Lilly the explorer
December 28, 2007 10:01 AM Subscribe
Lilly - The world. Incredibly cute and quite amazing.
next stop: TMZ
posted by parmanparman at 10:05 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by parmanparman at 10:05 AM on December 28, 2007
I want to be as enthusiastic about anything in my life, as Lilly is about finding stuff on a map.
posted by quin at 10:08 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by quin at 10:08 AM on December 28, 2007
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not too cute, or amazing anymore.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:12 AM on December 28, 2007
Could not connect to MySQL database.
not too cute, or amazing anymore.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:12 AM on December 28, 2007
The YouTube link by her uncle with more videos about Lilly and info:
"Rachael Ray Geography Whiz" if you don't believe what you see. Lilly will also have a clip featured on Leno after the writer's strike hiatus.
Lilly is my niece. She was 23 months old when this was done in August 2007 in her parents small one bedroom apartment. She now knows over 80 countries. Yes, we know that Tasmania is not a country everyone. It's still a fun place to know.
She knows better geography than a 5th grader. She has been doing this for about 8 months. She is one funny niece. If you think that this is cruel and unusual, get a life.
The usual spelling of Lilly is Lily.
posted by nickyskye at 10:19 AM on December 28, 2007
"Rachael Ray Geography Whiz" if you don't believe what you see. Lilly will also have a clip featured on Leno after the writer's strike hiatus.
Lilly is my niece. She was 23 months old when this was done in August 2007 in her parents small one bedroom apartment. She now knows over 80 countries. Yes, we know that Tasmania is not a country everyone. It's still a fun place to know.
She knows better geography than a 5th grader. She has been doing this for about 8 months. She is one funny niece. If you think that this is cruel and unusual, get a life.
The usual spelling of Lilly is Lily.
posted by nickyskye at 10:19 AM on December 28, 2007
One day, she needs to be set up with this kid.
posted by ORthey at 10:19 AM on December 28, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by ORthey at 10:19 AM on December 28, 2007 [1 favorite]
Forbidden
You were denied access because:
Access denied by WebWasher DynaBLocator content category. The requested URL belongs to the following category: Pornography.
What the hell is that kid exploring?
posted by Pollomacho at 10:20 AM on December 28, 2007
You were denied access because:
Access denied by WebWasher DynaBLocator content category. The requested URL belongs to the following category: Pornography.
What the hell is that kid exploring?
posted by Pollomacho at 10:20 AM on December 28, 2007
That was all kinds of cute but went on a bit too long. I started feeling sorry for the tot.
posted by hojoki at 10:26 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by hojoki at 10:26 AM on December 28, 2007
VERY cute, but yeah, long.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:33 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:33 AM on December 28, 2007
So basically, they sat her in front of this until she learned all the countries.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:40 AM on December 28, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 10:40 AM on December 28, 2007 [1 favorite]
She's okay, but she can't hold a candle to Maadhu in geographical prowess or raw cuteness. It's good, though, it gives her something to aim for -- she can start working on her periodic table right after she gets potty-trained.
posted by Rhaomi at 10:44 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by Rhaomi at 10:44 AM on December 28, 2007
Okay, i got through. And I was proud of my daughter for being able to identify all 26 letters by the time she was 2. Geez. Kids these days...
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:53 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:53 AM on December 28, 2007
Toddler performs parlor tricks for parents amusement.
The sooner she gets a sibling so they can direct their insipid efforts elsewhere the better.
posted by docpops at 10:54 AM on December 28, 2007 [3 favorites]
The sooner she gets a sibling so they can direct their insipid efforts elsewhere the better.
posted by docpops at 10:54 AM on December 28, 2007 [3 favorites]
I think she's quite cute, and the parents are just taking advantage of her natural abilities. They've made a game out of it, which really helps some young kids learn.
posted by cmgonzalez at 10:56 AM on December 28, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by cmgonzalez at 10:56 AM on December 28, 2007 [2 favorites]
Yeah, at first I was growing irritated at the dad for channeling the Rick Moranis character from Parenthood but toward the end it becomes apparent that Lilly really likes the map game.
Too bad it couldn't remain a fun private family time and now has to become a 15-minutes-of-fame thing -- attaching learning to "I can please my parents by getting them on Leno!" is totally fertile ground for years of therapy later, when Lilly the Amazing Map Baby becomes Lilly the Surly Hostile Teenager Who Doesn't Care About F@#$ing Norway and Just Wants You to Go Away and Die, Kthxbye.
She knows better geography than a 5th grader.
