Eli: Phonics and language acquisition

Lately, Eli has been using one letter answers to respond to my questions, probably in part because Tobey's been going through a phase of S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G instead of just saying it and Eli wants in on the fun too.

For instance, Eli will ask, "May I have more 'M', please?", M meaning "milk". It's a fun exercise for him and could only help with his reading/phonics skills. It also reveals how illogical English sometimes is and why kids are so darn cute!

Me: Eli, would you like some more milk?
Eli: "U!" [because he's sounding out "yes" and thought "u" was the right letter.]

Me: Eli, would you like milk or water?
Eli: "Y!" [another case of a letter name not matching its phonic!]

Me: Eli, do you want sunny side up eggs or scrambled eggs?
Eli: "S!" [dumb question, Mommy!]

Me: Eli, would you like a half sandwich or a whole sandwich?
Eli: "H!" [hmm, I'm pretty sure he doesn't know "whole" has a silent "w" so I still don't know what his answer is.]

Similarly, Eli has to recite three sentences for a school play on food (he is the glass of milk). So I asked him this morning:

Me: Eli, do you know what food you are going to be in the play?
Eli: Milk!
Me: Do you know your lines?
Eli: Well, there's straight lines and then there's curvy lines and then...

Meanwhile, in the 6 year old world, Tobey was busy playing smart aleck. While having Eli memorize his lines over breakfast this morning:

"I am a glass of milk which comes from cows. I help build strong bones and strong teeth. Please drink milk several times a day."

And Tobey was being silly and played off the fact that Tom takes calcium pills to compensate for his lack of milk (lactose intolerant):

[in the silliest voice possible]
"I am a calcium pill which comes from a bottle. I help build strong bones and strong teeth. Please eat me twice a day."

Unstoppable giggles.