#they don't

[bamsara]

Doodled concept stuff for future scenes in TROD

Narinder is having a Great Time as god experiencing weird mortal dreams

[eldenhensonarchive]

I'm not crying.

.

[zimowahistoria-sbcl]

also 40-year-old ciel with an 18-year-old-looking sebastian. he deliberately made himself look younger just to provoke reactions from people.

whenever they’re seen together and someone asks, “is that your son?”, ciel calmly replies, “that’s my butler.”

usually the response is something like, “rather young for a butler,” but their eyes make it obvious they’re imagining that sebastian’s duties don’t stop at helping ciel undress.

[bethanydelleman]

There are a few posts going around and notes on one post of mine that imply that screens aren't needed to occupy kids and you can just use like, blocks, which is ridiculous on a few levels. You really think parents (mothers) everywhere are so dumb we haven't discovered toys? You think we all use something that every expert calls harmful that works less well than the alternative? No.

Screens are unfortunately uniquely effective at occupying children.

Let me give you two examples. My two kids are in early elementary school. I can work from home on PD days. While they have their screens (mix of TV, computer, and video games), I get 1-2 interruptions max. When their screen time is over, they are in my office constantly. Can you come look at what I built (I'm working), we're fighting (I'm working), can I have a snack (yes) let me tell you a very long story (I'm working) just sits there staring at me (not great for working). Now if they were more used to being home while I worked, they'd probably adjust but often they just end up hanging around in my office because kids like being near adults. They have two entire playrooms bursting with toys that they enjoy, and yet.

When I had a home daycare, I had five children from age 18 months to 3 years in my home. I only used screens during nap time for the older kids who could not nap (or they wouldn't sleep at night*). I did this because I needed the kids safe, quiet, and not fighting. They would happily play with toys, but I need to supervise them for that to be safe/conflict-free and kids are loud when they play, they might wake up the nappers. Nap time was my only break in a 9-10 hour day, so the non-nappers got Paw Patrol on the TV.

To those who say we didn't have screens in the past, yeah, I know (again, do you think we are idiots?), but most kids worked or else you were rich and had nursemaids and nannies. And people have also used corporal punishment on kids for centuries. I'm sure kids will totally bug you less if they are terrified of you. Also, as someone else has pointed out, kids were not supervised in the past as much as we are expected to supervise them now (which may be a positive thing but sometimes goes overboard but that is a different discussion).

Also ALSO, all those fun, unique child stimulation activities you see online include a ton of parental labour and materials. Let's be honest, usually female parent labour. My kids and daycare kids got their rice container and construction truck chickpeas but that did very much take up a lot of my time, especially the clean up. I was working in childcare at the time, so I could do it. I have much less time and energy now that I'm working full time in research again. "But my mom..." SHUT UP! Your mother is a heroine, maybe you should try appreciating her unpaid labour instead of shaming other women on the internet who are struggling.

Lastly, almost nothing (except books, if you child is old enough to read) is as compact and easy to transport as a screen. Colouring books/toys are a mess in a car and nearly impossible on public transit. An old cell phone is tiny and clean.

Screens have diminishing returns, eventually the kids will wander away, and they shouldn't be overused, but parents use them because they generally work better than toys if you really need the kids to be quiet, safe, and occupied** Screen time should be limited, but it is not as easy as "just use blocks and colouring books" I genuinely wish it was. Screens are a massive temptation that I have to keep myself from overusing. It's like... if cigarettes weren't so addicting do you think we'd even need to be warned?

*many people deny that children exist who do not need naps under 3 years old. I guarantee you, if my eldest napped after he was two and a half, he would be up until 10pm every night. It was awful. I was the same as a child. Not every young kid needs naps after 2, I don't know what to tell you

**for most children, not every child will watch screens and some children play very well independently. Age also matters, I didn't use screens below 18 months, obviously older children need less supervision.

[the-real-list-of-ominous-threats]

man if Indeed is to be believed, the only bachelor's-degree entry-level jobs that exist are sales, waiter, vet tech, and medical tech. what the fuck there aren't even (non-medical) science internships on here

[the-diamond-command]

Share the universal language of love and comfort. 🖤Share a hug with someone while we share one with you.

[unfairlyfallen]

The sea bugs are NOT MY FUCKING FRIENDS.

I do not know them, I do not want them, I am entirely unaffiliated.

I would actually argue that all crustaceans are of the Stranger. All of them.

.

.