No, she's memorized how to point out several dozen spots on the wall that correspond to shapes, colors and locations, in response to parental praise. Don't mistake this for the understanding of actual geography, dear uncle. Sure, when Lilly has done this trick for the 734th time and the memorization is absolutely permanent knowledge, one day that will help her get through real geography... but what she knows now sure ain't geography. Let's not confuse a cute kid trick for some sort of savant intelligence.
Unless she is in fact some sort of savant, in which I case I bow to our new toddler overlords.
posted by pineapple at 11:13 AM on December 28, 2007 [4 favorites]
Too bad it couldn't remain a fun private family time and now has to become a 15-minutes-of-fame thing -- attaching learning to "I can please my parents by getting them on Leno!" is totally fertile ground for years of therapy later, when Lilly the Amazing Map Baby becomes Lilly the Surly Hostile Teenager Who Doesn't Care About F@#$ing Norway and Just Wants You to Go Away and Die, Kthxbye.
She knows better geography than a 5th grader.
No, she's memorized how to point out several dozen spots on the wall that correspond to shapes, colors and locations, in response to parental praise. Don't mistake this for the understanding of actual geography, dear uncle. Sure, when Lilly has done this trick for the 734th time and the memorization is absolutely permanent knowledge, one day that will help her get through real geography... but what she knows now sure ain't geography. Let's not confuse a cute kid trick for some sort of savant intelligence.
Unless she is in fact some sort of savant, in which I case I bow to our new toddler overlords.
posted by pineapple at 11:13 AM on December 28, 2007 [4 favorites]
Shit, man! Don't need no damn kid makin' me feel bad 'bout not knowin' nothin'!
posted by aftermarketradio at 11:24 AM on December 28, 2007
posted by aftermarketradio at 11:24 AM on December 28, 2007
Bit of a tangent, but as a parent I'm quite eager to get an LCD flat screen in the living room hooked into a computer with Google Earth, because (to the points above about this just being a trick) I am excited about the sense of scale that application offers, and how it can help the kids connect the dots about physical locations.
I mean, sure, it's one thing to say "we're here, and London is here" on a map, or a globe, but when Earth's camera pulls back from a location above your house, spins the globe for you, and zooms back in to a landmark in London...well, it adds the dimension of time, and kids understand relevant time more intuitively than relative distance. It reinforces the scale of it.
posted by davejay at 11:31 AM on December 28, 2007
I mean, sure, it's one thing to say "we're here, and London is here" on a map, or a globe, but when Earth's camera pulls back from a location above your house, spins the globe for you, and zooms back in to a landmark in London...well, it adds the dimension of time, and kids understand relevant time more intuitively than relative distance. It reinforces the scale of it.
posted by davejay at 11:31 AM on December 28, 2007
Memorization should always include jumping on the bed breaks.
posted by tula at 11:48 AM on December 28, 2007 [5 favorites]
posted by tula at 11:48 AM on December 28, 2007 [5 favorites]
At just a little older than that, my niece was obsessed with the bones in the body. She recited them and want you to point at places on your body so she could tell you what bone it was. We were all amazed. Nobody made her do this, she just liked it. I get the same vibe from Lilly.
My niece is now 22 and did not become a doctor, btw. Within a year she decided she could care less about bones, and when I have brought up this phase of hers she rolls her eyes as though I'm making it all up.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:50 AM on December 28, 2007
My niece is now 22 and did not become a doctor, btw. Within a year she decided she could care less about bones, and when I have brought up this phase of hers she rolls her eyes as though I'm making it all up.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:50 AM on December 28, 2007
One day, she needs to be set up with this kid.
i remember when my flight commander asked me how to get to iraq, i just ripped a piece of paper and fell over laughing.
posted by camdan at 12:08 PM on December 28, 2007 [3 favorites]
i remember when my flight commander asked me how to get to iraq, i just ripped a piece of paper and fell over laughing.
posted by camdan at 12:08 PM on December 28, 2007 [3 favorites]
Um, my 14 month old lined up two triangles today.
posted by DenOfSizer at 12:35 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by DenOfSizer at 12:35 PM on December 28, 2007
Sure, when Lilly has done this trick for the 734th time and the memorization is absolutely permanent knowledge, one day that will help her get through real geography...
