Socialkidz deliver emoticons for gizmo savvy kids

Posted: 11/23/2011 10:11 AM IST

Kids raised on iPads may be better equipped for the working world than many adults by the time they reach their double digits, but some parents worry those basic face-to-face interactions aren't coming as naturally.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a new trend in child training classes: how to be a human 1.0. The program Socialkidz offers 12-week classes or one day workshops on body language, hand-shakes and making eye contact. Get this: they also teach kids how to receive phone-calls. Texting and emailing aren't on the menu.

Parents are paying up to $540 to have specialized experts teach kids those lessons that used to be in the parents or schools' domain, before the advent of apps.

There's no question, there's a level of privilege associated with outsourcing the basics of socializing. The classes, offered exclusively in the New York area for kids ages 4 and up, are part of a wider trend of wealthy, tech-savvy parents rearing back from tech-training their kids. But it's also a sign of the times when those overly-ambitious, highly-competitive parents are opting out of Mandarin and opera classes for their 4-year-olds in favor of teaching their kids how to shake hands.

Want to be depressed for the rest of the day? Check out this Socialkidz testimonial.

“Last Sunday, my daughter met someone new. She smiled, gave a firm handshake, and confidently looked that person in the eye. I was not around, but a friend called me the next day to comment on it, and I told her about socialsklz:-). My daughter loved the class and really wants to continue, even after the 4-session workshop."

It's not lost on me that my 65-year-old mom recently took a 12-week-class on the internet, while my 2-year old nephew might end up taking training classes on how to host a play-date in the near future. Are we all mixed up? I know my mom's internet class helped her with the basics of email etiquette (she's dropped the all-caps and the forwarded chain letters are fewer and far between). But I'm not sure it works in reverse. Do you think kids today really need a special class to learn the basics of face-to-face interactions?

Kids raised on iPads may be better equipped for the working world than many adults by the time they

reach their double digits, but some parents worry those basic face-to-face interactions aren't coming as

naturally.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a new trend in child training classes: how to be a human 1.0.

The program Socialkidz offers 12-week classes or one day workshops on body language, hand-shakes and

making eye contact. Get this: they also teach kids how to receive phone-calls. Texting and emailing

aren't on the menu.

Parents are paying up to $540 to have specialized experts teach kids those lessons that used to be in

the parents or schools' domain, before the advent of apps.

There's no question, there's a level of privilege associated with outsourcing the basics of socializing.

The classes, offered exclusively in the New York area for kids ages 4 and up, are part of a wider trend

of wealthy, tech-savvy parents rearing back from tech-training their kids. But it's also a sign of the

times when those overly-ambitious, highly-competitive parents are opting out of Mandarin and opera

classes for their 4-year-olds in favor of teaching their kids how to shake hands.

Want to be depressed for the rest of the day? Check out this Socialkidz testimonial.

“Last Sunday, my daughter met someone new. She smiled, gave a firm handshake, and confidently looked

that person in the eye. I was not around, but a friend called me the next day to comment on it, and I

told her about socialsklz:-). My daughter loved the class and really wants to continue, even after the

4-session workshop."

It's not lost on me that my 65-year-old mom recently took a 12-week-class on the internet, while my

2-year old nephew might end up taking training classes on how to host a play-date in the near future.

Are we all mixed up? I know my mom's internet class helped her with the basics of email etiquette (she's

dropped the all-caps and the forwarded chain letters are fewer and far between). But I'm not sure it

works in reverse. Do you think kids today really need a special class to learn the basics of

face-to-face interactions?