Words, The Next Generation
Dylan has moved on to the Pre-K portion of preschool.
One of my favorite things to do when I pick him up from school is to read the board about what they did that day. It’s much more “school” based learning this year, as in they talk about letters and sounds and words and books and the meaning of things. It cracks me up every day. I can just picture those teeny little people sitting around talking about loud vs. quiet voices. And what a vegetable is compared to a fruit. And the difference between opiates and barbituates.
Just seeing if you’re paying attention.
Anyway, in the past few weeks he’s decided he’s a budding artist and writer. He spends a good deal of time every day sitting at the kitchen table with paper and crayons, working on his letters. He’s always asking me how to spell things, and if he doesn’t know how to write a letter, he asks me to write it in the air for him. Then he copies me. After that, if he’s not sure about it, I write it on a piece of paper so he can copy it.
He’s getting REALLY good and can write his name without very much help. And he can write mom and dad without ANY assistance! Isn’t he BRILLIANT?!
The only problem is that he doesn’t really understand the idea that letters need to be in a certain order. Sometimes he spells his name, and when he shows me (SO VERY PROUDLY), the letters are there, but they’re in different orientations and positions all over the page. I think he’s just channeling Salvador Dali. Or maybe it’s that he’s 4 1/2. Whatever.
Today he decided he was going to write a book. A BOOK! It’s eight pages long and it’s about a man who is painting a wall, who then goes out on a boat and eats a shark before heading back to land and walking around a park.
Without further ado, I offer you a sneak peek at his genius:
The cover:
That’s a person. Painting a wall.
On the boat. Catching and eating a shark.
Looks chaotic, doesn’t it?
This says “DAD.”
Or, “DDA” if you read it literally and can’t get into the mindset of a 4 year old.
I’m waiting, patiently, for the publishing firms to come calling. I sense an all out bidding war in our future.
Also? He’s better at drawing at 4 than I am at 30. Which, I suppose, isn’t saying much. Should I try to enroll him in an intensive art and writing program? You know, to foster his obvious talent?
Related posts:
David on 10 Nov 2009 at 2:34 pm #
You must be so proud of the obvious brilliance. Good boy, Dylan! He draws better than I do, too.
David´s last blog ..There are no lessons
[Reply]
Nicole on 10 Nov 2009 at 3:08 pm #
When is Dylan’s Birthday? Tatum is 4 1/2 too and i’m figuring that his bday is close to hers, she was born March 1st. He really is getting the hang of it, tatum is too….she also spends alot of time doing the SAME thing. Guess it’s the PreK in them!!! LOL!!
[Reply]
Meghan Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Dylan’s birthday is 3/14! It’s definitely a fun age. Challenging, but fun!
[Reply]
Karen Chatters on 10 Nov 2009 at 4:30 pm #
When was the last time you caught and ate a shark? DUDE, it’s CHAOTIC!!
Karen Chatters´s last blog ..This little piggy
[Reply]
pgoodness on 10 Nov 2009 at 8:09 pm #
So brilliant!
My 4 yo can spell things in order, read letters in order, but writing those letters in the right place? Nope. What IS that, I wonder?!
pgoodness´s last blog ..Cloudy
[Reply]
Joe @ IrrationalDad on 11 Nov 2009 at 3:38 am #
The book is definitely an abstract, eh? You’ll have to point him back to this post when he gets published in 20 years (give or take).
Joe @ IrrationalDad´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday v. I have a daughter too, you know
[Reply]
Quart on 11 Nov 2009 at 4:27 am #
Karen chatters stole my comment!! That book is awesome.
[Reply]
cathy on 11 Nov 2009 at 7:19 pm #
That’s awesome. (and also perfectly normal – the letters in the wrong order thing.)
cathy´s last blog ..How to throw a baby shower for someone who hates pink.
[Reply]