When I worked at Rand McNally this is pretty much how all the GIS guys learned. What is this "real geography" you speak of?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:42 PM on December 28, 2007
When I worked at Rand McNally this is pretty much how all the GIS guys learned. What is this "real geography" you speak of?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:42 PM on December 28, 2007
My niece is now 22 and did not become a doctor, btw
Nobody is a doctor at 22. Give her time.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 12:47 PM on December 28, 2007
Nobody is a doctor at 22. Give her time.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 12:47 PM on December 28, 2007
Yeah, no, I should've rephrased. That doctor thing definitely ain't happening. Which is a-ok.
posted by miss lynnster at 12:53 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 12:53 PM on December 28, 2007
if lilly's parents have your attitude, miss lynnster, she'll never make it as world leader pretend.
posted by camdan at 1:00 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by camdan at 1:00 PM on December 28, 2007
The usual spelling of Lilly is Lily.
Yeah, I was hoping for an update on the global sales of Prozac and Cialis, and I get this instead?
That doctor thing definitely ain't happening.
I used to like to play Doctor a lot when I was a kid, but I never became one when I grew up either.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:07 PM on December 28, 2007
Yeah, I was hoping for an update on the global sales of Prozac and Cialis, and I get this instead?
That doctor thing definitely ain't happening.
I used to like to play Doctor a lot when I was a kid, but I never became one when I grew up either.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:07 PM on December 28, 2007
When she can tell the 'stans apart I'll be impressed...
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:24 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:24 PM on December 28, 2007
if i could find paraguay on a map, i'd do a happy paraguay dance, too.
i thought it was awesome & not exploitative at all. beats the hell out of being able to name all the bratz dolls.
posted by msconduct at 3:07 PM on December 28, 2007
i thought it was awesome & not exploitative at all. beats the hell out of being able to name all the bratz dolls.
posted by msconduct at 3:07 PM on December 28, 2007
Nobody is a doctor at 22. Give her time.
Doogie Howser, anyone? Really, how can you say that when there was Doogie Howser?
posted by Eekacat at 3:50 PM on December 28, 2007
Doogie Howser, anyone? Really, how can you say that when there was Doogie Howser?
posted by Eekacat at 3:50 PM on December 28, 2007
I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE COULDN'T FIND NORWAY!!!!!
Seriously, this kid blows away most of today's teenagers. I know one 13 year old in particular that thinks that London is in Paris. But she could name every store in the mall just looking at an architectural plan.
posted by WaterSprite at 5:08 PM on December 28, 2007
Seriously, this kid blows away most of today's teenagers. I know one 13 year old in particular that thinks that London is in Paris. But she could name every store in the mall just looking at an architectural plan.
posted by WaterSprite at 5:08 PM on December 28, 2007
YAY! *applauds*
posted by honeydew at 5:15 PM on December 28, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by honeydew at 5:15 PM on December 28, 2007 [1 favorite]
Twenty bucks says the kid grows up never visiting any of those places.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:28 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:28 PM on December 28, 2007
Nobody is a doctor at 22. Give her time.
Ahem. (Not Doogie.)
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:30 PM on December 28, 2007
Ahem. (Not Doogie.)
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:30 PM on December 28, 2007
My first thought was of Clever Hans. And while she wasn't facing her parents to read their expressions or follow their eyes much of the time, we still don't know that mom wasn't pointing at at another map off camera. I mean I don't think she was, but I don't know she wasn't, either.
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:31 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:31 PM on December 28, 2007
My first thought was "future Miss South Carolina, right there."
posted by bullitt 5 at 7:08 PM on December 28, 2007
posted by bullitt 5 at 7:08 PM on December 28, 2007
I know one 13 year old in particular that thinks that London is in Paris.
Um, best idea ever? London should be in Paris. My mind is now aflutter with all the ridiculous combinations this opportunity creates.
posted by camdan at 7:24 PM on December 28, 2007
Um, best idea ever? London should be in Paris. My mind is now aflutter with all the ridiculous combinations this opportunity creates.
posted by camdan at 7:24 PM on December 28, 2007
My first thought was "future Miss South Carolina, right there."
HAAAAAAAAA
When I worked at Rand McNally this is pretty much how all the GIS guys learned. What is this "real geography" you speak of?
I'm not knocking memorization as a way to learn the locations of countries. But I bet the GIS guys at Rand McNally understand that Paraguay and Greece and Turkey are geopolitical concepts, representing countries which have unique cultures and are bounded by international agreement. Wiki says that "geography" is traditionally defined by four historical traditions: the spatial analysis of natural and human phenomena (geography as a study of distribution), area studies (places and regions), study of man-land relationship, and research in earth sciences -- none of which I expect Lilly is processing when she points.
