Daughter plays the Sweet Card at school

Our daughter, at the age of 3, is in preschool. Her progress is not based on her growing knowledge of math, social studies or reading, but more on letter identification, fine motor skills, social behavior and language development.

Her teachers have assessed and tracked our daughter’s progress since preschool began in the fall.

They recently sent home a progress report with the dates she was able to accomplish various tasks they have been working on, along with comments.

She is able to zip her own coat, identify shapes, complete a puzzle and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Her speech is generally intelligible, but “She speaks very softly ….”

In fact, the progress report contains two comments about the soft volume of her voice.

Apparently, our daughter plays the Sweet Card at school, because at home she is a screamer; a very loud one. Just ask our neighbors.

She also follows directions — at school.

“She believes in following the rules and likes to make sure everyone does the same.”

Allow me to translate: “Miss Bossypants is a tattle-tale.”

This I am certain of. Her tattling on her brothers is another reason I know she doesn’t always speak softly.

After school I often ask my daughter what she did that day. Despite her backpack full of alphabet worksheets her answer is always, “I played.”

Regarding her work in the learning centers, the teacher’s comments back up her statement: “After only one question she was ready to go back to play.” And “Every few minutes she asked if it was time to play.” And “She doesn’t necessarily want to stay long, but she always tries to answer what I ask.”

The girl knows what she likes and she knows what makes her happy (Daddy), sad (a specific older brother and being put in time out) and angry (“When my brothers take something from me”).

She is also knows her full name and is learning to write it.

She is a young 3 (late-summer birthday), so fine-tuning her motor skills is a work in progress. But she does pretty well writing her first name.

Her last name though — “Princess Who Wears Undies” — may take a while to master.

Maybe next year.