Cars and trucks and things that go
Off to Dunfermline today, to give a hand to Alison W and her kids. With the eldest now in school, a visitor to the house allows Donn, no. 2, to up the vehicular ante, and fit as many transport books as he can.
Donn’s specialist subject is tractors, for which he will happily count up to 10, identify colours, and whether wheels or caterpillar tracks are in evidence. Multitasking, he will also take in trucks, cars, and trains. Certainly he know more of the Thomas engines than I do, and is quick to see when they are being threatened by falling sandbags, rocks and the like.
It does seem to me that boys tend be conversant with a range of vehicles but like to choose a favourite too. Thomas in Italy has a clear and easy choice for trains, conveniently having a major player named after him. Dan started talking with ‘taxi’, and moved on to cars.
Donn’s commitment to tractors is clear, but what of other options? Who is championing milk floats? Sit on lawnmowers? Snow ploughs? Fire engines, dustmen’s trucks, they get all the glamour, given the option to both drive a large vehicle and have defined activities.
I myself have a liking for trains, but more really for getting to travel through scenery that I might otherwise not get to see. I like walking, too. But small boys have less incentive to wave at pedestrians - short of gaining bionic legs, they’re just not dynamic enough.
Meanwhile, if anyone can trace a copy of “Cars and Trucks and Things that Go” (Richard Scarry), do let me know - someone’s birthday coming up, and all that.
2 comments September 19th, 2008