The other day, I was feeling very lazy. And as it turns out, it was a great thing that I was.
We were all in the living room and I was on the floor flipping through a recipe book - must have been trying to decide what to have for supper.
My son was across the room and asked me if we could put on the Thomas tape. Yes, we still have a stereo with a cassette tape and we still have a Thomas the Train story book on tape.
I said, "Sure". Then he asked if I could get up and do it for him, even though he was standing right by the stereo. This is where it was a good thing I was feeling lazy. I did not feel like getting up and decided he could do it himself.
I said, "No, you can do it; I'll tell you how." So I proceeded to issue him instructions.
First he had to find the Function button, to switch from the radio to cassette. He cannot read yet but recognizes all his letters so I told him to look for the button with "F" "U" "N" on it. He found it.
Then I told him to find the "Play" button down on the cassette controls. He found that.
But the tape was at the end on that side. So I instructed him to find the "Eject" button and press that. He did.
Then I told him to flip the tape over. I think he got it upside down so I told him to turn it over with the fatter part going in first. He did that.
Finally, I told him to find the "Play" button again. He did and the tape started!!!
Wow, what a lesson in instructions! I thought about it afterwards, the letter recognition he had to employ, following instructions exactly, manipulating the tape, etc. That was rather complex for a 5 year old. And he did it with flying colours!
Thank goodness I was feeling lazy.
