What can I do next?

What can I do next?

This is something that m parents wrote up for an assignment from one of the pre-schools.

As my toddler hits 16 months, finding the words to describe him for his teachers isn't easy...

He is very like "Christopher Columbus" - exploring for the sake of exploring. Going where no kid has gone before.

He's the last to burst out in tears when you tell him "no" firmly - because he knows soon after that he will find something else that interests him.

He's likely to put on the biggest 8 tooth grin and giggle with a bit of "peek-a-boo". He can engage and relax around adults, but would

rather be with kids; Or animals; He's the first to reach out and pet or feed a carrot to dog / cat / rabid raccoon / horse / sheep / turtle / stingray. Other kids have run, cried and screamed near these animals while Lorent will reach out with one hand while holding on to a leg of Mom or Dad.

Around the neighborhood, he would rather play lacrosse / hockey / soccer / digging in dirt with Jackson, the 11 year old boy across the street than drawing in the driveway with chalk, riding the wagon or dancing with the 9 and 11 year old girls next door. I've never seen him really engage and play with little Will down the street who is 4 months younger, but he does observe babies. He will wonder why that baby is crying but will not cry himself because that baby is crying.

At Gymboree class, he's likely to leave the circle and walk toward the office and go through the trash. He's also the one that is jumping on the swinging bridge. He's been to Gymboree class enough to know that he has a bit to learn on the co-ordination and that he does fall down a bit more than Alex or Margo.

Lorent would rather be outside -- he will bring you your shoes if it will hurry things up a bit. Once you are outside, those shoes better be running shoes, as he's in his element and happy as it gets. It's also a good thing he's only ~25 pounds, because we can pick him up to bring him inside. If there were "rain-or-shine outdoor pre-school" we would enroll Lorent. He's the first one to spot a dog / horse / cow / cat 400 meters away and call it a "GOW!".

Despite his parents love for books and reading, he's not likely to snuggle up and read any type of book. He's happy that you read a book, but he'll be multi-tasking on his plastic blackberry or dragging the broom around.

He's more likely to bounce his head and feet to the music of Lady Gaga or Nightwish than a Disney soundtrack.

He's likely to be the first one awake, but might go back down with a drink and a new NukNuk.

Like his dad, he's a bit independent, sometimes to his detriment. Like his mom, he is stubborn, sometimes to his detriment.

Like his dad, Lorent listens and responds to English; Like his Mom, Lorent listens and responds to Hungarian. Being bilingual may slow his verbal and written language skills, but not his intellect – he responds to others in either language too, even southern accents.

He's likely to turn something upside down and then put some if it back, if not in it's proper place, somewhere where he thinks it should be.

He's not the calm, peaceful, quiet, cute, adorable baby that can sit with a new toy for 10 minutes and play while mom takes a pee. He is the busy, motivated, curious, non-stop, climbing, opening, closing, spoon holding, binky sucking 16 month old that is into something [bad] while mom pees. He is also the calm, peaceful, quite, cute, adorable baby when he sleeps. Fortunately, he sleeps from 8pm to 6am and now is down to one nap a day - from about 1 to 2pm or 1 to 330pm at the latest - and it's just enough for his mom and a two day a week nanny to recharge.

If Lorent wants to be picked up, since Dad is taller, he would rather go with Dad. Lorent will stay there for a long time and might protest about being put down, unless it is to go to something 'better'.

If Lorent is hurt, Mom is more likely to meet the needs of Lorent, and it usually isn't long before he's back in the game.