Dylan and Erica need to....

Finally picking up where I last left off in the Dylan-needs-to series, except given the 6 years lapse 🤯 it now becomes the Dylan-and-Erica-need-to series. And not so sure if this list for kids is still relevant to these 2 not-so-little little ones (both of them in primary school next year!) but today being the first day of the month and the first day of the second half of the year, I am feeling pretty inspired to keep it going continuously for at least a month?!? (keeping fingers crossed)

Looking at the next item on the list, I can imagine why I allowed such a long gap to transpire...... "dig a hole to China" Why in the world would kids need to do that? And unfortunately I really don't have the best opinion of China right now so that is hardly a desirable destination. If it is about being okay to get down and get dirty playing in dirt, that I can agree! The concept of Forest School is one I wouldn't mind being more involved in personally! Well, both of them are not adverse to getting muddy and playing in sand so I guess that is settled?

Next one is "need to take a nap with their dog".... but they don't have a dog... and given the discussion the family had while we were standing outside a pet shop just yesterday.. it seems highly likely that they might have one in the future... but they do have hamsters! Too tiny for them to take a nap with but probably learning the value of taking care of another living creature just the same.. They are certainly more confident in handling their Pokemon-named pets than me...

So, this reboot of the series shall begin with 6. Dylan and Erica need to search for the end of the rainbow. Both of them definitely recognize the colourful phenomenon and we often would spend at least a few minutes marveling the beauty of it when we do catch one. This endeavour of searching for its end would be an interesting extension. I mean, we all know you can never quite find the end but it does not mean that the pursuit of it is worthless or meaningless. I can already imagine the fun and possible conversation that might arise from such a hunt. And when they do find out that I brought them on an impossible search, I hope they would see the value of it in terms of the intangible enjoyment we gained from that little adventure.

Can't wait to find a rainbow with them!!

4. Dylan needs to tell the truth.

i think this is a given.. honesty and integrity are two virtues every good person would have... they determine if you are reliable, dependable to finish a task the right way... the implications in the real world!! .... i cant imagine how people without these two values live with themselves?!

but how do inculcate these values?

watched a video on Ellen recently of a little boy who lied right through his teeth that he didnt snack when he had not cleaned his mouth... his mother kept reminding him that he should speak the truth but he repeatedly insisted that he didnt snack... made me wonder: where did he learn that lying is a better option?

perhaps we should consciously make the effort to not penalize and instead praise them when they do tell the truth... i mean all too often our first reaction to an unpleasant or painful truth is getting upset and lashing out..

and modeling is always the right way to go... that means admitting to them when we make a mistake and having the courage to confess the truth... 

but perhaps for toddler Dylan, we can start with stories of "cry wolf" and "pinocchio"??