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June 19, 2008
Two and Half and Ready for The World
Out of town and it’s still easy to find children to watch. It’s amazing. There are children everywhere. All you need to do is look for them.
My workshop over for the day, I stopped by Target to pick up a gift for a friend. I was wandering toward the toy and game section when I saw a Mom and baby in a cart coming around the corner of one of the aisles. Not wanting to run into them, I stopped short.
The little girl, Alyza by name, had the smallest, cutest, and pinkest ball glove I have ever seen. She was so cute I couldn’t help but watch. She held her glove by one finger, but in an instant she could have it on and ready to play.
I asked Mom if she was trying out for the team. Mom asked Alyza what she was going to catch in her glove. Alyza promptly pulled out the green ball that was next to her. She didn’t say the word, but that might be because she didn’t want to be talking to strangers, but she clearly knew what to do with a ball glove.
Alyza is two and a half. She hadn't talked with me, but she certainly wasn't missing anything in the conversation her Mom and I were having. After Mom and I chatted for a minute or two, she and Alyza went around the corner. As I was jotting down her name, I could hear Mom talking with her about Sponge Bob, items on the shelf, what to watch on TV, and probably what they would be having for dinner. Alyza chined in with her opinions on all of the itrms.
I’m at a preschool conference this week talking about preschool to K-3 transitions. Last week I talked to incoming kindergarten parents. Part of my message is the same for both. Reading skills really are based on vocabulary and vocabulary develops with talking and listening. Alyza will go to preschools and on to kindergarten reading with a full amount of vocabulary thanks to Mom’s interaction with her.
Yea Mom. Her comes your daughter ready or not.
Posted by Dr Joni at June 19, 2008 07:28 PM