Benjamin’s literacy assignment for this week is to create a project about the Indus Valley. He decided to make a 3D map out of clay. I asked him to make a list of materials that are needed to complete the project. We will then take the list to HobbyCraft to get the supplies. Of course, among the list there are paints, and Benjamin has a good collection of paints in grandparents’ house. So I suggested that we should go to grandparents’ house to get the paints first, and then HobbyCraft to find the rest of the items.
Half way through his supply list, Benjamin said, “Mum, let’s do multitasking. How about you go to grandparents’ house and get the paints, and I stay at home to finish the list. When you are back, we can go to HobbyCraft together?” That lazy bone did not want to make the trip to the grandparents (at that time grandparents were on holidays in China so the vacant house was too boring to justify a trip).
So I asked: “Benjamin, define multitasking please.”
Benjamin said, joyfully, “Well, it’s doing several things at the same time.”
I replied, “No, Benjamin. Multitasking means the same person doing several things at the same time. Me going to grandma’s house while you doing the list is not multitasking because that’s not done by the same person. It’s division of labour, meaning that the same task is divided into parts and completed by different people. This is your homework. So I am not going to divide the labour with you. Now finish that list and get in the car next. You are coming with me.”
And so he did.
