Talk to your kid!

I had a psychology tuitorial some time ago and something was said, which disturbs me till now.

"My 3-yr old son ar, always watch tv one! Bad for his eyes..."
"Shh... Stop playing with the MRT pole! Sit down properly and keep quiet!"
"Don't disturb mummy. Mummy is doing things. Go and watch tv."

Haiz... Sadly, these are things that we commonly hear parents say to their children especially in Singapore.

Busy parents in Singapore often do not have time for their children.
They don't talk to their babies much. They rarely play with them.
Learning to play is part of their development, yea? That's why toddlers with siblings learn much better, because they got somebody to play with them.

Do you know that Singapore children learn language slower than children in other countries?
Why? Because nobody talks to them and they learn to keep quiet because they get scolded for speaking.
In fact, for children like that, I'd suggest parents letting them watch tv even more.

There is a critical period for toddlers to learn language. If you miss that, they'll have more difficulties learning language.
When parents don't talk to their children, how can they pick up language?

Haiz.
Hence, my tutor actually says that children in Singapore actually pick up language more from the tv.

Parents, please bear in mind that you have to speak perfect sentences to your toddler, correct grammar and phonics.
Shift your pitch higher, speak slowly and look at them when you speak.
They receive more better this way.

This is really tramatic for me. Even though I know children can learn too when they grow up, but isn't it better to start from young?

From this, I tell myself that I will be a good mother.
Listening to my children, talking to them, playing with them.
They are such precious gifts from God.
I think God's heart must has hurt when these little children are neglected.