Our eldest is six. He is just learning to read, but his favorite computer games are Roller Coaster Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon (free demo). He has been able to play these games despite being illiterate. He loves climbing trees and running. His mindset is very analytical. He wants to know how things work and he constantly performs "experiments" to test things. I stereotype him as an Engineer.
Our middle child is four. He does not seem too interested in reading yet, but he is very precise. He enjoys roleplaying various superheros, especially Larryboy, and competitive games where he has a chance to win (it's tough to be four and play against a six-year-old brother). He pays close attention to what you say, and I stereotype him as an Attorney.
Our youngest child is two. Despite the general tendency for girls to start speaking earlier than boys, she does not yet talk very much. I stereotype her as the Little Princess because it is both traditional and because she tries to rule the entire house with gestures. Hopefully this will change as she ages, but she has more of a temper than the rest of us combined. It displays itself when she does not get her way. Fortunately, her mother is being careful not to raise a spoiled brat, so the Little Princess is learning (slowly) that the only thing her temper gains her is a swift banishment to her room. As she grows, she may earn another label, but for now, she is my Little Princess.
It is fun to think of my children in these ways, but I do need to be careful. I want to raise my children to think for themselves and to support whatever future careers that best fits their unique personalities, skills, and desires. Some of that requires parents to make assumptions now (do we allow junior to go to science camp or do we sign him up for music lessons instead), but a lot of it requires parents to keep an open mind and to see their children as they really are, not as we wish them to be.
Whoops... Note that I am of course kidding about the "Rarh! I resent this!" bit
I resent you thinking of my boy as a pre-attorney. Instead, I prefer to think of him as a future novelist.
I also have an Engineer and a Little Princess. In lieu of an Attorney/Novelist, I have an artist.
One thing about artists...they are very creative, and not real concerned about practical matters. They usually leave a trail of mess which leads to their next project.
Hey, life is supposed to be an adventure, right?
Well, my little girl is an Engineer/Artist/Little Princess, so I'm basically in deep trouble no matter which way I turn.
She was at a birthday party this weekend with about 15 other girls and 2 boys. Apparently, they spent most of the time playing "girls chase the boys".
I now have several brochures from Swiss Convent Schools which I am studying intently!
Hmm... Well, I feel out of place. I'm not the only single, college-aged person reading this blog, am I?
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D'oh.
And, Khobrah- "Girls chase the boys?" Wow, I haven't seen that for the past... ever. But have you seen Kim duToit's comments about Switzerland? I would recommend a different country.
As a Chemical Engineering major, I resent the implication that I play computer games in languages that I cannot read.
Then again, I'm looking longingly towards the Classical Studies program, so... *shrugs*
Also, Veggie Tales is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Or something like that.