A few weeks ago James asked me why our son Jacob is always upset when he speaks Spanish. Why is our son speaking Spanish? Because he's addicted to Dora the Explorer. ADDICTED! Sure, he likes Diego a lot. He has Diego toys and knows all about Diego's animal rescue adventures. But there is something about that big-headed girl that has him hooked. He watches the show, he reads the books. With her monkey friend and map of the neighborhood, Dora is a backpack wielding adventure loving dealer, slowly doling out computer animated crack to two year olds.
Every so often, and in proper context, Jacob yells things like, rapido! Azul! Despacio! He yells them. "Despacioooooohhh!" He watches with amazement, even if he practically has the episode memorized. He watches with an open mind, answering questions and motioning when called upon to do so. He answers quickly and he answers over and over as he waits for Dora's affirmation. He answers louder and louder as it seems that Dora is ignoring his reply. It's like, it makes him mad yet it is satisfying.
It's total love-hate addictive behavior. But it's totally cute! He is using reasoning, he is exercising his memory, and he is learning Spanish. But his Spanish "r" is not very pronounced (although his English "r" is not very pronounced either). We often see him holding out his hand yelling "pawa". Or we hear him working through a series of increases - "wapido! mas wapido! mucho mas wapidoooooow!" And I love when he points out colors around the house, "amawillo, woho, veode".
He wakes up and he asks for Dora. He is glued to it when it's on. He appropriately references characters and plots. He even dreams Dora! The other night in his sleep he said, "I need agua".
Jacob would rather watch Dora than susu! Someone call A&E, this kid needs an intervention!
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2 words of wisdom:
Pawa=power=the remote? I'm just hoping two languages aren't too much for a two year old, as I'm deep in that boat with the lad. I'm more hopeful, than downcast though. It may be too much for their minds, but it gives the glottis a good work out. Nice line, by the way. "cartoon crack for a two year old" I give it two thumbs up. Expect an order for jam to a stateside location, your link made me think that blueberry isn't all that and grape and strawberry are just booooring.
Pawa = para = stop. I think he's doing very well with the two languages. Of course, the only Spanish is from these shows, so it's not quite what the pmpkn has. I have asked my mom to speak only to my kids in Carolinian - yeah, that ended after about 4 hours. And I've asked her to speak to them only in Chamorro - again, short lived. And not because of the kids. ha ha! When Katelyn enters school next month her classroom will have an assistant who speaks to the kids only in Mandarin! My niece spent a year at that school and would sing to us in Mandarin. It was great.
I have been buying the Stonewall Kitchen's Wild Maine Blueberry Jam from Expressions. It's excellent! That one and my mango jam are my favorites! I think I'll have to make some more jam and put them up in my shop. I've already had a few orders from the states. :)
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Spit it out, yo!