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Reading has been iffy of late, link collecting slim, and writing nonexistant -- a toddler update it needs must be.
At a month older than two years old, TBD is showing even more defined personality traits. This is a toddler with a strong sense of Order: deviations from The Way Things Are are met with "Uh oh!" and attempts to rectify. At preschool, TBD is often the only kid in the room who helps clean up. Which makes life at home a little easier, as we start singing the little "Clean Up" jingle as we tidy up toys before bathtime. The chore of helping feed the cats and clean the litter boxes, assigned but enthusiastically adopted, is keeping us honest about always doing it. The self-appointed chore of closing all doors (including child-proofed cabinets in the kitchen) is simply amusing.
Current primarly obsession is turtles (the zoo's exhibits are effectively ranked by how much turtle they contain) and trucks, with ants, cats, dogs, and birds in general of secondary interest. The toddler down the block is now a hoped-for playmate -- on sight, they both excitedly shout each others' names (both dropping the initial syllable, heh) and jump up and down for a few moments before starting to run around in a complicated melage of Chase and Follow-the-Leader. Or jointly running off some unexpected direction requiring at least one caretaker to scuttle after.
Imitative and imaginative play is getting more directed: combing a doll's hair, feeding the stuffed tortoise named Turtle, pushing cars around with the action clearly being guided by an incomprehensible story (I get corrected when I get my part wrong).
Language progress is amazing, with more new words daily and improving enunciation ("more" and "mouse" have final consonants, as mohr and mowf). Some words are still hard to distinguish, and I can't even attempt to render the pronunciation of "copter." More two syllable phrases, including adjective like "big" and "no" + noun (and one use of "car red" that seemed to be eliding the cupola rather than swapping the word order), frequent use of "Bye-bye {name}" (including buses, trucks, ants, and home, when we walk out the door), and a recent use of "It's hot" instead of just "Hot." There's also multi-word sentences that no adult can understand.
Up to three objects can be counted, though two is more reliable. We've been working on primary colors (blue is current favorite, possibly because easy to say) and recently an interest in learning the first few letters has shown up. Six types of vehicles are now named: bus, truck, car, bike (including motorcycles), jeep, and turtle (meaning a Volkswagen Beetle). ETA: The next day, the list expanded to include tractors.
We've started watching some Mandarin toddler-instruction videos, and some words have shown up in general use -- mao for cat most clearly. We're hoping to keep at least an ear for tones current until old enough for classroom instruction (in a couple years for those through the local Chinese Cultural Center). Even better would be a Mandarin-speaking nanny or babysitter, but finances suggest otherwise.
---L.
Subject quote from "One Week," Barenaked Ladies.
At a month older than two years old, TBD is showing even more defined personality traits. This is a toddler with a strong sense of Order: deviations from The Way Things Are are met with "Uh oh!" and attempts to rectify. At preschool, TBD is often the only kid in the room who helps clean up. Which makes life at home a little easier, as we start singing the little "Clean Up" jingle as we tidy up toys before bathtime. The chore of helping feed the cats and clean the litter boxes, assigned but enthusiastically adopted, is keeping us honest about always doing it. The self-appointed chore of closing all doors (including child-proofed cabinets in the kitchen) is simply amusing.
Current primarly obsession is turtles (the zoo's exhibits are effectively ranked by how much turtle they contain) and trucks, with ants, cats, dogs, and birds in general of secondary interest. The toddler down the block is now a hoped-for playmate -- on sight, they both excitedly shout each others' names (both dropping the initial syllable, heh) and jump up and down for a few moments before starting to run around in a complicated melage of Chase and Follow-the-Leader. Or jointly running off some unexpected direction requiring at least one caretaker to scuttle after.
Imitative and imaginative play is getting more directed: combing a doll's hair, feeding the stuffed tortoise named Turtle, pushing cars around with the action clearly being guided by an incomprehensible story (I get corrected when I get my part wrong).
Language progress is amazing, with more new words daily and improving enunciation ("more" and "mouse" have final consonants, as mohr and mowf). Some words are still hard to distinguish, and I can't even attempt to render the pronunciation of "copter." More two syllable phrases, including adjective like "big" and "no" + noun (and one use of "car red" that seemed to be eliding the cupola rather than swapping the word order), frequent use of "Bye-bye {name}" (including buses, trucks, ants, and home, when we walk out the door), and a recent use of "It's hot" instead of just "Hot." There's also multi-word sentences that no adult can understand.
Up to three objects can be counted, though two is more reliable. We've been working on primary colors (blue is current favorite, possibly because easy to say) and recently an interest in learning the first few letters has shown up. Six types of vehicles are now named: bus, truck, car, bike (including motorcycles), jeep, and turtle (meaning a Volkswagen Beetle). ETA: The next day, the list expanded to include tractors.
We've started watching some Mandarin toddler-instruction videos, and some words have shown up in general use -- mao for cat most clearly. We're hoping to keep at least an ear for tones current until old enough for classroom instruction (in a couple years for those through the local Chinese Cultural Center). Even better would be a Mandarin-speaking nanny or babysitter, but finances suggest otherwise.
---L.
Subject quote from "One Week," Barenaked Ladies.