Logic versus Abstract: inside a toddler's mind

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a cooking class with my toddler. By way of explanation - I thought it would be something fun to do in a week where my husband was away with work, and I also wanted to write about it for Little Melbourne.

I never did write about it, as I didn't like the experience at all, and I'd rather be silent than either dishonest or nasty. But, I wanted to share this little anecdote from that session.

Each toddler in the class made what was intended to be a smiley face cookie. The lady running the class put two examples on the table. One for the boys, with short hair, and one with long hair and a fringe for the girls. At least, I thought they were examples. Turns out they were The Ultimate Rules for Cookie Decorating (TURCD).

Abbey took the 'hair' part and placed it next to the rest of the dough. She then grabbed various candies and began sprinkling them on her cookie.

The lady raced over and drew a line where the mouth should be. "Do it like this," she said, pointing to TURCD. "The mouth goes here, eyes here, and a nose, and don't forget to do a fringe with the hair."

I said, "Does it matter?" and she walked away looking a little put out.

This is how Abbey's cookie came out:

As we left the lady said that if we were to come back again, "perhaps she could do it properly?" I just laughed as I walked out the door (and wondered why this woman is working with children).

Abbey was thrilled with her colourful cookie.

As was I. You see, Abbey's mind is very logical. She thinks things through very carefully and does puzzles, copies drawings and solves problems very easily. She and I did some origami just a week or so prior to the cooking session. We made a dog, and I asked her if she'd like to draw on it. This is what she did:

A very logical set of eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth and cheeks, with spots on the ears.

I love her logic. But when she let that go and was completely abstract with her cookie, I was quietly thrilled that she'll do a bit of both at times.

And there was no way I was going to squash that creativity and imagination. No way.