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I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...

Anna loves books.

It's one of the most common requests in our home, "should we read a book?"

And it's a request that can't often be denied.

She, like most 2 year olds, loves repetition as well.  

She could read the same book over, and over, and over, and over, and over again.

And sadly for Mom and Dad, we don't find "The Little Engine That Could" quite as stimulating as she does.

However, I recently read that repetition for 2 year olds significantly aids development and provides essential stepping stones for learning to read independently.

It's interesting, since reading that, I have renewed motivation to read and re-read like never before.  Simply knowing that repetition is accomplishing a specific and beneficial purpose has made it tolerable:  "Yes, Anna, I think I can read it again."

Reminding myself of the purpose helps to do the hard things, the boring things, the small, seemingly inconsequential things.  

Now if only those things were as easy as turning pages to a child's delight.


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