I find it amusing that 4-year-olds can be "sentimental" and talk about "the old days."
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205634)
Walnut Creek, California
May 16, 2022 9:42am CST
One of my "best friends" at my friend's preschool is a girl named Emily. She is very proud of her "naturally curly" hair (was that Sally, from Peanuts?) and has been my friend since she was 20-months old.
The other day, she said, "Do you remember when I was little? If I sat in your lap, and someone else tried to, I'd just hit them." I don't know if this is a real memory, or what cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus calls a "constructed memory," based on things I've told her about our early days together.
But I do find it funny that I can have conversations about "the old days" with 4-year-olds. Maybe she's just modeling my tendency to be sentimental. I dunno.
It's the same with others I've worked with since before they were two. They see the little ones in the toddler playground and say "Do you remember when I was little?" And I tell them about what they were like when the were one. Of course, it's amusing to hear "when I was little" from a 4-year-old. But I enjoy my conversations with them.
Do you think that even little kids are naturally "sentimental"?
The photo is of Julissa, a child I worked with since she was an infant. She was my "puzzle queen" 15 years ago.
18 people like this
17 responses
@Tina30219 (81540)
• Onaway, Michigan
16 May 22
Beautiful. Little kids sure have a mind of their own my daughter when she was little her mind was great she made her stuffed animals it is hard to describe it I will have to see if I can find the videos and share some here.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (81540)
• Onaway, Michigan
17 May 22
@TheHorse She was mom to them all and she had them call me grandma
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205634)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May 22
@Tina30219 Heh. I'm glad the kids call me "daddy" in their dramatic play, and not "grandpa."
@Chellezhere (5363)
• United States
16 May 22
Yes, I think even little kids are naturally sentimental.
2 people like this
@Chellezhere (5363)
• United States
17 May 22
@TheHorse Yes, and some adults do too.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205634)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May 22
@Chellezhere I analyze my own dreams. But I don't talk about them much with others.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62096)
• United States
16 May 22
They probably hear the adults talking about “way back when.” 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62096)
• United States
17 May 22
@TheHorse — by the way, where’s your homework assignment????? 
I told you to look up who wrote the Turtles’ song “Like the Seasons,” the B-side of “Happy Togeter,” when you said you were going to the park to look for turtles.
I told you to look up who wrote the Turtles’ song “Like the Seasons,” the B-side of “Happy Togeter,” when you said you were going to the park to look for turtles.
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
16 May 22
I think she probably like you said remembers that you've been around since she was little and then she "remembers" the memories you have shared with her.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
16 May 22
Ha ha. That's funny. "Remember when" with a 4 year old. Hm. I think perhaps sentimentality is a trait that can be seen from little on
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157545)
• United States
17 May 22
You are a positive role model and they want to be like you, so they enjoy being sentimental.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
17 May 22
Children like to hear stories about themselves. It is why those books that are printed including the child's name, maybe the name of a pet and stuff are popular gifts.
They love to hear stories about themselves and even love made up stories about themselves. Soon they want to hear stories about their parents and even later they want to hear stories about their siblings and then their friends.
I'm not really sure "sentimental" is really the right term, at least not like the same kind of remembering that old people do.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40871)
• Wapello, Iowa
16 May 22
I'm impressed by their memories. I wish I could remember what happened two years ago.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40871)
• Wapello, Iowa
18 May 22
@TheHorse Me, too. And with this much brain power thrown at it, the problem doesn't stand a chance.
@TheHorse (205634)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 May 22
@xander6464 I will consider how to remedy that.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95105)
• Marion, Ohio
17 May 22
She was adorable. It is funny when they say those things. Especially as they are always so serious when doing it
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
17 May 22
Memories can be strange. I have a very clear memory of something that occurred when I was about 18 months old. Not a constructed memory.
There are no photos of this event…in fact it’s a photo that helped me date the memory .
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
17 May 22
@TheHorse I had been sick. When I came downstairs my dad was building a wooden rocking horse. I remember asking who it was for. It was not painted yet.
The phot of me on the rocking horse…I’m 18 months and it’s beautifully painted.
@LindaOHio (156060)
• United States
17 May 22
Julissa is adorable. I don't know if kids can be sentimental at 4 years old. I think it's interesting to think about "when they were little".
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
17 May 22
Yes they do especially those smart kids for they're too curious and observant.
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
17 May 22
Sentimental kids talking about the 'old days'... who would have thought? Certainly not me but I bet the conversation was fun.
