Creative and abstract thinking is presenting itself in Jonathan's humour and advancement in language skills. He now takes action to creating funny situations for his amusement and is also able to create sentences and to express himself pretty well. With these skills comes also that of invention and creating new games and even invent new words. The Experts say it is typical for his age, so I can relax and enjoy the phenomenon.
Putting his shoes on upside down and laughing at himself is a sign of humour Jonathan seams to enjoy repeatedly. Pretend games like mixing salt and sugar in a cake, serving it to mommy and watching me spit it out (all pretend of source) also sends him into fits of giggles. He gets disappointed if I do not “spit” out the food (and I do not if he gets it right-like salt on salad), thus he immediately adds it the wrong ingredient to achieve the desired affect, and then laughs his head off!
Being allowed to be the assistant magician in an activity in kindergarten, also brought the bet out of the boy and the kindergarten teacher said she had never experienced Jonathan so full of laughter, as he was turned into a rabbit and other such imagination magic. Drawing abstract scribes and explaining them is also typical of recent. The interesting thing is that the scribbles of certain things are similar to previous scribbles of the same object. The connection to reality is loose but if I search for it, I can see it ( a shopping mall is a series of lines, loosely resembling the windows rows of a large building). Commentating his drawing live is the latest addition to the beloved activity. Showing me the drawing and even giving to me as a gift is usually the finishing touch, as the boy fished for compliments.
As Jonathan is exposed to two languages, he has an interesting mix of both. He uses both languages in once sentence and there a certain things and activities that are always names in one of the languages. A trip to Germany to visit my husband's family this summer has only strengthened the confusion. Aside from creating new verb forms in Hebrew, Jonathan has enlarged his vocabulary in German considerably and has even invented a new term. The trip exposed Jonathan's special liking of the vending machines, and using them received a special word “Ein Knopfen” . Ein is like “a” in German and is a prefix typical for many nouns. Knopfen is the verb form of the noun Knopf, which means button, its just that the verb Knopfen is non existent in German. But the vending machines have many a button to press... thus Jonathan has formulated a term that clearly relates to the beloved activity of buying a coke or snack in the machines.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Explanation and Problem Solving
Jonathan likes to tell himself what is going on, like commentary to watching children TV or a DVD. He also scolds me if he thinks I confused something (mommy, its a turtle, not a frog – you got it wrong/you have confused it- I admit I do not always see things the way he does). Original thinking and problem solving expresses itself repeatedly , like his coping with a renovation in our apartment.
Watching a DVD with Jonathan is always fun because he delights so much in it. He also gives live commentary. When he was little, this commentary showed itself in an imitation of the actions in the DVD (like falling on the ground when the coyote gets crushed in the road runner cartoons – Jonathan's favourite DVD for interactive television (Jane Fonda like) sport). He also sings along with the DVD's.
Recently his commentary has taken a more advanced form – he either asks questions related to the ongoing story (Why does the mouse get the cat wet? Typical Tom and Jerry question) or he explains the action (the magic egg will now fall on his foot! Boom! Bang! And he is magical... a short summary of en episode of the Smurfs). Sometimes he even answers his own questions after posing them (the mouse likes to bother the cat – Tom and Jerry again) having heard the same explanation from me to those questions a few times, he simply remembers the answers.
Jonathan also likes to explain his surroundings. Thus he announced one day that his daddy was just too big to sit on mommy's lap and he might fall and bang his head “Boom! Bang!” The sounds were made in extra enthusiasm to make sure daddy understood the danger.
Jonathan is a boy that likes his home and feels good and secure in it. After a long weekend at his grandparents, he will wish to go to “my house”, and then he shows great relief when we get home. This feeling of safety was taken away one day, when we started packing away a large book shelf that dominates our living room while preparing for a small renovation (we painted the walls after about 7 years of residence and installed a new laminated flooring).
In emptying the shelves, we changed the look and feel or the room considerably and Jonathan's reaction was to ask us where had his house gone. He was looking for it also during the days of the renovation. And even after the renovation was finished, as the house now looked different (because of the new floor, the books were back in the shelves) he still looked for it a while, and at the same time admitting the new “surprise” apartment was nice. Each time we tidied up a room after it was painted and floored, he declared that “the room is back” and enjoyed it immensely. He also enjoyed helping me pack, by bringing me books from a pile to put into the boxes.
