Can't Fool This Kid

One of the things I love about the iPad is that it helps kids get motivated to learn.  It is also a ton of fun and slightly addictive  I have read more books on my Kindle app this year alone than I read in the last 10 years combined.

The games can be addictive too.

My personal favorite is Bejeweled Blitz.

 Ben's favorite is Tiger Woods Golf.

The problem with Ben's favorite, is that it happens to be his Dad's game.  The way these games work, you do tournaments to increase your average and skill, etc.  Randy had his player in pretty good shape.

Until Ben found the game that was hidden in the folder.

He was sitting quietly in the stroller at one of his brother's many games completely engrossed in the iPad.  I asked him a couple times what he was playing.   I finally got up and looked.  Randy's  player was at 70 over par.  Not good when you have your player just where you want them.

So they created a player just for Ben.

 You see he does not care if he is in first or last.  He just wants to play.   I just love that about him.  Every time the big boys try to get him to change how he doing something so he can win, I remind them too.

Ben just wants to play.  He is having fun.  Let him have fun.

But back to the iPad......Every now and then I move the golf game on the iPad, so that Ben will spend more time with his learning apps, and less time playing golf.

This morning was one of those days.

After burying the golf game deep in one of my photo app folders, I gave the iPad back to Ben.

Next thing I hear is "Looks like you are going to need a pitching wedge from this distance".  The little stinker found it, in less than 10 minutes.  Looks like I need to employ a more devious tactic next time. 

But part of me is proud of him.  What a great problem solving skill this little game of ours has taught him. There are so many great things he learns from the iPad, like matching, math, reading, and having fun.   In general the iPad has been nothing but a wonderful tool for Ben.

Slow Down Mommy

This morning I woke up late.

Got my shower, checked email, ate a banana, got the big boys up and going, fixed my hair, and went into get dressed. My clothes are in Ben's room so this always wakes him up.

While I was getting dressed, we were working on his signs. I showed him out, eat, milk and he would just smile and wave at me.

When I would get close to his crib he would put his arms out for me to pick him up. I was finally done and able to grab him, and was signing eat and milk at the same time since we were going to have to eat fairly quickly to get out the door on time.

Ben threw both arms around my neck and gave me the biggest hug ever, as if to say "slow down Mommy, I don't have to eat just yet, just give me some loves first". Then he patted my back. I stopped dead in my tracks and just took it all in. This was the first time that I definately recognized that Ben initiated a hug. There are times in the past that he has laid down on my sholder and patted my back with one hand, that I think might have been a hug, but this was obviously a hug. It was so great.

Needless to say, I was late to work today.