the time. "I'm not a walking timepiece! Why isn't she wearing a watch of her own? Doesn't she know how to tell time?"

Well, I know for a fact the kid CAN tell time. Not only did I teach her myself when she was six, but she has a wall clock in her bedroom that she uses to go to bed and get up in the morning. I also know that she thinks wearing a wristwatch is "uncomfortable" and "no one does it" - which is why all the wristwatches my mother has ever given her are in a pile at the bottom of her jewelry box.

So I got my daughter on the phone and asked her why she couldn't just haul her phone out of her pocket and find out the time for herself.

"Well," replied my daughter, "Grandma's got her clock right there on her wrist. So I figured it was easy for her to check!"

So I got Grandma back and told her, "Next time she asks what time it is, tell her to look it up herself!" Grandma was quite surprised to learn that my daughter's cellphone actually tells time. (Talk about a generational gap!)

I can totally see the kid's perspective, however. If you're going to walk around dressed like a timepiece, you shouldn't be shocked when people treat you like one.

So your mother walks around dressed up like Cogsworth?

Otherwise, how does wearing a watch equal "dressed like a timepiece"??