A few weeks ago, I bamboozled Lucas into going to the park by way of the bank, thus taking the very l o n g way to the park so that I could get in some exercise.
While we were standing in line at the bank, he started fussing. In other words, he was on to me and wanted nothing more than to get out of the stroller and create some sort of havoc. To calm him down and keep him put, I gave him my iPhone.
This practice is normally a last resort and used mostly at restaurants so that his dad and I can finish our meal in peace and down our adult beverages with a small amount of dignity.
I have several toddler friendly apps on my phone; Voice Cards, Talking Tom, Toddler Puzzle Shapes and ABC Train, just to name a few. I also have “emergency” episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street and a playlist devoted to Lucas’ favorite tunes.
At any rate, he knows his way around an iPhone, without too much input or instruction from me. I don’t know how he knows, he just does, so I wasn’t too surprised when the middle aged gentleman in front of us asked me how old Lucas was. After I told him, he responded with shock and awe that someone so young could use the device so well. I laughed it off.
Lucas and I carried on a conversation about the shapes in the puzzle he was working on and I reiterated nine more times that we would eventually make it to the park when the man blurted out the most bizarre thing: “Daycare kid?”
I was a bit taken aback and it took me a good 30 seconds to reply, “No, I stay at home with him”, to which the man had nothing to say. No further insight into his strange question at all.
I’m still confused.
Up until now, I’ve been able to avoid any sort of Mommy vs. Mommy or Mommy vs. stranger who may or may not be a Mommy run-in, not that I would call this a run-in per say, but it was certainly one of the first out in public Mommy moments I’ve had that has stayed with me. I haven’t been able to shake this exchange for some reason. Why is that?
What did he mean by “daycare kid”?
What do you think? I would love to get your take.
P.S. If you have a favorite toddler app, please let me know!
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He probably thought he learned it from an older child or sibling.
Oh ouch. I won't speculate why he said that but I'd be a little hurt. People assume too easily.
We have an iPad, no iPhone, and my son is only 18 months, but he loves the drawing/ doodling apps, and the piano/ music ones.
That really doesn't make sense to me either. I don't even know why he would say something like that.
Daycare Kid is a term used when people see kids that are technically savvy – they assume that technology has been put in their hands in place of the actual parent/child relationship.
In reality, children of this generation are already technically savvy and it has nothing to do with being in daycare or not – AND, if the child spends more time at home during the developmental years he actually ends up being more intelligent because he benefits from emotional intelligence.
I've heard the "daycare kid" term used when children of a young age show advanced verbal skills and easily recognize shapes, colors, letters, etc. I've always heard people say that when a child shows more intellectual advancement because they're in a school/social setting.
I know what you mean by the comment staying with you, it probably would have done the same to me. But, I'd take it as a compliment. You're staying home with him teaching him SO much! You aren't just playing at home, you're teaching him so many skills. 🙂
That is a weird comment. I've never heard it used, so the others who suggested context might be right. Or maybe he sensed your frustration at trying to keep him occupied and thought you weren't used to dealing with him. Or maybe he thought you were his daycare provider and were doing personal errands on "work" time.
Either way, I wouldn't worry about it. He probably just doesn't know too much about kids and is way too fast to stereotype. (Easier said than done, I know.)
My son was very verbal and a very early reader…just from our love of books and reading. A lady heard him reading a sign in a store and said, "Oh, he must watch a LOT of Sesame Street!" which left me almost speechless (he didn't watch TV at all!). She just assumed I parked him there for hours, from her tone.
That stuck with me for a while. This man's comment? Odd. But I think it was the technology angle, maybe?
My L loves my iPhone. She can navigate her way through it better than I can. Her 2 favorite things: pictures and my email.
Maybe he was thinking Lucas didn't look like you?
I immediately thought that he meant daycare kid because stereotypically daycare is thought to be like early school where a lot of people assume stay at home is socially isolating and few learning activities. Therefore, "This kid knows his stuff so he must be in daycare, huh?"
that is weird. my kid is a "daycare kid" and he doesn't know much about technology at all. If I give him my phone he just breaks things.
I would have asked the guy why…but I am all curious (aka ballsy) that way 🙂
That is so bizarre! My kids are "daycare kids" but they don't have technology like TVs, video games or phones (unless you count the microphone the pastor uses in chapel) at the school.
Some fav toddler apps on my phone are:
Koi pond, talking rex, frog checkers, math ninja (although I have to help witht he math), feed me, photo touch toys (you can use your own voice recording for the pictures)
That is certainly very odd.. Who knows what he was thinking…? Lucas is very advanced for his age-I can't believe he knows exactly how to play the games on my iPhone and even unlock my phone! Geesh! I can't even imagine what the generation after Lucas' will be like with technology!