My Next

The way children learn and process language never ceases to amaze me! This is one of my favorite things about this stage of their lives. I love all the new words, new phrases, and new ways of making words work for them.

My favorite new phrase of the kids' is "My next!" This is what they say when they want to be next for whatever the current activity is. I love it because grammatically it makes so much sense to their little minds.

I say, "Your ball." They say, "My ball."
I say, "You're next." They say, "My next."

As far as they are concerned, "your" and "you're" are the same word with the same meaning, so "my" makes perfect sense! I love it! I've never heard another toddler say this before, although I'm sure it is not unique to my children.

As a side note, although I had to struggle with many a teenage student to teach them the difference between "your" and "you're," I sincerely hope that my children's English teachers will not have to do the same.

For now, I'm not worried about it. I'm enjoying it for all its cuteness!