Hi all - so pleased the concept is seen as 'relevant' . Roy I love the fact you brought up writing. Yes while 'being read to' can occur from birth (or earlier :) ) - I have always thought writing comes slightly 'first' - but the action of (almost pretend) writing ....
A favourite game for all the little toddlers (18 months + ) in my life has been 'love letters' - especailly when a few people are gathered. A pile of 'post it notes' (or any bit of paper), a few pencils ..... The little ones write 'a letter' and then deleiver it to a big person ... who is delighted to get it and asks ... "What does my letter say?'
Almost always at first it 'I love you' :)
There is no presure here - it is fun. Some times I might 're-write' what it says underneath ...
Over time (sometimes just the course of a couple of evenings) the 'writing' goes from just scribble to real 'up and down - joined lines' with a break and then more 'up/down line' - visually it looks like the concept of writing ...
Then in the / family gathering the older kids get in on it often playing along / sometimes trying to take over (with younger ones around 2-3 loudly complaining I want to do my own writing etc etc ... )
One of my favourite memories was with my friend's son - about 4 ... as the love letters are flying - he comes to me with a picture of a truck and before I can say anything - he says to me ... "Kath this one doesn't say anything - It is a truck and trucks don't talk .... " (or words to that effect ..)
THEN out of the blue - we all ended up (adults and kids included) having this great convo on the 'concept' of hieroglyphics - phones and tablets at the ready - finding examples, discussing how you need to know the 'code' - kids making thier own 'picture writing letters ...' (it was crazy and went on for ages)
Then at kindy a couple of days later - one of the kids told the 'story' of picture writing at kindy ... and on it goes ...
I do not know exactly what is big take out message in the above except I *think* we all (or almost all) have a drive to communicate. Talking is one way (with all the associated 'things') - visual representation (words / pictures etc) is another .. (& ofcourse others as well )
But it is the drive to communicate -
capture a thought - pass it on - have it able to be recieved - add / or substract or change something(?) - return to sender - & then repeat ...
that is the basic drive we are all tapping into .... always (??) ....
What do you think?