A sense of humour

A1 is almost five and I have started sending her to the play area on her own. I, of course, watch her from the balcony. There are a strict set of rules that she needs to follow. Stay in the sand pit. Come when you are called.
Don't follow other kids if they go else where. As I listed out the rules, I asked her to repeat them. She repeated all of them and followed it up with "Fish are friends, not food". It brought instant laughter to the both of us and we said a very chuckly bye at the door. V and I are not exactly known for our wit. But the genes do exist in our family, hopefully our kids have got them

A1 has a vivid imagination

A1 has a very vivid imagination. At times we have to differentiate between her reality and ours. Her make believe scenarios are very detailed. A few weeks ago she was playing with a particular friend of hers, a boy a few months older than her. The play seemed very intense with a lot of sand and leaves involved. After a while I walked over and asked them what their play was. A1 went into this story about how they were at a hospital that had new born babies and they were using the leaves to make milk for the babies. I asked her friend if that was so and he said "I don't know aunty. That is what she says". So much for that.
A1 has a Mommy animal and Baby animal game that she plays with A2. A2 to his credit plays along. A1 is truly maternal in these role plays and plays perfect Mom to A2.

Keeping pace with the kids

A1 and A2 have reached the stage where they are fighting as much as they are playing together. Both of them love carrying tales about each other. A2 has this plaintive way of saying "Achi no share ipad, mummy". He also has this "Achi no picha, mummy?" statement that he makes each time he is reprimanded for pinching A1. The tone says that it is a completely new concept that he has never heard of earlier.
A1 is more direct. She'll say her piece and then step back to watch. If no consequences are obvious, she'll press her point. "What's his punishment, Mommy?". And then stay around to make sure that her little tale telling has been aptly rewarded.