Tiarnan's touche.

When does wit begin? Is one quick to counter another's words, always so...or does it develop later on in childhood? Tiarnan gave us a clue, yesterday.

We were going home after an evening out. There was Tiarnan, just turned three a few weeks ago, his mother, Syahidah and myself. It was late and no doubt Tiarnan was thinking of getting some sleep.

"I am going to sleep in YOUR bed.", he said, to his mother, unusually, because he doesn't do that, normally.

Syahidah decided to tease him.

"I am going to sleep in your bed, Tiarnan."

He looked up at her, beginning to wonder at this turn of events, a little smile on his lips.

"I am going to use your blanket.", she continued, to him. His little smile grew broader.

"I am going to drink YOUR susu (malay for milk)", she said, at last.

"Are you a small boy?", he countered, at last, to his mother, the smile still there, but now joined with an appraising look to his eyes.

We both laughed. Touche from Tiarnan...it was the perfect reply to her approach.

In Tiarnan's answer, there is evidence that wit begins, very young, indeed: it is there at the beginning of language, perhaps before language - it is in the character of the child themselves.

Incidentally, despite the conversation, Tiarnan slept where he usually does: in his own bed.

Goodnight Tiarnan, our small boy!

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, a scientific child prodigy, aged eight years and seven months, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, five years exactly, and Tiarnan, twenty-eight months, please go to: http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html I also write of gifted education, IQ, intelligence, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, College, University, Chemistry, Science, genetics, left-handedness, precocity, child prodigy, child genius, baby genius, adult genius, savant, wunderkind, wonderkind, genio, гений ребенок prodigy, genie, μεγαλοφυία θαύμα παιδιών, bambino, kind.

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