What Should We Talk About Tonight?
May 20th, 2008 by Kristen Keller
For a while now, I’ve gone through the same bedtime ritual with my 3-year-old, Braden, (brush teeth, get PJs on, read a couple of books, tuck him in and kiss him goodnight) but recently we’ve added something that he and I are really enjoying that I thought others may enjoy as well. It is allowing me to learn a little more about my little guy each day, and has made this rare one-on-one time that I have with him that much more special.
It was Braden’s idea, so I certainly won’t take all the credit, but what a brilliant, simple idea! After he’s tucked in, I say, “What should we talk about tonight?” And he’ll come up with a topic for the two of us to talk about until we can’t think of anything else to say; so far we’ve talked about water, lights, beds and doors.
When we spoke about water, I began the discussion with types of bodies of water. He soon took the discussion in another direction with how we use water and where we can find water in the house, and we ended with how trees drink water through their roots to help them grow.
Not only am I finding this is a fun way to teach him new things and reinforce things he’s already learned, but it is also extremely interesting to witness the 3-year-old mind at work and listen to him bring up things that haven’t even crossed my mind.
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Kristen,
What a wonderful idea: an endless succession of teachable moments with each of you as teacher and learner.
Will keep this in mind for future grandchildren.
diane
dianes last blog post..Lilacs
that’s a neat idea, but i’m thinking back to both of my boys, and they asked so many questions on their own, usually I had to do the opposite–cut them off and say “no more questions, go to sleep!” while promising to continue the discussion the next day.
I drive a 1985 Jeep CJ-7 that doesn’t have a radio. My youngest, now 13, told me a couple of months back that he’s glad we don’t have a radio in the car because we talk the whole way home.
YatPundits last blog post..Walking the Labyrinth
Kristen - I love this
We’ve started doing the “what did you do today” thing on the way home from daycare and it’s just so fun now that she can talk well enough to explain things that happened. It’s even more interesting now that she has the imagination to invent things - I never know what REALLY happened during the day until I ask our day care provider!
Awww……that is so sweet K……I think I may steal your idea : ) Deb
HI there - met you through The mommybar! I got added yesterday too - love it
Love the idea of your talks with your son, too!
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near Yous last blog post..Dancing with the Stars finale - Already!?
Don’t you just love 3?! What a great idea and one I will have to try not just with my 7-year-old but also with my students.
[...] wherever they are willing to help one another learn. Kirsten Keller (over at This Mommy Gig) nurtures BOF intentionally with her son. And, yes, even the structures of the Educational Industrial Complex can’t stop [...]