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A small child's understanding of the world.

(17 Posts)
rosesarered Fri 26-Jun-15 14:08:46

A few days ago, when babysitting our 3 year old grandson, I said I would read him a story.We chose a book, he then snatched it up and said firmly " no, I will read the story!" He then took out my reading glasses and put them on his little nose, and was amazed to find that wearing reading glasses would not make him magically able to read, he was genuinely disappointed.You see ' reading' glasses?

Anne58 Fri 26-Jun-15 14:21:57

That is soooo sweet!

Nonnie Fri 26-Jun-15 15:19:43

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Margsus Fri 26-Jun-15 15:26:14

Oh I love that!

whenim64 Fri 26-Jun-15 15:38:33

Ohhhh, I love the way they interpret the world at that age smile

NanKate Fri 26-Jun-15 15:47:28

What a fab story Roses

My 4 year old GS cannot understand why when my DH had his 70th earlier this month and his other Grandpa had his 74th last Sunday that DH is younger that Grandpa. Try explaining that one.

Grannyknot Fri 26-Jun-15 15:54:15

smile

Pippa000 Fri 26-Jun-15 16:15:14

My 3 year old GS has a problem with Aunty P being daddy's big sister (18 months older) as Aunty P is 5 ft 4 in and Daddy is over 6 ft.

shysal Fri 26-Jun-15 16:49:34

DD2 works in a school. The children in her class were given biscuits by a child whose birthday it was. They had been told to wait for their mothers' permission before eating them. When DD was seen eating hers a small boy said it wasn't fair, so was told that she had asked her mother, upon which he looked puzzled then asked 'isn't your mother dead?'. He didn't think anyone could possibly be old enough to be her mother!

ninathenana Fri 26-Jun-15 17:03:21

Love these smile
My 3 yr old GS won't believe that the framed photo on the shelf at mine are my parents. They are apparently his nannie and 'ranran' . 'Ranran' has his own house round the corner. Odd that he's always at my house and shares my bed grin

KatyK Fri 26-Jun-15 17:22:22

So sweet smile

rosesarered Fri 26-Jun-15 19:44:00

understanding which relative is which and why must be so confusing for them, grasping the fact that Grandma has a sister and brother, let alone maybe a Mother and Father, is beyond most of them.We also forget that children have very literal minds, and it's easy for them to get the wrong end of the stick( we know that there is no stick!)

apricot Fri 26-Jun-15 20:01:31

If only children just needed magic glasses to be able to read!
I feel so sorry for little ones starting school with that great mountain to climb, several years of struggling and hard work to learn to read and spell. I was seven before it suddenly made sense and whilst one of my daughters was happily reading at three, one granddaughter of eight absolutely hates books. She was tested for dyslexia and said to have a reading age of nine despite being unable and unwilling to read anything I've ever offered.

Judthepud2 Fri 26-Jun-15 23:31:34

rosesarered grin

NanKate Sat 27-Jun-15 06:49:46

Apricot do try your grand daughter with books by the publisher called Barrington Stoke. Their books are especially designed for reluctant readers as well as dyslexic. The books are reviewed by kids for kids. If she is into computers get her to look online at their catalogue of books. Best of luck.

JackyB Sat 27-Jun-15 20:28:07

My youngest is 7 years younger than his eldest brother. I went in to his bedroom the night before he started school and he was in tears that his brother was already so clever and educated and he was obviously very daunted by that mountain of learning ahead of him. That was a very moving moment, seeing the world through his eyes.

As for understanding relatives, my three sons have no cousins and only two unmarried aunts on both sides. I have loads of aunts, uncles and cousins, as does my husband, and the concept of various relationships has never confused me. In general, men seem to have difficulties with this. I have often noticed that even their vocabulary of relatives doesn't stretch further than "cousin". It's usually their wives who keep track of the addresses and birthdays of their husbands' relatives, but that's a topic for another thread.

rosesarered Sat 27-Jun-15 22:29:45

That's interesting Jackie, you think that girls/women have a better understanding of the whole family network?You could well be right there.
I do feel sorry for the amount of time and effort that children will have to put in at school until they are 18. Makes me shudder to think about it, as I disliked school( so did Mr Roses.I just asked him.) We tend to forget, that even a weekly spelling test, should they still do that these days, can be a huge worry for a child.