Is evolution accelerating or are my eyes just getting older?

Blame the age of technology for this (as well as the child’s opportunity to express him/herself).. When you were growing up there wasn’t many things to do to open your analytic imagination (save for toys).. Now days technology is everywhere and every one has been bombarded with it.. To bombard a child who’s mind is just developing, these technologies are subconsciously inbedded into their brains (in the same manner that you learned to talk even before school).. Also, parents not only allow their young to participate in these things, they sometimes even furnish technology to them (as you received toys).. My grand daughter (age 3) can operate (sufficienty) her mother’s blackberry (can you believe it?).. Giving them full reign to express and explore rather than telling them to sit up straight and speak only when spoken to will bring out the intellect like it would have done for us had all this been available when we were young and our parents less over-protective. So, the environment, opportunities and individual freedom to express has boosted evolution in the bung for these and future generations and rightfully so, because this future level of intelligence will be the only way that our heirs and their heirs will become space voyagers..

There are many streams that feed this river. The automobile and now the Internet have facilitated the mixing of the gene pool, with those having above average intelligence finding it easier to locate their mirror image. Better nutrition allows the individual’s brain function to maximize. as @chewhorse noted, there are more far ways to learn and communicate now. I’m sure there are more, but it’s early and I’m just having my first cup of coffee! Heh!

The increase in IQ from generation to generation is a real phenomenon, known as the Flynn effect. IQ test have to be periodically recalibrated to keep the average score at 100 (If today’s IQ tests were administered to Americans of the early 1930s, the average score would be around 80).

The causes of the Flynn effect are disputed (but none of the hypotheses involves evolution). The effect is most pronounced on the lower end of the scale, though, which means that there are fewer low scores, not necessarily more very high scores. In fact, some studies seem to find that the high end of the scale may be slipping a bit.

Each generation seems to be born with more built-in knowledge. Ever notice how young kids are with computers, and how they can set DVRs, etc.?

I really, really hope so.

I have 2 grandsons who are entering kindergarten this year and both of them are already pretty proficient readers. I thought that was what kids learned in school! I am not sure if this is the new “normal” or not?

The techie age, the age of information as it is known, is increasing at a rapid rate. Hold on to your hat band, they will know as much about the birds and bees in grade 3 as you found out, out behind the woodshed with Ned in grade 7 or 8.

I wish.

If one takes time with a kid to explain some things then that kid will learn a lot faster. He’ll relate what he learned and try new combinations. If the parents don’t bother with the kid too much then it will take a lot time for that kid.
We are getting older but the evolution is even faster than a few decades ago.