Clue to the tune of Go Fish

Since she can't read or write and is just beginning to develop logic, the regular version of Clue is a no go. For awhile, she and I were playing "roll the dice and move the people." Now, she and John put a suspect/weapon/room in the secret file and then figure out what's missing. When she gets close, the answer pours across her face—her eyebrows, her eyes, her lips. Mrs. White! Mrs. White! Mrs. White with the lead pipe!

Guess Who?

Short attention span is not my girl. She's been playing Guess Who? several hours a day since we inherited it Monday. (John just chimed in from the background that it seems like we've had it months. It's a two person game, so one of us is also playing hours a day.) Which person do you have? Mostly luck, a little logic, and the faces make a satisfying thunk when you eliminate them.

R: Does your person have glasses?
D: No.
R: So, that means. . .
D: Eliminate the people with glasses.

Going on a trip

Rose changes into heels and a leopard print dress then packs several purses and backpacks. She asks me to put on my violin lesson clothes.

R: Pretend you don't want to go to violin class because there's a boy teacher.
D: I don't want to go to violin class because there's a boy teacher. I'm scared.
R: That's o.k. sweetie. I'll be there.

We travel around the house, Rose narrating and directing. When it's time to clean up, she cleans up.

Family

Rose, Miriam, and Ariana disappear upstairs. Voices drift down—I'm the mommy; you're the big sister; Ariana's the baby. Later, John and I find the remnants of the game strewn around the house—the board books under our blankets, the stuffed animals in the hallway. Mostly, though, it's completely independent of adults.