O loves trains! Actually, O is obsessed with trains. It wasn’t until he began attending preschool that he started to explore the fact that toys other than trains exist and might actually be enjoyable to play with. Even so, more often than not, the trains win.

He is particularly fond of Thomas the Tank Engine, as so many boys his age are. However, he also has a detailed knowledge of how steam engines work. He knows things about pistons, fire boxes and drive rods. He also has an unlimited knowledge of freight cars and coaches, mail cars and diesels. While I am proud of all the train knowledge O has acquired, I do recognize that this is not typical of many 4 year olds.

Trains are also O‘s comfort item. He uses them to de-stress, much like I use a hot bubble bath, a good book or my own blog. He could, and has, spent hours organizing and creating stories with his trains. He likes to be alone with them, to get lost in his imagination, where he is in control. This comfort and control, along with his knowledge and obsession, does not make sharing or socializing with his trains very easy. …continue reading