ABCs

Daniel is (correctly) singing the Alphabet Song!  We have "Super Why" to think for this achievement.  One of the characters, Alpha Pig, has a toolbox full of letters and he sings the alphabet (little different from the traditional "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" melody) while the letters fly from the box. 

Daniel sings very fast, often while hammering (imitating the Pig's tendency to construct) and wraps up with "sing with me!" (instead of "next time won't you...").

He also recognizes certain letters: P, B, U, O, L, Q, K (sometimes), E (sometimes).  The differences between capital and small letters is often confusing.

Another "basic" we're working on is responsibility.  I found a magnetic Responsibility Chart to hang in Daniel's room that's been a source of fascination.  The chart has various tasks (get dressed, brush teeth, share, pick up toys, say 'please' and 'thank you') for which you child is responsible.  Successful completion of a task earn him/her a smiley face that can be put on the specific day of the week next to the task.  There are many colors (pink, yellow, green, orange purple, blue, red) and messages ('You Did It!', 'Awesome', 'Lookin' Good', etc.) on the smiley faces.

Daniel really likes the smiley faces.  Here are the tasks we've had on the board for the last 2 weeks:

• Brush teeth
• Get dressed
• Take a bath
• Pick up toys
• Stop whining

So far 'brush teeth' and 'get dressed' have been successful every day but 'pick up toys' has only earned 1 smiley face in 2 weeks.  I'm planning to switch them up for next week.  When the smiley faces themselves stop motivating, we'll move to a system where the number of smiles in a week earns some sort of reward. For now, choosing the color of smiley face is exciting enough.