Why the horse is happy as a clam right now!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206374)
Walnut Creek, California
December 12, 2016 5:14pm CST
In a previous post, I mentioned a child I recently met in the little kid room at the preschool in Berkeley where I sometimes volunteer and sometimes substitute teach.
He's 2 1/2 and seemed to have a touch of expressive aphasia. That's fancy psych terminology for "The kid don't talk."
Today, I got a call at 8:45 from one of my co-workers there, asking me if I could sub in the older kid room from 10 AM to 1:30 PM. I said yes.
I worked mostly with the big kids, but when we were joined outside by the little guys, I noticed my new friend with his jacket on his head upside down. He was trying to put it on.
When his face appeared, I was there. I said, "Do you want me to help you with you jacket" He shook his head "no." After he struggled a bit more, with his right arm in the left arm of the jacked, I said, "Can I help you a little bit? I'm really good at this." He nodded his head "yes." When I got his left arm in the left sleeve, I said, "Shall we do your other sleeve together now?" He said "ken," which is Hebrew for "yes," clear as day.
When we got the other arm in, I said, "Are you comfortable now?" He nodded "yes." I was already smiling to myself. Then he said, again clear as day, and in English, "Zip it up." I said, "I'll zip it up half way, and you do the rest." He smiled and zipped it up all the way. I said "You're ready to go!" and walked away. I didn't want to overwhelm him. He smiled again and toddled off to find his young friends.
I have two hypotheses: 1) Little kids like using language the most when you're collaborating on a project with them; 2) The fact that he understands both Hebrew and English might make things a bit confusing for him when it comes to using expressive language, since he's not sure which language to use. (But knowing two languages will be helpful to him in the long-term.)
I'm going to have to do some further research and learn what language he mostly hears at home. I've never spoken with his parents. Now you know what it takes to put The Horse in a good mood!
16 people like this
16 responses
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
13 Dec 16
Fantastic! What a golden moment. Good job 
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98944)
• India
15 Dec 16
@TheHorse .. You do it with great style...that is what is worth noticing...half zip indeed...I have always scolded kiddos..whenever they are not wearing clothes right...I am learning...but most of the time they can't be bothered wearing clothes right.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
13 Dec 16
Happy to hear about some progress. My parents spoke Dutch at home....the older children were speaking English at school and to each other. The youngest (at that time) was not learning to talk. The doctor recommended only using one language ....after that only English was spoken at home. I'm glad I'm one of the older children and understand and speak two languages.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Dec 16
that knowledge could help his teachers too, maybe he needs to hear things both ways
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Dec 16
@TheHorse or maybe those he plays with, they prob hear more words, if you can get them to remember that is.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206374)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Dec 16
@Jessicalynnt I think I might be working with the littlies tomorrow. We'll see what happens.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206374)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Dec 16
I learned from my Director (and friend) that his parents speak mostly (or only) English at home. Maybe all the Hebrew spoken at the preschool confuses him. I'm going to check in with the other teachers and find out whether he's started using some spoken language with them as well.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98944)
• India
15 Dec 16
About that language thing I noticed my prince charming likes to talk to me in English as if he and me are a team vs..his little sister and he kinda identifies English as a language of grown ups so it is pretty much a way to tell the little one ...look sweetie..I am older than you even if the difference is just about 2 years..lol. When she is not around he slips back into his mother tongue...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
14 Dec 16
I love that you love children and working with them. I think you must be really good at what you do and you enjoy it too... Life is good for you and the kids.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
13 Dec 16
Maybe it's time to learn a little Hebrew @TheHorse .
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43420)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Dec 16
That's cool that he trusts you enough to actually say something.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 16
i'm doin' the happy dance with ya! what a treat to get to work with so many youngsters with vast cultural diff'rences - both 't the school 'n also those client young'uns.
1 person likes this
