Chalk and Cheese Chronicles

When Obama Speaks, a 4-year-old Listens

Ok, so while his brother was busy making Playdoh cookies (on a stick), Chalk Boy listened and watched about 10 minutes of yesterday evening's State of the Union Address. I think he really was listening. When Obama speaks, even a 4-year-old listens. (This is an audio clip which takes about 4 secs to load.)

Original post to Chalk and Cheese Chronicles.

Photo credit Babyjidesign

Kindergarten (Un)Readiness

When I was 5 years old, my mother enrolled me in kindergarten at our neighborhood school. I'm sure she didn't poll her friends to see if they'd be enrolling their age eligible kids in kindergarten because for the most part, she already knew. Most of her friends were also enrolling their children in kindergarten at their neighborhood public school. If we were age eligible, we went. It's just how it was done back then, at least in our middle class California neighborhood. Sure, a few went the private school route and a few more enlightened parents held their autumn birthday children (especially boys) back a year; but in doing so, they didn't conduct a massive search to find the "perfect" kinder prep program in the frenzied manner we do today. In fact, the children I know who sat out that first year, did most of the sitting out at home, playing with their siblings. Had I been born an October baby, I'm quite certain my parents would have enrolled me in kindergarten nonetheless and off to kindergarten I might have marched, a shy 4-year-old who might not have been quite ready.