Words and Letters

I forgot to make today another color day. Well, we'll just have to pick it up a little later. Lara is not very interested in her colors. Rather, she is fascinated by words and letters. Last night, I peeked into her room to see what she was up to. She was pointing to the letters on the cover of her book one at time, saying, "D! D! D!" She does know several letters, but she calls a lot of letters D until you tell her no. Then she will pause like she is thinking and say "B!" And, again, you say no. She'll look at you with a question in her eyes, and then say, "O!" "Yes, that's right! Good job!" Because she is obviously so interested, we work on letters and words a lot. Yesterday afternoon, Lara sat in her chair at the chalkboard while I drew letters and asked her to say what they were. She sat very still and with full attention (of her own accord), trying very hard to get the letter right. And she got a few. But she is better at memorizing letters when there is a picture to go with them. I credit Lara's love of letters to a book called My Very Own Fairy Tale. It's a beautiful book that a friend bought for Lara that spells out her name. Lara will read it anywhere, anytime. "D!" "O!" "S!" "P!" is what she will say as she reads it aloud. I would definitely recommend this book, it's a lot of fun.

We also work on words. Toddlers are good at memorizing, and since Lara has so much fun with it, we do some reading lessons here and there. I'm talking, squealing-with-glee-when-I-take-out-her-reading-cards fun. Again, I know it's the simple process of memorization, but it certainly stops you in your tracks when you hear your little one read, "Tiger! Dog! Elephant!" Arms Up!" We never force or pressure Lara to do any of this learning, it just sort of happens. I don't want anyone to think I make Lara do this, as though I am trying to force her intellect. I don't think I have a choice, really, it's just Lara's cup of tea. (Now, the colors I may be forcing a little since I am tired of her calling everything "blue", but, hey, at least I make it fun!)

Reading is not a duty, and has consequently no business to be made disagreeable.

~ Augustine Birrell ~