I remember several years ago when my older son first discovered the power of words. He would say something "risky" and glance at me, waiting for a response. For the little guy, risky meant occasionally throwing in an "I hate..." instead of an "I don't like... ." Already he'd discovered the power words hold over people.
Now both my boys are using langauge to define themselves.
My older son, now in third grade, has taken to using poor grammar when the mood strikes him. He knows his writing / former English teaching mother can't help but respond. Sometimes I correct him, other times I try to ignore it. It's his way, I think, of becoming his own little person, growing more and more into his own self.
My first grader has recently christened himself with the nickname. BoB (which is regular Bob with fancy first-grade style). Every school paper includes this new name. Sometimes he adds his new last name, which looks like Heflafe, and is pronounced Heffley, I'm told. Just like his brother, this is his way to leave his own unique mark on the world.
Have your children discovered the power of language? How have they expressed it?
This post is a part of Steady Mom's Thirty-Minute Blog Challenge.
First, I have to congratulate agent-mate Kekla Magoon. Yesterday her book, THE ROCK AND THE RIVER, won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent.
Here's a quick glimpse into her work:
CHICAGO, 1968. For thirteen-year-old Sam, it's not easy being the son of a well-known civil rights activist. When he learns that his brother, Stick, has joined The Black Panthers, Sam faces a difficult decision. Will he follow his father, or his brother? His mind, or his heart? The rock, or the river?
Please stop by
her blog today!
Now, on to a list of some of my favorite picture books:
1. SIXTEEN COWS -- Lisa Wheeler
Lisa Wheeler's witty rhymes make this cow mix-up a fun read aloud. I dare you to get through it without turning the cow calls into some kind of song.
2. UNDERGROUND TRAIN -- Mary Quattlebaum
This delightful book, which (unfortunately) is currently out of print but available used, focues on Washington, DC's Metro. The lyrical words have become a part of our family conversation:
"The moving stairs roll us down, down, down to the Underground Train, which rushes past like fast water on miles of track."
3. CORNFIELD HIDE-AND-SEEK -- Christine Widman
This book was a library find. A delight!
4. RATTLETRAP CAR -- Phyllis Root
Watch a family try to keep their car in one piece as they go on a family trip. Full of repetition and fun car noises.
Things I've learned the last few weeks while driving carpool:
- When you have a heart attack, your lungs clog up. Your heart is located in your neck.
- If you let your grass grow too high, the governor will come to arrest you.
- Birthstones are mined at Mount Rushmore, which is in Washington, DC.
This post is a part of
Steadymom.com's Thirty Minute Blog Challenge.
From the dust jacket: Prince Horace is so naughty that everyone calls him Prince Brat. But the prince is not allowed to be spanked. So an orphan boy named Jemmy is taken from the streets to be the prince's whipping boy.
When Prince Brat decides to run away, he takes Jemmy with him. The boys begin a wild adventure that lands them in the clutches of two thieving cutthroats! Can Jemmy use his street smarts to outwit his kidnappers and free himself and the prince?
Sid Fleishchman's THE WHIPPING BOY won the Newbery Medal in 1987. I hadn't picked it up since my student teaching days in the mid-nineties. It was so fun to revisit this chapter book with a roomful of eight and nine-year-olds. The dialogue is snappy, and the bumbling bad guys (Cutwater and Hold-Your-Nose Billy) are a great match for the boys.
Here's one of the discussion questions I presented to the group: How does Prince Horace change during the course of the story?
My favorite response: He goes from being all fancy and royal to camping out in the woods.
This would make a wonderful read aloud for boys and girls alike. What read alouds have been a hit in your family?
The post is a part of Steady Mom's Thirty-Minute Challenge.
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I don't have kids, but I have eight nieces and nephews. My three year old nephew is at the word discovery age and says thinks like, "Mom, Mom, I just really think it's important that you know, Mom, that I really think you should know that I really love you." Also, he does the politician stance off putting his hands in a loose fist, like game show contestants too, and says things like, "I have something to tell everyone. This dinner is espetional." (Exceptional)
He also says, "Uno mas," instead of one more.
Too funny. My oldest has a Kindergarten teacher that hypenates her name. So mostly she goes by Mrs. CW. Now my son signs his work with his initials too.
Great question!
My kids are older, but I remember them going through this stage. They loved new words, risky words and silly words. Pumpernickel pudding became a regular phrase around our house for a while. They both used it when they were frustrated :)
my son is 2.25. he has always been pretty advanced for his age verbally. he speaks in 5-6 word sentences AT LEAST. his most recent extremely irritating habit has been to repeat everything repeat repeat repeat...today was a new one he said "I have an idea" and when I asked what it was he said "I can't remember" and laughed at himself and hit his head. we did have a small incident today where he kept repeating a not too nice word over and over and over - I said that's not nice but he just ignored me and kept saying it so I just walked away. he stopped.
LOL Ahh, my six year old has recently started with "ain't" and it drives me CRAZY. I repeat with correct grammar and she goes, "yeah" like, duh!
Rhiannon loves to experiment with new vocabulary which can be tons of fun when she can't quite pronounce the word. LOL I think it was obsequious the other night.
Oh yes. Somehow the word "hate" has made it into my 5 and 4 year olds vocabulary lately. It isn't a word I love, but it is powerful and they know that.
It is interesting how kids figure out the power of language to begin to distinguish themselves as individuals and mark out their personal boundaries (to borrow a term from the psychologists).
When my daughter was 4, I remember her demanding "I need privacy!" and slamming a door like a petulant teenager. It was a bit of a shock that she understood the concept and the line-in-the-sand nature of privacy.
Like Jonathon, I don't have kids, but I do have a bevy of nieces and nephews. It is amazing to watch kids individuate themselves and become their own person. All children at one point or another discover the power of words. It's not always pleasant for the parents, but recognizing it for what it is, is more than half the battle.
I love this post. Kids are so aware of language and sometimes so literal about it, too. My 7 y.o. is definitely experimenting. His latest thing is using the word touche for everything. He's decided it's both a French and a Russian word, so he it must be Frenchussian! :-)
Great discussion everyone! More proof that language and the words we choose carry so much meaning.
Great post, Caroline. It's fun to see kids experiment with words - preferably the good ones (although the bad ones provide great teaching opportunities).
My 12yo has always had an amazing vocabulary, and loves to discover new words and their meanings. Every once in a while he'll throw something into the conversation, then say "I've been waiting for months to use that word!" It's pretty funny.
Caroline,
I LOVE your new picture! And the header! Very nice look!
What cute ways children have of expressing themselves. I hadn't thought of this specifically for each of my children, but I'll to be on the lookout!
I love how your little ones express themselves with words.
My big kid changed his name to JJ when he started school. We're having word issues with him big time right now. When he encounters words like naked, dam, or donkey, he can't resist giggling and making other kids read them or say them. For donkey, he likes to say, "you know what the other word for that is, right?!" I know it's a phase, but can it pass already?
My daughter is just learning language and loves trying out new words. Today she told me, "Mama, you is a no m'am!" Apparently whatever I was doing was very, very wrong. Too cute!
Oh My!!! Our just 2 year old says an emphatic no in front of everything and then repeats the last word you said. "Would you like to go to bed" "No, bed"; "Would you like some chocolate?" "No chocolate!"... Very funny!!!