Many a dinnertime in the Poling household when I was growing up involved reading the dictionary or referencing the Encyclopedia Brittanica. We (the whole family - don't try to deny it, Elisa) did this for fun.
My kids are still a little young, and not reading yet, but that doesn't keep our meals from containing a solid educational element. Tonight Serena asked how to make water. This naturally led to a lesson on evaporation, precipitation, etc, complete with hand motions. (Joshua's sole contribution was, "that (my sweeping, circular hand motions) looks like ballet.") Serena was paying attention, at least.
"And that," I summarized, "is called the water cycle."
Asher: "Not a watercycle... a motorcycle."
Turns out he was listening after all.
Serena will go to kindergarten next year and she's definitely ready. She's got incredible fine motor skills, which make her a great colorer as well as letter-writer. She can recognize all her letters and write them as well. She's even begun reading a few sight words and getting the hang of phonics. It's so much fun to watch her master new things.
Serena is confident and independent. She has definite opinions about how she wants things, still enjoys playing alone (although she very often includes Asher in her imaginative play as well), has an impressive memory, and is a pretty deep thinker. Some of the questions she asks and the connnections she makes truly amaze us.
Overall, Serena is growing up into a really neat little girl. She's creative and smart and though she can sometimes be stubborn, she increasingly can reason and compromise well and deals well with disappointment. And, hey! - we've got her doing some chores!
