wow words

in youngest's class they're practising story telling using pie corbett's techniques - great fun. virtually every word has an 'action' attached to it (check out how he tells the little red hen story) but also the children learn to describe people, situations, and things. in this context, youngest has devised a game: think of a letter, then everyone has to make a word with that letter plus give a good description of that word. you can win the game by thinking of the best word or giving the best description. 

'mama, let's play the game and the letter is p. the word is '(youngest)' and the description is he is the loveliest little boy in the whole wide world.' 

'ok - my word is parachute. it is made of large pieces of beautifully soft silk in all the colours of the rainbow. you fold it up into a rucksack, put it on your back, jump out of an aeroplane even though you're very scared, you pull the cord on the rucksack and  then the parachute unfolds into a massive great big jellyfish shape that prevents you from falling really fast down to earth. instead, you dangle in the air with the large jellyfish shape above you and you have all the time in the world to admire the amazing views of the tiny little houses below, the fields with the animals in them that appear larger as you come closer to landing really softly back onto earth.'

(a long discussion about parachutes and the desirability or otherwise to try them out followed)

'ok mama, now let's vote. i vote your word and description are the best.'

'thank you. i vote your word and description are the best.'

'ok mama, then we have both won.' (happy face)

'yes but you are the youngest so that means that really, you have won.' 

(check his face in rear view mirror - totally beaming. not that he's competitive or anything ;-) )