What do you remember from when you were five years old? I have very vivid memories of kindergarten, of the house where I lived, of my toys and books, of events my parents thought were important (a tornado, school activities, games.) I dont think I would have known what state or country I lived in, however, or my telephone number. My passions were writing and music, and still are.
My grown sons exhibited most of their important personality traits by the time they were five. One was adventurous, a risk-taker; the other was more home-loving. Both were creative, one was fascinated by rhythms and the other by songs. Anna at five showed many characteristics I would have expected to remain with her. She was extroverted and friendly, a bit of a drama queen, unusually generous (especially for so young a child). She was a writer of letters even before she could write words, and she was beginning to learn to write a few words and her first name. She was more interested in drawing and painting than in making music. She loved plants, flowers and animals.
There is another matter which occurs to me. When my sons were five and two years old, they spoke no English at all. But within six months of our returning to the United States, they could speak nothing but English. Their memories of their birthplace far away seemed linked to the language they spoke there. Only a few very vague memories remained with the son who was five, and hardly any stayed with the younger son.
My grown sons exhibited most of their important personality traits by the time they were five. One was adventurous, a risk-taker; the other was more home-loving. Both were creative, one was fascinated by rhythms and the other by songs. Anna at five showed many characteristics I would have expected to remain with her. She was extroverted and friendly, a bit of a drama queen, unusually generous (especially for so young a child). She was a writer of letters even before she could write words, and she was beginning to learn to write a few words and her first name. She was more interested in drawing and painting than in making music. She loved plants, flowers and animals.
There is another matter which occurs to me. When my sons were five and two years old, they spoke no English at all. But within six months of our returning to the United States, they could speak nothing but English. Their memories of their birthplace far away seemed linked to the language they spoke there. Only a few very vague memories remained with the son who was five, and hardly any stayed with the younger son.