Does this make me a bad dad?

Indeed it is. We do loads of swimming, and it has many, many benefits both in terms of health and for the quality time it gives us.

But unfortunately it will do nothing to pull his joints into alignment. For that he needs to stretch various tendons that are currently shorter than they need to be. And strengthen various muscles that stabilise the smaller, often overlooked but crucially important joints. That's why the specialist insists on martial arts, gymnastics or dance, as these are the kind of exercises that really develop the strength, flexibility and alignment needed to reduce the risk of various bits wearing out prematurely.

 

They do need to be "tech savvy" but surely they need to learn to use their brains first? They can no longer do arithmatic without the help of a calculator.

 

Being able to do mental arithmetic is becoming less and less important. And it's certainly not a good measure of brain power.

In my job for example, it's very technical seeing as I'm a software developer and data analyst. My day is very busy. I'm pretty sure my boss would rather me so end my time and mental energy on doing the stuff I specialise in, rather than the mental arithmetic anyone can do.

 

I absolutely agree.

My point is that it's no use being able to do mental arithmetic faster than most people can type their sum into a calculator, if they have no idea how to do anything else.

 

That is rather arrogant Clueless. Also, they are not learning mental arithmetic, they are LEARNING to use artificial means to make calculations.

 

How so?

EDIT: by all means answer that if you wish, but I'm so arrogant that I don't care either way. The thread is taking a turn onto a path in which I have no interest.

 

I'm pretty sure my boss would rather me so end my time and mental energy on doing the stuff I specialise in, rather than the mental arithmetic anyone can do.[/QUOTE]

You assume anyone can do mental arithmetic when 7 and 8 year olds use calculators to do their sums?

 

You accuse me of being arrogant, and then justify it by making sweeping, unsubstantiated statements against an entire age group.

Jolly good for you. I'm wholly convinced, without any need for constructive reasoning, that you are right. I can be absolutely assured of this on the basis that you are always right, and everybody that is not you is an idiot

 

Surely that is why they go to school: to "have an idea"?
The way I see it, you have to have some idea of how maths works to use a calculator in the first instance anyway.

But, back to the topic in hand:

Maybe, (just throwing the thought out there) cl1.1 knows Daddy works with "gadgets" all day long and he's simply wanting to be a bit more like you?