My Sports Folder

The Engineer has had a budding passion for Football, Basketball and Baseball over the past several months. We're not certain when it all started. Perhaps when we went to the game in which the Tribe clinched the division last year. Or maybe it was simply by watching Daddy watch the Browns every Sunday for a few months. Or he could have developed his sports affinity in the back yard where he practices shooting hoops and sometimes plays baseball with Daddy and the Artist.

Whichever way, it is here and developing at a rapid rate. During football season he would ask interesting questions about the games or the teams and work up such an excitement I thought he was more entertaining than the television.

During the baseball season he didn't seem particularly interested, but still today when asked which of the games he'd like to play he answers "baseball!"

Now that it is basketball season he is very tuned in to the Cavaliers. He plays, calls, and referees several games a day in the living room. You should hear sportscaster Joe Tate's words coming from this tiny little voice!

Rick has begun using this interest to further the Engineer's education. Keep in mind this is a boy who asks to do math lessons when he is bored, "Mommy, can I please play math?" Rick and the Engineer browse through the standings together on line. And the Engineer has taken to doing the math in his head to find out how many more wins than losses, or vice versa any given team has. Now they spend a few minutes in the evening practicing addition and subtraction in their heads.

Rick had a great idea to help teach and reinforce another favorite subject of the Engineer's, geography. Over the 2008 sports seasons, Rick and the Engineer will work with the boy's new Sports Folder. Inside are three US maps from my school supplies, one each for football, baseball and basketball. I don't know exactly what Rick's ideas are, but I imagine the two of them will be labeling states and cities and locating team names. The Engineer is not much for coloring, but they may get into using team colors on the maps. Or maybe Rick will teach about the various divisions and conferences within the leagues. More maps can be added to the folder as needed.

I loved this idea the minute Rick told me about it, and the Engineer was very excited when we presented his new Sports Folder to him.