That's So Rad!

A page from my my daughter's book

My daughter has decided that she wants to be a writer some day just like Mommy, so she’s been creating her own little books this week.  Since she is only in kindergarten, I am often amused by some of her little spelling errors.  Today, she made a 4-page story for me and my fiancé, complete with cute illustrations and staples to hold the papers together.

As I read each page, I was so proud of my little girl!  Just this year her handwriting, spelling, and artwork have blossomed.  Her books are so adorable that I want to scoop her up in my arms and give her a giant bear hug every time.  Seeing her share my love of drawing, writing, and reading will forever stay in a special place in my heart.

When I reached the last page of her latest book, though, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud!  There, above a cute illustration herself, my daughter had written, “The hat is rad.”  Although I knew right away that she had meant “red” not “rad”, it made me chuckle until I teared up.  Confused, she asked me, “What’s so funny, Mommy?”

I asked her if she knew what “rad” means and she only shook her head.  In my explosive giggling state, her puzzled look only made me laugh harder.  How do you explain to a 5-year-old that years ago—which seems like an eternity for her—that you and your little friends used to think they were so cool by calling things “radical” or “totally rad”?  Yeah, we thought we were big shots back then.  Now those terms have fallen away replace all new slang words.

It makes me wonder what else my kids will never experience.  Because I still love to play records, they know what a record player is.  However, they have never seen someone make a mixed tape.  They have no idea what a pager is.  They have never gotten the chance to feel the frustration and then the sheer joy of having to blow into their video games to make them work.  They can’t imagine life without computers, cell phones, Leap Pads, and toys with tons of features.  They are shocked when I mention that I didn’t grow up with Sponge Bob, Dora, Diego, Phineas & Ferb, or Max & Ruby.  It’s just another reminder of how things are constantly changing and how fast time flies by!

Uno . . . Dos . . . Tres . . . Waffle!

Shows like “Dora the Explorer” and “Go, Diego, Go!” are a wonderful way for preschool children to learn and to be introduced to the Spanish language.  However, there is one key component that is missing: true interaction with the child.

In both of these TV programs, the characters talk directly to the viewer, often times asking questions for the preschooler to answer.  This is a great way to get small children thinking.  However, on numerous occasions, I’ve heard this from the living room: “Mommy, Dora isn’t answering me!” or “I don’t know, Diego; I DON’T know!!!”

Yet, the worst consequence of this lack of true interaction is the fact that my children don’t always absorb the information correctly.  A couple weeks ago, I was practicing counting to 20 with my son and daughter.  They do fine on their own up until 12, and then the number order gets all mixed up and hazy for them.

As we were stringing counting beads, my daughter (almost 5) declared beaming, “I know how to count to 4 in Spanish now, Mommy!”

Thrilled, I told her to show me.  More than a little excited, she began counting the next strand of beads in Spanish: “Uno . . . dos . . . tres . . . waffle!”

I’m no expert on the Spanish language, but even after only 2 years of Spanish in high school, I know that the number 4 in Spanish is cuatro, not waffle.  I gently tried to correct her, but my daughter refused to accept it.

In my household, Dora and Diego are the highest authority on anything Spanish related, at least in my children’s eyes.  Consequently, if Dora says ‘waffle’ is the way you say 4 in Spanish, then that is that!  There is no convincing them otherwise.

Hopefully, some day soon, I will be able to make them see that they simply misheard Dora.  But until then, I must endure “uno . . . dos . . . tres . . . waffle” each and every time there is something to be counted!