Play Video Games Together
Connect with a human, not with a screen
It was vacation. We were staying with Kubla’s cousins for the week. All the big kids wanted to do was play video games on the computer. It was the first time he had seen computer
Kubla and I love Japanese monster movies. Ultraman, Godzilla, and Mothra all have pride of place in his imagination. We’ve whiled away many an afternoon battling monsters—he’s always the hero, saving the bad guy role
Try harder
Kids are more capable than they and the grown-ups around them realize
When Kubla was two years old, he thought the words for ‘Open it’ were ‘Try harder’. He would hand me a jar to open. I would hand it back and say try harder. He would
Counting with screwdrivers, spelling with cars
Use beloved objects and activities to learn
When Kubla was a toddler, letters and numbers didn’t told his attention. But did he ever love real tools and toy cars. I couldn’t get him to stop playing with my screwdriver set. Sharp steel
I like it your way better
Encourage their curiosity, even when they get it wrong
I was straightening up my office supplies. Kubla puts down his toy and comes closer. “What’s that?” “A laser drum.” “A laser drum!?” His eyes pop out of his head. He starts to tear the
Snack tokens
Making sweet tokens stick
Our Sweet Token experiment was working wonderfully—for about 3 hours. “I want another cookie.” “Do you have a sweet token?” “No, I already used them both.” “So what’s the answer?” “But I want a cookie!”
The saddest story ever told
See things from another perspective
Octavia Octopus and her fishy friends escape the hungry shark. The End. I put down the book. “That’s the saddest story I’ve ever heard,” I say. “That poor, hungry shark.” ”But Octavia escaped. It’s a
The magic blanket trick
How to make a bad mood disappear
We were having fun together all afternoon. Then over the course of 5 minutes, for no obvious reason, my adorable playmate turns into a little monster. He throws toys. He makes loud, annoying sounds. He
Not learning to read
Children will learn only when they’re ready
His last couple weeks in preschool, Kubla showed an avid interest in reading. He would spell out the letters on signs, license plates, anything. I declared this would be the summer he learned to read.
Stop using your mind powers!
Turn frustration into a game
Kubla and his friends are watching a movie on Netflix. The connection is a little ropey. It keeps starting and stopping. The natives grow restless. The movie stops again. “Kubla, stop using your mind powers!”