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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 8 Volume II, Issue XVI 15 August 2000 It’s All a Matter of Style By Janet Hoffmann Today I was thinking about how generations change their styles. Culturally, do we do this to ensure that we keep outdating ourselves, or is it just the fact that each generation gets tired of the same old style? Perhaps if styles stayed the same there wouldn’t be as much profit for those selling their wares, or maybe it’s just that teens want something different—selecting different styles of dress, hair, and music, etc. Regardless of the reason why styles change, I’ve noticed that when you are a teen you seem to have the strongest opinions about all other generations’ styles. All styles seem funny except, of course, the style that today’s teens choose. I’ll never forget having a conversation with a teen who was looking through her yearbook and talking to some friends. She stated, “I was looking through my mom’s yearbook and you should have seen how funny everyone looked.” I made a comment about how her kids would think her styles were funny too some day. She turned to me indignantly and said, “No they won’t because our styles are cute!” Now this was in the 80’s when bangs stood six inches straight up off the forehead. I started laughing and asked her if she didn’t think her kids would think their hair looked a little strange sticking straight up? She responded “No, because it looks good.” I retorted, “Don’t you think your mom’s generation thought their hair was cute too, at the time.” She said she didn’t know, but, for sure, it wasn’t. I could see that she was very serious, not able to understand the phenomenon. Since she wasn’t my child, I chose not to explain further. Today, every time I think of her comments, I still chuckle—no offense intended Annie! I’ll have to remember to ask her if she still feels the same way now that 14 years have passed by. I find it interesting that styles change but they usually come back after 30 years, but with a new twist. I’m one that enjoys a change so I enjoy changing styles, but others may like the style from a time past. Some still do their hair like they did in high school and it looks great on them. No one should ever criticize someone else’s style. But Annie, don’t worry, I make that same mistake more than I care to admit . . . and I’m not twelve years old. Please send us your favorite historical picture. OGDEN VALLEY NEWS P O BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 Dynamic Classrooms Are Not Quiet! Quiet classrooms do not mean that young children are learning. In fact, since oral language is very important during the early years, quiet classrooms may indicate that young children are not learning all they could be. Talking gives a child the opportunity to experiment with new words. It provides the vehicle for expressing ideas and testing current knowledge. Shared experiences are important, they give children something to talk about. Children learn the nuances of communication in groups by trying out their language skills. For example, they learn what a question sounds like and how loud is loud enough. Using words and talking about how things work, making comparisons, and retelling experiences lead to increased intellectual development. When children reconstruct experiences, sequence events, and point out similarities or differences, they are clearly engaging in higher-level thinking skills. And when kids are encouraged to ask questions, they not only gain information from adults’ responses, they also build their competence—and confidence—as active seekers of knowledge and understanding. The vocabularies children use in reading and writing are based on the words they are familiar with from listening and speaking. But expanded vocabularies and other aspects of language growth occur through using language. Talking in the classroom may be a little noisy, but positive results are easily heard! Note: This article is provided by Old Firehouse Child Care. This information is taken from Family-Friendly Communications for Early Childhood Programs, published by the NAEYC, Deborah Diffly and Kathy Morrison, editors, 1996. CHILDREN & TEEN’S PERFORMING GROUP Singing and Dancing Boys & Girls Ages 3 & up 731-1502 Classes held at Old Fire House Child Care - Eden |
