Growing Up

Quite honestly, this is the age I have been waiting for since Eli was born, the time when we can have actual conversations, do activities and projects, and watch him grow and develop into his own little person.  At 4 years old, he is still not without the occasional angry outburst as he will get easily frustrated and will oftentimes prefer you do certain tasks for him rather than attempting himself as he learns how to become more independent.  Overall, he still has a fairly mild temperament with a curiosity that allows him to enjoy learning about the world around him.

Eli's collection of preschool/toddler learning activities has steadily grown through gifts given to him over time.  I had been saving all these types of things on a pile for when he was ready for them this summer before he starts preschool in the fall.  Whenever I attempted to engage him in paper/pencil activities before, he was very reluctant with a short attention span.  I really thought I would have to come up with some sort of reward system to entice him to want to complete workbook pages and practice writing.  On the other hand, I didn't want him to become extrinsically motivated to do things like this but rather intrinsically motivated.  Also keeping in mind a reward system really wasn't effective during the potty training process for him, I thought I would probably have to keep waiting until he initiated interest in academic-type tasks on his own.

The first time I introduced him to the workbooks and other learning activities, he was actually really excited, I think mostly because it was something brand new for him.  He will readily write his name but still shies away from learning how to write other letters.  The tracing pages in the workbooks are the most fun for him right now, and he does the same ones over and over again.  

The most evident part of Eli growing up at this stage has been has transition to his new daycare.  He seemed just a little bit reluctant at first on our initial visit but soon joined in with the other kids while they played outside.  I think the only way he was ready for this was after spending a few years in an in-home daycare environment first.  Some days he is still a bit timid at drop-off but I'm sure enjoys his time there after I leave while also still seeming ready to go back home when I return to pick him up as he chats about his day on the ride home.

As I expected, this new type of setting is very structured and more school-like with lots of activities, learning experiences, and field trips built in to each day.  He has gone from being one of the oldest at his previous daycare to now one of the youngest kids there.  He even seems to enjoy taking his sack lunch every day, which always comes home with empty containers.  (Since the school cafeteria is closed throughout the summer, all the kids take their own lunches.  Otherwise, he would be eating hot lunch if it was offered as an option.)  Eli seems to think he is already in preschool, referring to his new daycare as "school" and the adults in charge as his "teachers." 

Each month we are given a calendar with the themes for each week listed.  To go along with each theme, there are various arts and craft activities.  Throughout each month, they also walk to different places in town on field trips.  These include weekly trips to the library.  They also visit the residents at a local nursing home and go swimming at the YMCA.  Eli even experienced his first adventure at the bowling alley recently.  If you visit the Sacred Heart School Facebook page and click on the "Like" button you can keep up with all their adventures as they regularly post pictures.  Overall, this first month has been a great start for him at his new daycare while making new friends and participating in new types of experiences all the while preparing for preschool in the fall.