They Can Be Taught!

So Niko is one of the most intelligent four year olds around. Hands down. I wish I could take credit for it, and while I might encourage it and work with him, it's definitely ALL him. Niko can read quite a few words and loves reading as many things in the community or neighborhood that he can, knows how to add and subtract and finds joy in doing school time together including a few workbook pages before bed. The preschool math workbooks were much too easy so he does a combo of Kindergarten and first grade Math to keep things interesting for him. His new thing is reading clocks. He tells time, and I'm not referring to a digital clock. He can read the hands on a clock and tell you what time it is. If he's ever wrong, it's only because he read it too quickly or is being silly. It's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Now, to impress you even more not only can he tell time, but he can read clocks that have roman numerals on them. He can't read the roman numerals, but by position of the hands on the clock he can read them easily. He's one impressive kid.

While I love working with him and his schooling, I have to teach him other things as well...like how it's NOT ok to talk about what I'm doing in a public bathroom stall at the airport "Mom, why are you telling me to be quiet? I just wanted to let you know that you told me you're going pee, but you're not, you're going ___________!"

OR

How gentlemen open doors for people and say thank you.

The best thing came today when he kept calling me "pretty mama". Johnny was confused. I had earlier caught Niko thinking he was so funny calling me "stinky mommy" or "monkey mom". I told him that he could call me names but they needed to be something like "beautiful mama, amazing mom, wonderful mom, the best mom". I'm glad our talk did him some good because it was really nice being called "pretty mama" for a bit :)

Either way, all learning is so important for kids whether it's learning how to be polite or learning times tables! <---which is probably Niko's next goal!