Alyssa's AV-8B Harrier
So, I took Alyssa to the model store with me one day, and we walked down the aisle with the snap-fit models. They had a AV-8B model there that Alyssa liked, so I picked it up for her. I'm trying to encourage her problem solving skills and help her work on some of her finer motor skills, so I figured this time I'd let her do most of the building.
It didn't work out as well as I'd hoped. She wasn't quite ready for the smaller parts, and didn't understand the instructions I was giving her. So we ended up doing about half the work each. She would try every part, and the ones that she couldn't do. In the end, it worked out well.
She was still really happy to make the model though. She, like all kids, loves to do stuff with Mom and Dad, and this was a lot of fun for both of us. She flies her model around the house from time to time, and she like the fact that she built it.
I'm still doing most of the modeling work, like cutting parts off the tree and glueing the parts that don't want to stay in. But she's getting better at it. I would love it if she ended up being a modeler too, but I see her more of a drawing/painting type of kid. She loves to draw, and she's pretty detailed with her drawings. Whatever she does though, I'll be happy.
A Word from the Modeler
So, of course, I can't post this online without including a few words from her as well. So here's what she has to say about her model:
This is my airplane. It's really cool. It was really fun putting it together. That's it.
Ok, so writing commentaries about her model building experiences isn't nearly as fun as having a tea party with her American Girl doll. At least I was able to get her to say something.