Things you can’t believe your teenager doesn’t know

[Annoyingwurringnoise]

My teenage DS, who went to a Church of England primary school, does not know the song Little Donkey. I am utterly perplexed as to how this can possibly be. He’s been a donkey twice in nativity plays, once at preschool and once at school, but he swears he doesn’t remember Little Donkey.

What things have you found out your teenagers don’t know that’s just left you scratching your head in disbelief?

I'm guessing she has parents who are Beatles fans!

Apparently not. She is mad on 60s pop, found out her Grandfather had been to a Kinks concert, and kept the ticket. She (bless her!) didn't wheedle to be given it, just asked to see it. He put in a frame and gave it to her. She was totallay made up.

Most teens who are into music will absolutely know about albums. Waiting for the new album from whoever is still a big thing and much anticipated. I think any who don’t know about albums and just listen to playlists are probably more casual/incidental music listeners.

That's lovely!

One school I worked in had a 'do now' a task that was on the board when they walked in. They were expected to walk in tot he room in silence, go to their seats and do the 'do now task', I was teaching computer science so mine was always to log on to your computer and then 'silent reading' all children had to have a reading book with them (equipment check at the start of the day, if they didn't have a book they could borrow one).

So over 5 lessons a day they could potentially be reading for 25 mins in short blocks. I was only there a few months but if I was in charge I'd do this in every school.

Analogue watches are part of the uniform at DDs normal state primary school for Yr1-6 and they use them regularly to reinforce both timekeeping and the act of being able to tell the time. Digital watches not allowed.

The post box was the first place she was allowed to go alone. Novelty has worn off now though.

However a lot of history has been learnt through Horrible Histories, which isn't 100% accurate (but she can name a lot of monarchs!)

I went 5hrough a number of these with my teen last night. She was hazy on income tax but in the right ballpark. The main thing she is wobbly on is an analogue clock, but that is due to her dyslexia/dyspraxia rather than any lack of effort (oh the hours we spent...)

Analogue watches are part of the uniform at DDs normal state primary school for Yr1-6 and they use them regularly to reinforce both timekeeping and the act of being able to tell the time. Digital watches not allowed

Sounds a bit archaic. Digital time is much more common nowadays.

Digital time may be more common, but it is still 'expected' that adults know how to read a clock face. We have 5 analogue clocks in our house, plus you see them on churches etc. They're more pleasing on the eye than digital ones too.

imnotthatkindofmum

Our local museum has a through the decades section of gadgets. My dyson was in there.

Is that the Discovery Museum?

Ok, but analogue clocks help teach about angles etc so still worth looking at

Analogue are also better for working out exam timings, as you can see how long 45 minutes is etc. We have to have a digital and analogue clock in the exam hall. I have an analogue clock face on my smart watch.

My DS is a bit younger but he also thought it was ball-balls 😂

No, it's had a heavy day!

45 minutes is 45 minutes.

No matter what clock you use

My 15yo DSD was wearing a Nirvana t shirt but didn’t know who Kurt Cobain was.

I was surprised she doesn’t know quite a few musical icons - Freddie Mercury, Whitney Houston, Prince, David Bowie, Arethra Franklin etc. No idea about any music before the last three years or so. No idea who Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Merck Streep etc. are.

We play a lot of music and watch a lot of films but then she has had a smart phone superglued to her hand for the last six years so I guess none of it has sunk in.

I don’t think we have real mega stars or icons like we used to.

But she also doesn’t know who Theresa May and David Cameron were, no idea about Tony Blair …

That’s embarrassing! My 9yo knows who Theresa May is.

But by the time she/he is 15, they might not.

Yes but you can see it is 3/4 of an hour on an analogue clock. They are quite useful for teaching fractions too. Oh and you can use one as a compass as well, I know a smart phone can do that but only if it has a signal.

Also for giving relative positions - it's at 11 o'clock or whatever.

Still haven't let dd forget that she thought Kent was next to Norfolk at 16. She's much more clued up on geography since learning to drive

They obviously bleed sky blue #CTID

Teen DD2 thought Stirling Moss was a Scottish castle.

That surprised me, because generally she's pretty good.

My DS didn’t know who Stirling Moss was either, but then I’m not really surprised, why would he?

he can tell the time on an analogue clock though, in fact I’m pretty sure he could do that by the age of about five.

doesn’t know the Lord’s prayer though, which I was quite surprised about, even though we aren’t remotely religious. I know it, and I certainly didn’t learn it from my parents.