Don't get me wrong, that's a cute kid and clearly sharper than the average ankle-biter, but I don't believe she's bright enough to be aware of actual geography, as her uncle would apparently have us believe.
posted by pineapple at 7:26 PM on December 28, 2007
HAAAAAAAAA
When I worked at Rand McNally this is pretty much how all the GIS guys learned. What is this "real geography" you speak of?
I'm not knocking memorization as a way to learn the locations of countries. But I bet the GIS guys at Rand McNally understand that Paraguay and Greece and Turkey are geopolitical concepts, representing countries which have unique cultures and are bounded by international agreement. Wiki says that "geography" is traditionally defined by four historical traditions: the spatial analysis of natural and human phenomena (geography as a study of distribution), area studies (places and regions), study of man-land relationship, and research in earth sciences -- none of which I expect Lilly is processing when she points.
Don't get me wrong, that's a cute kid and clearly sharper than the average ankle-biter, but I don't believe she's bright enough to be aware of actual geography, as her uncle would apparently have us believe.
posted by pineapple at 7:26 PM on December 28, 2007
Well, at least she knows France is a country. Unlike Kellie Pickler.
(Although I'm not sure whether I'm more horrified by Kellie or Jeff Foxworthy. It's a toss-up.)
posted by miss lynnster at 10:04 PM on December 28, 2007
(Although I'm not sure whether I'm more horrified by Kellie or Jeff Foxworthy. It's a toss-up.)
posted by miss lynnster at 10:04 PM on December 28, 2007
And by the time she grows up she'll be able to really wow everyone. "Show us where The Netherlands were," they'll ask. "Now show us where South Florida was." "Show us where the Andaman Islands were." And she'll consistently and accurately point to the spots where those places used to be.
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:37 PM on December 28, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:37 PM on December 28, 2007 [2 favorites]
In the first few seconds Lilly looks at her hand, touches her middle finger to her thumb, looks at the female voice off camera and says what sounds like "eight," holding up her hand to the female voice. That hand shape is, in fact, the number eight in American Sign Language.
posted by eccnineten at 8:56 AM on December 29, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by eccnineten at 8:56 AM on December 29, 2007 [1 favorite]
That she gets as much pleasure (and expects as much praise) from being able to point out family members in a photo album in this clip is especially charming.
posted by nobody at 10:55 AM on December 29, 2007
posted by nobody at 10:55 AM on December 29, 2007
Awww. She's cute. I wonder if there's a place I can rent one of those for an afternoon.
On second thought, she'd drive my dog bananas. Nevermind.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:14 AM on December 29, 2007
On second thought, she'd drive my dog bananas. Nevermind.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:14 AM on December 29, 2007
Miss Lynnster, my younger son was like that with bones too. He loved it when we'd ask him to wiggle his phalanges, but patellas were his favorite.
The girl in the video is cute, but not amazing. I don't think it's unusual for a kid that age to memorize amazing amounts of data.
posted by obol at 7:28 PM on December 29, 2007
The girl in the video is cute, but not amazing. I don't think it's unusual for a kid that age to memorize amazing amounts of data.
posted by obol at 7:28 PM on December 29, 2007
One Word: Sponge.
Ever live with a child that age in a multi-lingual house? They will speak all the languages being spoken -- an original mash-up at times -- but as Ms. Fuzzydog will tell you, having been fluent in a 2nd language at 4, that unless it the language is used throughout childhood, later in life it vanishes -- she doesn't speak a lick of that 2nd language as an adult :(.
posted by Fuzzy Dog at 12:26 PM on December 30, 2007
Ever live with a child that age in a multi-lingual house? They will speak all the languages being spoken -- an original mash-up at times -- but as Ms. Fuzzydog will tell you, having been fluent in a 2nd language at 4, that unless it the language is used throughout childhood, later in life it vanishes -- she doesn't speak a lick of that 2nd language as an adult :(.
posted by Fuzzy Dog at 12:26 PM on December 30, 2007
Hate to make my very first post on WF sound negative, but how exactly is that cute?
2 year old acting like a trained circus animal as cute...hmmm...
posted by dougiedd at 5:15 PM on December 30, 2007
2 year old acting like a trained circus animal as cute...hmmm...
posted by dougiedd at 5:15 PM on December 30, 2007
Wait. You mean to tell me that children aren't trained circus animals?
'Cuz if you ask me, that's part of their charm... :)
posted by miss lynnster at 6:44 PM on December 30, 2007
'Cuz if you ask me, that's part of their charm... :)
posted by miss lynnster at 6:44 PM on December 30, 2007
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