Setup: Melanie (3), Ella (5), and I (32... but I doubt anyone cares) were playing a game. It was Melanie's turn, but she was very involved in something else. I whistled.
Ella: Why did you whistle at Melanie?
Andy: I was trying to get her attention.
Melanie: <grabbing at me> I *mumble* *mumble* you *mumble*
Andy: What are you doing?
Melanie (more distinctly): I'm trying to get my attention back.
Monday, February 17, 2014
January 11, 2010: Kids say...cookie math
Setup: We're finishing lunch at Eddington's amidst a morning of errands. After lunch, we'll be heading to Target and then home. We've gotten the kid's meal, which comes with a cookie. Ella (5) and Melanie (2.75) are both trying to lay claim to the lone cookie.
Jen: We can break this cookie into 4 pieces. Then everyone has some. Plus, if you're good at Target, we can get 2 more cookies, break each in half, and everyone gets another piece. That way everyone gets a cookie, just not all at one time.
<Time passes and we're getting close to putting on coats.>
Ella: I've got an idea. We could get *three* cookies at Target. If we broke each in half, and then in half again, Melanie could have 3 pieces, Mommy could have 3 pieces, and I could have 3 pieces. Daddy could have what's left. That way everyone gets a *full* cookie.
(So, it would seem that the concept of fractions is setting in just fine with our Kindergartener. Now, if the northbound train leaves the station at ...)
Jen: We can break this cookie into 4 pieces. Then everyone has some. Plus, if you're good at Target, we can get 2 more cookies, break each in half, and everyone gets another piece. That way everyone gets a cookie, just not all at one time.
<Time passes and we're getting close to putting on coats.>
Ella: I've got an idea. We could get *three* cookies at Target. If we broke each in half, and then in half again, Melanie could have 3 pieces, Mommy could have 3 pieces, and I could have 3 pieces. Daddy could have what's left. That way everyone gets a *full* cookie.
(So, it would seem that the concept of fractions is setting in just fine with our Kindergartener. Now, if the northbound train leaves the station at ...)
November 30, 2009: Kids say...these little piggies
Setup: We're eating dinner... well, we're supposed to be eating dinner. Melanie (2.5) is distracted and goofing off. She's barefoot and letting us know.
Melanie: This little toe went to market. This little toe... also went to market. This little toe... went to... roast beef. This little piggie also roast beef. And this little piggie cried wee-wee-wee. ... Now let's do *these* piggies (switching to her other foot).
Melanie: This little toe went to market. This little toe... also went to market. This little toe... went to... roast beef. This little piggie also roast beef. And this little piggie cried wee-wee-wee. ... Now let's do *these* piggies (switching to her other foot).
November 28, 2009: Kids say...the dork side
Setup: Melanie (2.5) is exploring grandma and grampa Gravdahl's house, looking at the new Christmas decorations. Aparently, one of the rooms didn't have any lights on. Melanie came out and reported.
Melanie: I'm scared of the dork.
It's just a pronunciation mix-up, but it made me smile. "I'm not that scary," I thought to myself.
Melanie: I'm scared of the dork.
It's just a pronunciation mix-up, but it made me smile. "I'm not that scary," I thought to myself.
November 2, 2009: Kids say...baptism
Setup: Church. A Baptism is taking place. Melanie (2.5) is on my lap.
Melanie: Why they putting the baby in the bucket?
Andy: Wow, sweetie. That's a good question. (aside) What is the age-appropriate response to that?
She has some exposure to forgiveness with her "I'm sorry" training. I could probably equate hell to a time-out that just never ends. Though, doing so would likely introduce death, which would get confusing because I'd have just told her a person is in time out... but dead... so, now I need to try to explain the concept of a spirit.
Couldn't she have just asked me where the baby came from? That might be easier.
Melanie: Why they putting the baby in the bucket?
Andy: Wow, sweetie. That's a good question. (aside) What is the age-appropriate response to that?
She has some exposure to forgiveness with her "I'm sorry" training. I could probably equate hell to a time-out that just never ends. Though, doing so would likely introduce death, which would get confusing because I'd have just told her a person is in time out... but dead... so, now I need to try to explain the concept of a spirit.
Couldn't she have just asked me where the baby came from? That might be easier.
October 29, 2009: Kids say...Who's on first?
Setup: We are finishing up dinner. Jen has just introduced Ella(5) to the "Who's on first?" bit. Melanie (2.5) is watching in amazement.
Jen: Can you tell me the name of the first baseman?
Ella: Who.
Jen: The first baseman.
Ella: Who.
Jen: The guy at first.
Ella: Who.
Jen: What is the name of the first baseman?
Ella: No, he's on second.
Jen: Who's on second?
Ella: No, he's on first.
Jen: Who's on first?
Ella: Exactly.
Melanie: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Ella: I don't know.
Andy: Third base. :)
I love that Ella gets the joke. I love that Melanie understands Jen and Ella are joking and she wanted to participate.
Jen: Can you tell me the name of the first baseman?
Ella: Who.
Jen: The first baseman.
Ella: Who.
Jen: The guy at first.
Ella: Who.
Jen: What is the name of the first baseman?
Ella: No, he's on second.
Jen: Who's on second?
Ella: No, he's on first.
Jen: Who's on first?
Ella: Exactly.
Melanie: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Ella: I don't know.
Andy: Third base. :)
I love that Ella gets the joke. I love that Melanie understands Jen and Ella are joking and she wanted to participate.
October 1, 2009: Kids say...dictionary ninja
Setup: Ella (5) is reading. So much so that, for her birthday, she got, not one, but two, children's dictionaries. She's recently discovered the Magic Treehouse series and is enjoying them. Book #5 is "Night of the Ninjas".
Ella: What does ninja mean?
Jen: Well, let's look it up.
Ella: Mommy, what's an assassin?
Jen (worried where this is going): I guess we need to look that up, too. (aside) I'm kind of glad she doesn't know... or, at least, didn't.
Ella (cheerfully): Now we need to look up 'murder'.
Jen: (aside) Oh dear.
Jen (trying to bring this back): So... you know when there's a bug in the house... and Mommy steps on that bug to kill it. That would be murder.
Andy (trying to help): Actually, mommy often calls daddy in to squish the bug. That makes me an assassin.
Ella: I like to squish bugs, too. I'm a bug ninja.
Jen (relieved): Yes you are, sweetie.
Ella: What does ninja mean?
Jen: Well, let's look it up.
nin-ja (nin-juh) noun - A person who is highly trained in ancient Japanese martial arts, especially one hired as a spy or an assassin.
Ella: Mommy, what's an assassin?
Jen (worried where this is going): I guess we need to look that up, too. (aside) I'm kind of glad she doesn't know... or, at least, didn't.
as-sas-si-nate (uh-sass-uh-nate) verb - To murder someone who is well known or important, such as a president.
Ella (cheerfully): Now we need to look up 'murder'.
Jen: (aside) Oh dear.
mur-der (mur-dur) verb - to kill someone deliberately.
Jen (trying to bring this back): So... you know when there's a bug in the house... and Mommy steps on that bug to kill it. That would be murder.
Andy (trying to help): Actually, mommy often calls daddy in to squish the bug. That makes me an assassin.
Ella: I like to squish bugs, too. I'm a bug ninja.
Jen (relieved): Yes you are, sweetie.
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