Sunday, 11 April 2010

• A Window To See Bitty's Day

  If we ask Bitty directly, "What did you do at school today?" or "Did you have a good day at school?" we are likely to get a repeat of the question in response. "Skoo today." or "goo day skoo." (I generally assume that last one is an affirmative response, but I could be wrong).
  
  However, he has started to give us much more detail in his own way. The "tape recorder version" as I have come to think of it, because it's kind of like having a tape recorder in the classroom and listening to it later.
  
  Out of the blue, and talking to no one in particular, he'll talk as he plays.  
  
  "Wittle dots, 'Bitty,' dass too much gwoo. Wittle dots."
  "Dih I say wun? No wunning, you nee to walk."
  "Don' tuh-uch, dass foh teachers!"
  "Housekeepee! Iss time foh housekeepee."
  "'Bitty' yoo iss be da door hoh-der."
  "You nee to caln down, 'Bitty,' iss tine to caln down."
  
  All said in his best teacher voice. The one-liners are what I can remember, but he often goes on to relay extended conversations, activity instructions, and so on. He repeats what his teachers say to his classmates also. Months later he still says, "uh-oh, 'J' iss wet." I have no idea if it was a bathroom accident or spill or what, but poor 'J' is never going to live that one down with Bitty repeating that over and over for months on end... (sigh).
  
  I love to just sit and listen to him. Sometimes if he pauses, I might ask him about it.
  
  "What did you glue today?"
  "You were the door-holder today? How fun!" (he loves to be the door holder)
  
  Maybe he does the same thing at school? (repeats conversations he heard at home). Sometimes he puts on his best "Mama" voice and I hear an echo of myself.
  
  "No scweemee, 'Bitty,' dah hurss my ears."
  
  I told him that ONCE when he screamed right into my ear (I was holding him at the time) and now he screeches just so he can cover his ears and repeat it over and over.
  
  I'm amazed at the level of detail he can remember. He once spent about 20 minutes repeating every detail of a group activity his class had done, including who was assigned to which groups (listing all the names and telling them which teacher to go see).
  
  For whatever reason, he doesn't seem to repeat what the kids in his class say, just the teachers. He does pick up on what the teachers say to his classmates though, not just what they say to him. (So we know all about who's been running in the hallways or touching things that are "for teachers," lol).
  
  What's more is that sometimes he takes it a step further, not just repeating the words but actually acting out the "scenario." For example, running a few steps and then coming to an abrupt halt as he tells himself, "I seh no wunning!"
  
  It's great to see him not only practicing his words, but pretend-play skills too :). I am so proud of him!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  • 6:00 PM
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