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Comment by jebarker | Hacker News Reader

My 3 year old is also frequently complemented on her language skills. She talks non-stop and is well ahead of other kids we meet in her vocabulary and use of language. She watches TV most days.

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I taught myself English at age 5 from watching American television. To this day I sound like I was born in SF despite not spending more than 6 months total there in my life. Television, and internet TV in particular, is the most amazing tool if you start using it properly. I mean ffs, I have access to lectures by world experts in every field one click away. 50 years ago you had to go on a sabbatical for a year to have a chance of doing what I for an hour before falling asleep now.

The internet is a grocery store. If you let a child pick out their own food then some will choose a balanced meal. But many, perhaps most, will choose candy. When you're dealing with populations then you have to think statistically.

If you let children play outside without supervision they will decide to open a cat to see how it works before too long.

You don't need to think statistically, you need to parent.

>open a cat to see how it works before too long

So what? To a literal reading of Tom Sawyer, dead cats are a standard American toy. Might even help cure warts.

>You don't need to think statistically, you need to parent.

Indeed. Parent with the assumption that your child will become a statistic.

>Parent with the assumption that your child will become a statistic.

With a parent like that I'm sure they will.

*parent with the assumption that you child will become a statistic if you don't

Thanks for the judgement though

I think the "Rachel" effect on global toddler vocabulary is deeply underestimated.

I'm guessing, after a bit of searching, that you're referring to

https://www.youtube.com/@msrachel

Should be. Only Rachel YT show I know for kids.

Indeed, my daughter is a big Miss Rachel fan

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