Headsprout

My kid can read!

Well, not quite. That would be an exaggeration. Probably even a downright lie.

But he has learned a bunch of new sounds and words over the past couple of weeks!

I can’t take any of the credit, though. He’s been playing Headsprout* — an online video game that teaches phonics. The game has 80 levels, which are called episodes. After playing the free trial episodes (and loving them), we purchased the first 40 episodes for about $100.

Expensive? Yes. But we’ve been quite impressed by the program.

After only five episodes, our little guy could read his very first story! (Don’t get too excited. I can type the whole thing in about five seconds: See Vee. See San. See the van.)

He plays each episode a couple of times before moving on. He’s now on episode 8.

I just hope he doesn’t get sick of it. Using a computer to teach reading is a lazy parent’s dream!


*I'm not affiliated with Headsprout and receive no money for recommending their products. Just thought I'd share something we've been enjoying. If you would like to send me money, though, contact me at takesmoneyfromanyone@email.com.**

**This is not a real e-mail address.***

***I'm sorry if this is your real e-mail address...unless you get money because of it...then I'm mad.

Meat Eater

I can't bring myself to post about holidays and major milestones. Finding something meaningful to say on days like Christmas, New Year's Day or my son's birthday is just too much pressure.

So instead of musings about a new decade or a list of resolutions, I give you a picture that our little artist drew today (labeled by me for your convenience):

I bet you're wondering why I chose to post this picture. After all, kids produce a ton of artwork. Why share a drawing of a meat-eating rock?

Well, once you read the conversation that occured while Rowan was creating this picture, I think you'll understand why it's now one of my favorites.

Rowan: "Mama, I can use markers and glue sticks without any help now."

Me: "I know. You're getting so big. You can do a lot of things all by yourself.

Rowan: "And I know a lot of stuff, too."

Me: "Yep."

Rowan: "Like about science and space."

Me: "Mmm Hmm"

Rowan: "Like I know that when an asteroid falls to Earth, it becomes a meat-eater."

Me: "A meat-eater?"

Rowan: "Yeah, it's an asteroid up in space, and then it falls down to Earth and becomes a meat-eater."

Me: [thinking...then cracking up!] "Oh my God, Rowan! Do you mean a meteor?!"

Rowan: [thinking...then smiling sheepishly] "Oh yeah. That's right. A meteor!"

The thought of him imagining a world in which rocks fall from space and transform into razor-toothed carnivores gave me the best laugh I've had this year! ;-)

Wishing you lots of laughs in 2010!