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Comment by konschubert | Hacker News Reader

> My younger daughter is reading and writing simple words a full year before Kindergarten, thanks to engaging educational apps

This is going to be harsh, but I'm in the mood:

I don't think there is a strong correlation between the age at which somebody spells his first words and later academic success.

I guess if you put in the time you can teach any reasonably smart three year old a trick or two, but wouldn't they be able to learn that more quickly at the age of 6 or 7?

One of the things that helped me a lot during my studies was the ability to mentally vizualize complex topological situations. I don't think that's a skill you get from educational apps or from being able to spell your name at 8 months.

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Overall I agree, but maybe the person you're replying to just enjoys it.

My mother in law was a preschool teacher. Parents would ask when they would learn to spell, math, etc. She would say: after they learn to wait their turn in line and stop eating the paste.

My mom's favorite story is my oldest brother could read going into kindergarden. She told the teacher, who then asked: but does he know where he lives? Nope, he didn't.

> One of the things that helped me a lot during my studies was the ability to mentally vizualize complex topological situations. I don't think that's a skill you get from

I'm not convinced that's a skill you get from anything, as opposed to an inate talent (or set of talents). I'd want to see pretty strong evidence that it could be taught to someone without the inate talent.

I'm pretty sure I'm someone with that talent, since I was never taught how to do it.

> as opposed to an inate talent (or set of talents) [...] I'm pretty sure I'm someone with that talent, since I was never taught how to do it.

I'm sure that it's innate, because I can't visualize even simple things.

There have been a number of people who insist that they can teach me how to do that. They always start off with "Picture a..." When I tell them that I can't, I'm just being negative or uncooperative. Eventually, they get angry, throw tantrums, insult me, and stomp off like a child because I'm doing everything I can to prove them wrong, yet it never occurs to them that I simply can't do it. No, I'm always lazy, negative, and am allowing a diagnosis to define me.

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