Jackie Kennedy on the Amalfi Coast, 1962

via Habitually Chic.

Can we please just let kids be kids?

This very disturbing ad for Sylvan Learning Center popped up this morning as I was having oatmeal and tea, reading the Times online in my cafe (I’ll describe this cafe in more detail at a later date).

The wording suggests that summer learning can increase your child’s understanding, with the guaranteed result of moving them up an entire grade level. I’m assuming they mean turning a C average student to a B average student…or an A student to an outcast. The suggestion is clearly written as 3 hours a week of study can save your child from being stupid. But the picture….

The picture is of this young boy, smiling, enjoying what appears to be a fun summer day at the pool. What childhood would be complete without memories like this? What also appears to be happening with this child…he seems to be using one hand to maybe pump water out of his ear canal – we who swim know what he’s doing. But the ear that is supposed to be pouring water out, seems to be pumping out information like math and vocabulary.

The message this image sends is: swimming over the summer will make your child dumb!

Now I’m pretty sure that is not the intention of this ad. But the folks at Sylvan need to read a little deeper into the basics of psychology and imagery in advertising.

I know our nation is full of numb-skulls who can’t keep up with those shining Asian countries. But seriously, we need to progress to a more holistic method of child-rearing. Play is how children learn. Emotional intelligence and quality of life are just as important, if not moreso than book smarts.

Thoughts?

How’d those kids get so smart?

Homeschooling. Git wit it.

My sister Camille (aka Cinemomma), a full-time filmmaker, full-time Mom, full-time hustler is ahead of the game. These are her children, ages 2 and 4. Their most recent lesson: The Water Cycle.

A quote from the Cinemomma herself:
“We just finished up our day today with the water cycle, we read about it, saw a Magic School Bus episode about it and made this little art ditty, ask Amali to explain it to you next time you speak to her.”