Assignment 4 - 3 years 10 months

1. Our family likes to regularly take Sam to the park for physical activeness.  He likes to play on the swings and ride his bike.   We like to play basketball and baseball at home, even though Sam is a little young to follow the rules of the game.  We feel this is helping him develop a healthy love of physical exercise.   Additionally, we have been working with Sam on hand washing and good hygiene to promote a healthy immune system.

2. Sam's language and cognitive skills are above average which really just helps the whole family.  He is able to express his feelings to us, happy or sad.  Which helps keep the much needed harmony in the house.  Sam is able to listen and follow direction from both of us as well as from his teacher.   He also has the ability to satisfactorily complete the tasks we ask of him.  This helps him stay focused and keeps frustration levels  down.   Basically, Sam knows what is expected of him,  how to do it and knows how to express if he does or does not like it. 

3.  Sam really is doing wonderfully socially.  We have had some new events occur.  I recently had a baby girl.  Sam was very excited about her arrival.  He has been such the big brother.  He loves to hold and rock her and even gives her a bottle of expressed milk.   Sometimes he likes to pretend to be a baby, and I go right a long with it.   I do not recognize this as regression, simply a reminder that he is still my "baby" too!  Sam and the new baby are now sharing a room, he seems to be ok with it so far.  He sleeps right through the middle of the night cries.  

As far as school goes, he has a couple of close friends that he plays with.  He is cooperative and friendly and is able to stay on task which shows he is learning self control.  On occassion Sam can get clingy with the teacher and she just needs to provide a little extra encouragement to join his friends again.   I feel he is using her as his "surrugate attachment item."  I see it as a sign that he needs to have more time exploring on his own or with other close family members.  

My husband and I had been saving up to buy a new home.  We really were not thrilled with the crime rate in our neighborhood and wanted Sam in a better school district.  We have been doing ok financially, but saving has been stressful.  We have been arguing a bit lately.  One night I got so angry I left the house.  Sam got really upset and cried.  For a few weeks after that he was very fearful of me leaving him.   He does have some issues with separation anxiety.  Virtual Me, should be more cognizant of this fact and not do stupid thanks like yell at my husband in front of him and than storm out off.  

All the saving paid off and we just moved we are not sure yet how Sam is handling this change we will have to report back on our next blog.  For now though, we've meet some parents with kids his age and have arranged some play dates.