Here is a short, dramatic vignette. The characters are Annette: a very pretty, five-year-old child, and Anne, her mother, who is attractive but appears harried. The time is 3:30PM. The two are in the living room of their comfortable home.
Annette says,"Mom! You said we could play after school." Her mother answers, "Yes, I did, But first I want to hear what you learned today." (See Commentary below for explanation of numbers.)(1)
Annette says, "Oh, Mom!" Anne replies, "How's the reading coming?" Annete answers, " It's fine. We did rhymes again." Anne: "And the alphabet?" Annette: " We sang the song. I have a good idea. I'll get the dollies and we can sing to them." Anne: "Why don't we finish..." Annette interrupts: "Mom. Please..." She runs out and returns carrying three dolls: a baby doll, a floppy rag doll dressed as a boy, and a doll in a pretty dress who looks like Annette. Annette: "OK, Mom, you be Floppy-Boy, and I'll be Baby and Little Annette." Annette imitates her teacher. "All right children, let's hear the alphabet song." Her mother sings, as Baby Doll: "A-B-C-D-E-F-G," Annette interrupts: "No, Mom - Baby doesn't know that song.. Maybe she would sing 'A BBB.'" Anne responds quickly, "But that's not right! " (2)
Annette answers, She's just a baby. She has to learn. Mom - I want to tell you about what happened. Jimmy was playing soccer and he sprained his wrist." Anne says, " Was that at school?"Annette answers, "No, Mom, but it was life. Life's important too.(3)
Anne: Is he all right? Annette: "Well, he has to wear a brace - and it's his right hand, so he has to learn to write with his left. And he told me he has trouble using a fork, and his Mom has to help him get dressed, and... I know what. We can make Floppy Boy play Jimmy. Do you have a bandage we can use?" Anne: "OK. OK. But I don't understand..".Annette: "Don't worry. While you're getting the bandage, I'll set the table for the Dolly Snack. " Anne leaves and returns with a roll of gauze bandage and a pair of scissors. Meanwhile, Annette gets a toy tea set for four, and places a cup, saucer, and a plate in front of each doll. Anne: " How nice! May I tie up Floppy Boy's wrist?" Annette: "Yes - and I'll put the tea bags in the teapot. " Anne cuts a small piece off of the bandage and ties it on the doll's right arm (4) while Annette mimes putting the tea bags in the teapot. Anne: "Good! May I put some cups and saucers out for us?" Annette: That will make five in the party, and I only have four cups and saucers, (5) so can you and I share?" (6)
Anne: "Of course! I'm going to move Floppy Boy's cup to the side of his good hand." (7)
Annette: "Great, Mom! " She adds another place setting, mimes pouring the tea from the teapot, then sits down. Both mime drinking the tea. Anne: "Delicious!!! " Annette: "Isn't this fun?" Anne: "Yes!!! " Annette: "OK, Mom. You've been so good, I'm going to give you some rhymes. FUN. RUN. SUN. It's fun to run in the sun. (8)
Anne: "But not if you fall down and hurt your hand. That's a BUM - MER! " Annette kisses her Mom and says "Cool, Mom! Now you know how to play. "(9)
COMMENTARY
(1) Mom feels pressured, and wants to stick to her learning agenda that involves emphasis on reading, but Annette has just come home from Kindergarten, and she wants to play, especially since her mother promised. Mom should give her a break.
(2) Children (and the rest of us) learn from our mistakes. In this case, Annette is making a mistake "on purpose." She tells her mother that this is how children learn, and it's all right.
(3) Life IS important, and parents need to make time for this, as well as for teaching school subjects.
(4) Mom is learning how to encourage Annette's imaginative play - a source of creativity.
(5) Through play, Annette is practicing her number skills. Recent studies have demonstrated that mathematical competency at Annette's level is a strong predictor of later achievement. (Duncan et al., 2007)
(6) Sharing with adults as well as children is an important social skill.
(7) Mom is modeling consideration for a child with a handicap.
(8) Annette expresses her pleasure by "rewarding" Mom with information she asked for earlier. She uses rhyming words to create a scenario, a good example of creative literacy.
(9) By following Annette's lead, Mom has succeeded in her original learning goal, and the two also added several new achievements during their spontaneous play together. This gave them the opportunity for some warm mother/daughter bonding.
Copyright 2009
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