Elena's always been fascinated by books and stories, ever since she first came home - likely because, I think, no one ever sat down and read a book to Elena in the orphanage, and so the experience was new and fascinating. I've told this story before, but bear with me:
For a few weeks or so, when Elena first came home sitting down to "read books" meant having her randomly page through the book, pointing out objects, and naming them. She didn't yet understand that a book is read from front to back and contained a story.
That is, until one night when I forced us to read through "The Cat in the Hat," (or the "кошка в шапка" -- koshka f shapka--as we read it) reading every word in order. She was kind of fussy, but less so when I did it the next night. More importantly, the act of reading the whole book showed Elena it contained more than just words and pictures - it contained a story. I could almost see the lightbulb go on in her head when she figured that out.
I was reminded of this epiphany recently, because we've been doing more with stories. Elena's recently realized that not all stories are contained in books, and she's been asking me to make up stories to tell her. What's more, she's now been making up her own plot points, so the stories are now cooperative things, with both of us adding parts.
And this is what makes the story so powerful: Elena is realizing she can tell a story about her and by her; not just in the usual context of play, but using only words and imagination. It's fun to see the lightbulb of creativity go on, in a similar way that the lightbulb of plot recognition went on in 2011.
For a few weeks or so, when Elena first came home sitting down to "read books" meant having her randomly page through the book, pointing out objects, and naming them. She didn't yet understand that a book is read from front to back and contained a story.
That is, until one night when I forced us to read through "The Cat in the Hat," (or the "кошка в шапка" -- koshka f shapka--as we read it) reading every word in order. She was kind of fussy, but less so when I did it the next night. More importantly, the act of reading the whole book showed Elena it contained more than just words and pictures - it contained a story. I could almost see the lightbulb go on in her head when she figured that out.
I was reminded of this epiphany recently, because we've been doing more with stories. Elena's recently realized that not all stories are contained in books, and she's been asking me to make up stories to tell her. What's more, she's now been making up her own plot points, so the stories are now cooperative things, with both of us adding parts.
And this is what makes the story so powerful: Elena is realizing she can tell a story about her and by her; not just in the usual context of play, but using only words and imagination. It's fun to see the lightbulb of creativity go on, in a similar way that the lightbulb of plot recognition went on in 2011.
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