Um, Kid, You DO Know You Could Just Do It for Fun, Don’t You?
Shortly after one of her older sisters earned herself a chunk of copywork as a consequence for something-or-other, Beanie, aged almost six, appeared at my side with one of our Draw-Write-Now books.
"Mommy," she said, all bright-eyed eagerness, "if I do something naughty and have to have copywork, you could give me THIS book. See?"
Draw-Write-Now is primarily a drawing tutorial, but there are a few lines of simple text beneath the pictures, suitable for handwriting practice if you are so inclined. I never have been, not wishing to suck the fun out of my kids’ favorite, favorite how-to-draw manuals.
But Beanie was all kinds of excited about her new idea. "I wonder how naughty I would have to be," she mused, "to make you give me some copywork."
Hey, don’t look at ME, child—I’m certainly not giving you any suggestions!
Awesome Creativebug Classes
Of Fowls and Fun
Watercolor Florals with Peggy Dean
Now Our Turn to Share
This Week in Ancient Greece
Jennifer says:
How cute! I love those books.
On January 3, 2007 at 3:22 pm
KC says:
LOL!!! That’s too funny!! I love those books too.
On January 3, 2007 at 5:06 pm
JoVE says:
Now, see, that just looks like a punishment strategy backfiring big time…
Smart kid you’ve got there. I have one too. Sometimes I wish she was stupid and compliant but mostly I like it this way.
On January 3, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Angela,Mother Crone says:
That is classic. If she needs ideas on how to be naughty, I am sure mine would help her brainstorm! 😉
On January 4, 2007 at 5:44 am
Jeanne says:
I admit to being curious about your giving copywork to the oldest sister as a consequence. It sort of surprised me. Maybe it’s because I have boys, for whom copywork-as-consequence would pretty much cement in their brains writing-is-punishment. Have I not read enough Charlotte Mason to get some underlying connection, or is this just something that you don’t have to be concerned about because the proclivity-to-write is so strong in your kids? (Which wouldn’t surprise me a bit). Copywork-as-consequence is one of those things that would never cross my mind as appropriate for our family — while totally respecting that if it works for your family, you surely know and use it wisely and well.
On January 4, 2007 at 6:03 am
Mary Beth P says:
I take this to mean Beanie is feeling better- great
On January 4, 2007 at 12:38 pm