Stop. It’s a simple word with a simple meaning. Most four year-old children can identify a stop sign. Most can spell stop. (Or at least all of my kids could by the middle of their fourth year. This may be advanced or delayed, but it is my experience.) I don’t know of many who find pleasure in writing the word.
Lil’ B, who we were told might never speak or learn to use a fork or spoon properly. (He can, and he does.) Has discovered writing.
The thing is, nobody has ever taught him how to write.
I haven’t. I’m sure his preschool hasn’t. Mom is in Turkey finishing out the last of a 15 turned 16 month tour of duty in the Air Force. He is usually not allowed pens, markers, pencils or crayons because I can’t afford to paint that often. But he’s learned to write the word stop.
(I just found out that my sister has worked with him on a few letters, but that’s as far as his learning goes.)
Imagine if you will, my surprise when my son stopped riding his bike on the patio yesterday and exclaimed “Oh no! Where’s stop?” Then proceeded to make his own stop sign, so he would know where to stop and turn.
Actually, you don’t have to imagine, I got it on video:
Good job little guy. We’re proud of you.
Peace. I’m out
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. That is amazing. Is it the writing, or the actual “visual” of the word stop on the road that he has cottoned on to?
I think it’s a little of both. He loves letters. Now he’s figured out you can put them together. The first he learned was CAT, he’s now hooked on STOP. We’ll be working on others now!