Comments on: playdough is good, and so are crayons http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/ entirely true, but exaggerated for comic effect Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:27:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: kyra http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1931 kyra Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:25:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1931 hey! it's so fun over here! i love all the discussion!!!<br/><br/>and oh, how i relate to this wonderful post! fluffy began to teach himself to read when he was closing in on three, he has an enormous vocabulary, does addition, subtraction, some division and multiplication. he remembers data and facts, not so much what he did that day or what his only friend looks like. i didn't know he had aspergers until about a year ago but i always knew he was smart and used to say, i'd gladly shave off some IQ points for a couple of good night's sleep since his brain kept going going going, keeping him up up up. i do shake my head about what looks like panic to get little kids to learn when in fact, they are programmed for learning unless they have a neurological disorder. i never understood the academic concern for kids in PRESCHOOL. jeez, these kids are 3 and 4!!! let them play! except of course, for kids like ours, who need help in that very area, how to play, connect, read body language, facial expresions, prosidy, all the MOST IMPORTANT things in life, the "language" of social development. hey! it’s so fun over here! i love all the discussion!!!

and oh, how i relate to this wonderful post! fluffy began to teach himself to read when he was closing in on three, he has an enormous vocabulary, does addition, subtraction, some division and multiplication. he remembers data and facts, not so much what he did that day or what his only friend looks like. i didn’t know he had aspergers until about a year ago but i always knew he was smart and used to say, i’d gladly shave off some IQ points for a couple of good night’s sleep since his brain kept going going going, keeping him up up up. i do shake my head about what looks like panic to get little kids to learn when in fact, they are programmed for learning unless they have a neurological disorder. i never understood the academic concern for kids in PRESCHOOL. jeez, these kids are 3 and 4!!! let them play! except of course, for kids like ours, who need help in that very area, how to play, connect, read body language, facial expresions, prosidy, all the MOST IMPORTANT things in life, the “language” of social development.

]]> By: Susan http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1909 Susan Tue, 20 Dec 2005 16:27:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1909 Oh, Katie, that's the most important part, isn't it? The enjoying it. We get the biggest kick out of Henry (and Charlie, too, but in a very different way). And people are all the time commenting on how funny Henry is, in a good way, because he sees the world so differently from the rest of us, and his color commentary is a riot.<br/><br/>I so appreciate everyone who commented on this piece--I don't know how so many thoughtful, kind people find their way here, but your comments and conversation always make me feel so greatful. <br/><br/>In other words, you guys ROCK! Yeah! Oh, Katie, that’s the most important part, isn’t it? The enjoying it. We get the biggest kick out of Henry (and Charlie, too, but in a very different way). And people are all the time commenting on how funny Henry is, in a good way, because he sees the world so differently from the rest of us, and his color commentary is a riot.

I so appreciate everyone who commented on this piece–I don’t know how so many thoughtful, kind people find their way here, but your comments and conversation always make me feel so greatful.

In other words, you guys ROCK! Yeah!

]]> By: KatieK http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1907 KatieK Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:23:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1907 Hi, before I comment, I'm sorry you all are feeling so poorly and hope for a full recovery :). I have a 13 year old daughter who is highly intelligent. There has always been pressure to push, but for me, the important thing has always been that she be "not-neurotic" that she be able to apply her abilities", so your post struck a chord with me. I consider her to be "differently abled" from other kids. I've taught her how to amuse herself with hobbies (crafts, HTML), for example, on my theory that other people aren't always going to "get" her so she should be able to amuse herself, be self-sufficient in ways other girls don't seem to be. I enjoy the heck out of her. Hi, before I comment, I’m sorry you all are feeling so poorly and hope for a full recovery :). I have a 13 year old daughter who is highly intelligent. There has always been pressure to push, but for me, the important thing has always been that she be “not-neurotic” that she be able to apply her abilities”, so your post struck a chord with me. I consider her to be “differently abled” from other kids. I’ve taught her how to amuse herself with hobbies (crafts, HTML), for example, on my theory that other people aren’t always going to “get” her so she should be able to amuse herself, be self-sufficient in ways other girls don’t seem to be. I enjoy the heck out of her.

]]> By: Kara http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1879 Kara Mon, 19 Dec 2005 15:34:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1879 I'm a teacher and my kid is one of only a handful in her kindergarten class who doesn't read (much) yet. This whole pushing reading in preschool thing is relitively new. I figure she'll read when she's ready. I'm not going to be the one pushing her. <br/><br/>you are amazing, by the way! I’m a teacher and my kid is one of only a handful in her kindergarten class who doesn’t read (much) yet. This whole pushing reading in preschool thing is relitively new. I figure she’ll read when she’s ready. I’m not going to be the one pushing her.

you are amazing, by the way!

]]> By: Granny http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1876 Granny Mon, 19 Dec 2005 04:23:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1876 What a wonderful post and comments.<br/><br/>All kids are special. All are unique and precious. <br/><br/>The general consensus seems to be Why can't we let kids be kids? By all means, get them the help they need as I'm doing for my special needs girls, but give them time and space to be children. <br/><br/>The world is full of wonderful things and opportunities for learning that the overly scheduled, stressed out children never have a chance to experience.<br/><br/>Thank you for sharing your story. I found you at Jen-o-rama. She and I are online friends and I recognize some of the other commenters as well. <br/><br/>I'm at rocrebelgranny.blogspot.com any time you feel like visiting. What a wonderful post and comments.

All kids are special. All are unique and precious.

The general consensus seems to be Why can’t we let kids be kids? By all means, get them the help they need as I’m doing for my special needs girls, but give them time and space to be children.

The world is full of wonderful things and opportunities for learning that the overly scheduled, stressed out children never have a chance to experience.

Thank you for sharing your story. I found you at Jen-o-rama. She and I are online friends and I recognize some of the other commenters as well.

I’m at rocrebelgranny.blogspot.com any time you feel like visiting.

]]> By: Kristen http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1875 Kristen Mon, 19 Dec 2005 02:35:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/playdough-is-good-and-so-are-crayons/#comment-1875 Susan - good point about the "normal" thing. For so long, I thought both my kids were in some way (or many ways) "abnormal" or "behind" or some other label with negative connatations. The more time that goes by, though (and the more places I find like this, actually), the more I realize that my kids are completely fine. Everyone, every family, has its quirks and "issues" to deal with. When I hear about people like my mom's friend, whose baby was born with major heart defects and may not live through the month, I'm reminded that these quirks (under an official label from a doctor or not) are just part of the life my kids will lead. That life can be as "difficult" or as fulfilling as I show them it can be, depending on how I continue to react to whatever challenges may come up. Either way, it's a blessing. They could be in an ICU bin, fighting to survive the next 12 hours. Susan - good point about the “normal” thing. For so long, I thought both my kids were in some way (or many ways) “abnormal” or “behind” or some other label with negative connatations. The more time that goes by, though (and the more places I find like this, actually), the more I realize that my kids are completely fine. Everyone, every family, has its quirks and “issues” to deal with. When I hear about people like my mom’s friend, whose baby was born with major heart defects and may not live through the month, I’m reminded that these quirks (under an official label from a doctor or not) are just part of the life my kids will lead. That life can be as “difficult” or as fulfilling as I show them it can be, depending on how I continue to react to whatever challenges may come up. Either way, it’s a blessing. They could be in an ICU bin, fighting to survive the next 12 hours.

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