Thanks, and I have very much felt this way until very recently. However, my daughter is in a Chinese kindergarten -- which is superb -- and we all love her being there. But it does mean she doesn't get exposed to much English -- given that even at home, I'm the only one who speaks English with her. Given all that, she speaks English fairly well (albeit with a Disney twang!). She has started to learn to read -- can put a few 3-4 letter words together, but in all honesty, I can't spend too much time with her on it. My wife spends a lot more time with her, but is also teaching her another language on top of it all.

My daughter is not lacking in human interaction -- she's rather too boisterous if anything! I see her less than her mum, but that's fairly normal, I think, and most week-ends I try to spend a good chunk of time with the family, and several nights a week, I am home for dinner, and then work (and FT!) after she's gone to bed.

I _believe_, correct me if I'm wrong, but there are fun ways to read type apps out there -- and although no substitution for sitting down with her for an hour a day, I really will never sit down with her for an hour a day to practice reading. I don't want her to become a tech junkie, so the tablet would be for treats if she's good -- perhaps instead of the DVDs she currently watches once or twice a week.

It's a good reminder, however, and I appreciate it.

tb

PS btw, have we had a similar conversation on FT about this before, there is a distinct sense of deja-vu!