In the stacked up living room, he solved the problem of not having his usual table accessible for his dinner, by improvising an eating space by using a chair and covering it with his place mats. Taking out all the cushions of our sofa and building a house by placing them on the side like a wall is another typical pass time, the extra bonus to this house construction is that jumping on the sofa platform is really a lot of fun... It was also fun to use one of the empty cartons as a house to hide in for a few days after the renovation. Hiding in containers is a favourite activity and Jonathan uses every opportunity. Thus when we returned from a trip abroad, he curled himself into the empty suitcase when I left the room to put the dirty laundry in the bathroom. The only way for me to know where he was, was because of the fact that the suitcase was giggling when I returned to the bedroom.
Watching a DVD with Jonathan is always fun because he delights so much in it. He also gives live commentary. When he was little, this commentary showed itself in an imitation of the actions in the DVD (like falling on the ground when the coyote gets crushed in the road runner cartoons – Jonathan's favourite DVD for interactive television (Jane Fonda like) sport). He also sings along with the DVD's.
Recently his commentary has taken a more advanced form – he either asks questions related to the ongoing story (Why does the mouse get the cat wet? Typical Tom and Jerry question) or he explains the action (the magic egg will now fall on his foot! Boom! Bang! And he is magical... a short summary of en episode of the Smurfs). Sometimes he even answers his own questions after posing them (the mouse likes to bother the cat – Tom and Jerry again) having heard the same explanation from me to those questions a few times, he simply remembers the answers.
Jonathan also likes to explain his surroundings. Thus he announced one day that his daddy was just too big to sit on mommy's lap and he might fall and bang his head “Boom! Bang!” The sounds were made in extra enthusiasm to make sure daddy understood the danger.
Jonathan is a boy that likes his home and feels good and secure in it. After a long weekend at his grandparents, he will wish to go to “my house”, and then he shows great relief when we get home. This feeling of safety was taken away one day, when we started packing away a large book shelf that dominates our living room while preparing for a small renovation (we painted the walls after about 7 years of residence and installed a new laminated flooring).
In emptying the shelves, we changed the look and feel or the room considerably and Jonathan's reaction was to ask us where had his house gone. He was looking for it also during the days of the renovation. And even after the renovation was finished, as the house now looked different (because of the new floor, the books were back in the shelves) he still looked for it a while, and at the same time admitting the new “surprise” apartment was nice. Each time we tidied up a room after it was painted and floored, he declared that “the room is back” and enjoyed it immensely. He also enjoyed helping me pack, by bringing me books from a pile to put into the boxes.
In the stacked up living room, he solved the problem of not having his usual table accessible for his dinner, by improvising an eating space by using a chair and covering it with his place mats. Taking out all the cushions of our sofa and building a house by placing them on the side like a wall is another typical pass time, the extra bonus to this house construction is that jumping on the sofa platform is really a lot of fun... It was also fun to use one of the empty cartons as a house to hide in for a few days after the renovation. Hiding in containers is a favourite activity and Jonathan uses every opportunity. Thus when we returned from a trip abroad, he curled himself into the empty suitcase when I left the room to put the dirty laundry in the bathroom. The only way for me to know where he was, was because of the fact that the suitcase was giggling when I returned to the bedroom.
Bonuses and helping out.
Jonathan is showing an understanding of concepts. Like that of being a good boy and helping out. And of course the concept of reward. He is also an attentive child and likes to help out.
We were walking to kindergarten one morning and he explained to me that he is being a good boy, all grown up and well behaved. Thus he demanded a reward for his behaviour in the shape of a chocolate drink to be purchased across the street from the kindergarten.
As this habit started but a month before the summer holiday (and we are due to enter a new kindergarten) I saw no point in fighting him but rather a chance to strengthen his understanding of the reward. Thus he enjoyed many a chocolate drink bonuses in the following month, until the summer holiday. His latest reward was being taken to the zoo, after being a good boy and going to the new kindergarten without making trouble for two days straight - he even admitted having fun on the second day! I was very glad to hear it.
