Learning to read and taking a new adventure...

My kids are in kindergarten and they are learning to read. They are officially learning how to decode the lines, squiggles and dots that we have arbitrarily given sounds; so that they can pronounce and read the words that we have arbitrarily assigned meaning. I mean, really, why does the thing that goes and says “vroom” have to be called a car. Why can’t it be a “coche” or “voiture” or even a “gobox”. (Yes, I made up the word “gobox”, but I did it on purpose, to prove a point.) . Further, why do the sounds have to be shaped like that? Why can’t “SH” look like ש? It does in Hebrew. It’s all arbitrary. We’ve been practicing with low level books and with the sight word cards provided by the teachers. We’ve also been supplementing the phonics based education they have been receiving for the last few years in preschool. 

 

For many, teaching their kids to read in an academic event. They think about report cards and grade level appropriate tasks. They think about how well their child will be able to complete higher level tasks in school and in the world. I, however, have a slightly different perspective. It’s not that I don’t see my kids as needing to feel intellectually confident in their world. I do see that as important. It’s just that I see this goal as a secondary goal for reading. 

For me, the primary goal of reading is to have unlimited adventures, information and creativity at your fingertips. For me, reading is not a task. Reading is privilege. It’s too cold and rainy to play outside? No worries. Pick up your book and read about a tropical island while you sip your hot chocolate. Let your mind go where your body can’t. Don’t know something and feel like you should? No worries. Research it and write your own story or report using that information as a foundation. Feeling frustrated that somebody doesn’t understand your point of view or simply need to transmit information to another person? No worries, write them a note. 

Words, on paper (or screen, as it may be) are power. They are imagination. They are information. They are access to a larger and more complex world, both fictional and actual. I suppose I need to take into account that I am 1) a highly uncompetitive person and 2) a writer. This most certainly impacts my position on this matter. That said, I imagine most child caring adults get a thrill from watching their children be creative and interesting. My kids, for quite some time now, have been drawing pictures and dictating the accompanying story to me. We have even laminated and bound (ok, taped together) a few of them for our bookshelf. I can’t wait until they can complete the drawing and picture independently. I can already see their faces when they come bursting into the room, book in hand, insisting that I stop what I’m doing and be read to. 

I can’t wait to see what impact reading has on my children’s already fantastic imaginations. They may actually change the world. Imagine that.

A parents guide- Teaching your kid to vote with dignity

Today was voting day. As voting takes place in school cafeterias, there was no school. This is not news to anyone, but it only really becomes relevant when the hard truth hits parents. If they want to vote, they have to bring their kids with them. Hmmm…

When my kids were younger, this proved very interesting. It’s hard to focus on shopping in Target with two little kids running crazy, much less on a political ballot. This year, however, the scene looked distinctly different. 

When we left the house, I took advantage of the car ride to explain the concept of voting. I explained that we have people in offices that make decisions for us, and that we have the chance to say who we think should have that job. I explained that not everybody agrees on what a good decision looks like, so we have choices on who we think is best for the job. 

I illustrated the point by talking about breakfast foods. I figured that a simple, concrete example would be best. We talked about how my kids had chosen different breakfasts this morning. My son wanted waffle with peanut butter and my daughter wanted French toast. (As they both come from frozen, there’s no harm in making two breakfasts, even on a busy morning.) I explained that a “vote” was unnecessary, as I was willing to make two different choices. What if, however, I were not willing? What if one person got to choose what everyone had for breakfast? Who would be a good person to make such a choice? Would it be the person who is nicest? The one who is really good at listening? The one who knows what everyone likes, so they can pick the choice that is most represented? How would they choose? 

They asked me some good questions and then we entered the polling place. I told the kids that I needed to be able to think, so that I could do a good job. They nodded earnestly. It was pretty adorable. I asked them to sit down next to my voting booth and they complied instantly, waiting quietly for me. The lady working the table was totally impressed. (I was a little stunned myself, to be totally honest.)

When I was done, about to leave, we ran into a neighbor and friend. We don’t get to see her very often, so we stopped to chat for a moment before she went to work. We both enjoyed it, and I realized that I had another lesson to teach my children about voting. This neighbor/friend and I do not agree on politics. Sometimes we talk about current issues, to see what the other side believes, but our conversations rarely convert the other. At the end, we agree to disagree and move on happily.  And so, I asked my children to listen one more time and I began to talk about …well... food. 

I reminded them that Daddy likes mustard, but that he likes the spicy kind, while mommy likes the regular yellow mustard. They (the kids) don’t like mustard at all. My daughter despises tuna fish, while my son adores it. My daughter loves potatoes, while my son cringes at the idea of eating them. My point? Simply because a person disagrees with us does not make them less intelligent or wrong. They simply disagree. Oh, and we can still like them. Heck, we may even love them.

My kids nodded earnestly. They got it. Really got it. Ok, no… they don’t get it to the level that an older child or adult gets it, but they got the basic idea. They understood that opinions are huge. They are part of what makes a person valuable, and our diversity is what makes us interesting. 

I love that they got it. I’m so proud.