One afternoon as I was resting, my mother spent time with Jonathan in the TV room. She also was tires and so she decided to lay down next to the boy. Jonathan noticed it and brought her a blanket and covered her. He likes to help out and always asks if he can help. He always tries to help, thus trying to help me carry things (like our shopping bag from the supermarket, or a heavy box – then I have to tell him not to help...so he will not get hurt). Grabbing the broom and sweeping or the mop for washing the floor is typical. He likes to bring his own juice to the living room and even to prepare it himself. We try to encourage this helping and independence tendencies – but I must admit it is sometimes a trail to my patience as it can create a big mess (e.g. juice syrup all over the kitchen) or it forces me to have to wait until he gets things done, which could go a lot faster if I helped him out. I do my best to be patient. Jonathan usually asks for my assistance when he gives up working on a task alone. He wails his failure by complaining about his lack of success (mommy, I have not succeeded, is a typical wail/cry out for help).
We were walking to kindergarten one morning and he explained to me that he is being a good boy, all grown up and well behaved. Thus he demanded a reward for his behaviour in the shape of a chocolate drink to be purchased across the street from the kindergarten.
As this habit started but a month before the summer holiday (and we are due to enter a new kindergarten) I saw no point in fighting him but rather a chance to strengthen his understanding of the reward. Thus he enjoyed many a chocolate drink bonuses in the following month, until the summer holiday. His latest reward was being taken to the zoo, after being a good boy and going to the new kindergarten without making trouble for two days straight - he even admitted having fun on the second day! I was very glad to hear it.
One afternoon as I was resting, my mother spent time with Jonathan in the TV room. She also was tires and so she decided to lay down next to the boy. Jonathan noticed it and brought her a blanket and covered her. He likes to help out and always asks if he can help. He always tries to help, thus trying to help me carry things (like our shopping bag from the supermarket, or a heavy box – then I have to tell him not to help...so he will not get hurt). Grabbing the broom and sweeping or the mop for washing the floor is typical. He likes to bring his own juice to the living room and even to prepare it himself. We try to encourage this helping and independence tendencies – but I must admit it is sometimes a trail to my patience as it can create a big mess (e.g. juice syrup all over the kitchen) or it forces me to have to wait until he gets things done, which could go a lot faster if I helped him out. I do my best to be patient. Jonathan usually asks for my assistance when he gives up working on a task alone. He wails his failure by complaining about his lack of success (mommy, I have not succeeded, is a typical wail/cry out for help).
Creativity
Jonathan continues to show progress in imagination games and creative solutions. His love of snowstorms is only increased by the success of the flour generated storm, so much that he decided to also have a storm during a drive to his grandma – in the car – the solution-handkerchiefs.
We were driving to my parents' house, about an hour drive and I gave Jonathan a tissue to blow his nose (he does that alone very successfully, as well as wiping his behind after the toilet) and after he was done, he tore it up to little pieces and started throwing them about – creating a snow storm. We stopped to relieve ourselves and I used the opportunity to clean the car. Now Jonathan had no more pieces for his storm – so he pretended to sneeze; the clever little tyke, the idea being that I once more give him more tissues.
It did not work, but it became clear to me that he needed entertainment. So we spend the rest of the ride paying with riddles and imagination and guessing games. What animal is brown and roars (a bear), what color does a water melon have (red) and we also sang his favourite songs.
It is becoming possible to keep Jonathan busy without toys or play things, but it is hard work, I must admit. After the drive was over, I was drained out.
At my parents' Jonathan continued to show creative ideas, he cut a paper into strips and declared that he has made a piano, and I was invited to play along with him. He also helped his grandma baking but this time I did not allow him to create a flour snow storm and thus the mess was somewhat reduced.
We were driving to my parents' house, about an hour drive and I gave Jonathan a tissue to blow his nose (he does that alone very successfully, as well as wiping his behind after the toilet) and after he was done, he tore it up to little pieces and started throwing them about – creating a snow storm. We stopped to relieve ourselves and I used the opportunity to clean the car. Now Jonathan had no more pieces for his storm – so he pretended to sneeze; the clever little tyke, the idea being that I once more give him more tissues.
It did not work, but it became clear to me that he needed entertainment. So we spend the rest of the ride paying with riddles and imagination and guessing games. What animal is brown and roars (a bear), what color does a water melon have (red) and we also sang his favourite songs.
It is becoming possible to keep Jonathan busy without toys or play things, but it is hard work, I must admit. After the drive was over, I was drained out.
At my parents' Jonathan continued to show creative ideas, he cut a paper into strips and declared that he has made a piano, and I was invited to play along with him. He also helped his grandma baking but this time I did not allow him to create a flour snow storm and thus the mess was somewhat reduced.
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