My Virtual Child #1

I can’t believe that my baby is finally here! After a long pregnancy, I thankfully had a
completely normal childbirth. My labor lasted about ten hours, and thanks to the breathing and
relaxation techniques taught to me by my childbirth team, I was able to give birth naturally and
easily. I spent most of my pregnancy very nervous to give birth, so I’m relieved that my labor
was free of complications, though it was definitely difficult. But it was all so worth it when they
handed me my baby boy! I expected tears from myself, but I think it’s the first time I’ve ever
seen my husband cry! We decided to name him Grayson, for no reason other than it was the only
one we could both agree on! I was so excited to bring him home. It feels like our family is finally
complete!
After a week, I could already feel such a strong connection with Grayson. Every time he
cried I began to lactate. Despite that, I decided to feed Grayson formula instead of breastfeeding.
It is the choice I’m most comfortable with, and I learned that the right kind of formula can be just
as nutritious as breast milk, and that choosing not to breastfeed shouldn’t have a negative effect
on the emotional bond that I share with Grayson (http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breast-bottle-
feeding.html#). And I think I made the right decision! Even though I’m not breastfeeding, I feel
such a strong bond with my baby. His sucking reflex was very developed at birth, and he started
gaining weight ahead of the normal growth chart almost immediately, too. I can’t believe how
big he is getting! But I’m not worried about the amount of milk he’s drinking at all. I would
much rather him get a little chubby as opposed to staying hungry, so I let him eat until he’s
finished every time!
I decided to use disposable diapers because they seem so much easier. And I wasn’t sure
if I trusted myself to get the cloth ones on without poking the baby!
It is amazing how little Grayson was awake those first few months! He slept so much that
I felt I had to take full advantage of the time he was awake and alert. Mostly I try to sing to him
whenever I’m rocking him. I also want to give him as much stimulation as possible, so I make
sure to interact with him constantly. Though my husband and I make sure that he has lots of
interesting and colorful toys to play with, I think it’s much more important to talk to him and
play with him myself, especially since we are the two people he spends the most time with.
Over these first few months, I’ve noticed that Grayson has developed a loud and almost
rhythmic cry whenever he’s loud, hungry, or cold. But if he is startled, his cry is completely
different! Both my husband and I have started to get used to these little differences, and we both
try to respond to what Grayson needs based on his cry.
By three months old, Grayson has turned into a great sleeper! He sleeps for about six
hours every night and during two hour blocks during the day, which is a great time for me to get
things done around the house…or, okay, maybe take a rest! His mood can change when he’s
awake, so I play by his rules. Sometimes that means getting active, talking and playing with him,
but other times he’s calm and quiet, and happy to explore his surroundings on his own.
Even though I haven’t changed much in the way of diet, Gray suddenly started having
bouts of indigestion and diarrhea. The doctor suggested rice water and pedialyte to calm his
stomach, but I will admit that his sudden change in eating made both of his parents very nervous!
Though he’s perfectly fine now, my nerves probably aren’t helped by my decision to go back to
work part-time. My husband’s job just isn’t bringing in enough money for the three of us, and
even though some of our family members have offered to watch him some of the time, I decided
to enroll Grayson in daycare for part of every day. I know that routines and stability are very
important for a child’s development, and will help him eventually become more independent
(http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/why-is-routine-important-for-babies/).
Grayson is finally starting to become more social. He laughs at everything and is all
smiles! Along with this, he hates loud noises, and wakes up every time there’s thunder at night!
Even though this can be annoying, he’s only three months old and I don’t feel comfortable
leaving him upset and alone, so my husband and I make sure to always rock and soothe him. He
is very attached to both my husband and myself, but tends to settle down more easily when I’m
with him. It makes sense, since I have been with him for nine months longer than my husband,
but hopefully his bond with Daddy will strengthen soon enough. Gray has also started focusing
his eyes, especially on people’s faces, and has started making little noises, too – his blinking
reflex is very strong! He’s been eating so well that I’ve started introducing a few solid foods, but
formula is still the most important part of his diet.
I can’t believe that Grayson is already eight months old – the time has flown so fast! He
has already completely changed my life, and I can’t wait to watch him grow!

Ben-Joseph, E. P. (2015, February). Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding. Retrieved September

13, 2016,
from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/breast-bottle-feeding.html#
Wang, J. B. (n.d.). Why is Routine Important for Babies? Retrieved June 13, 2015, from
http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/why-is-routine-important-for-babies/
My Virtual Child #2

Grayson’s temperament has stayed mostly consistent between eight and nineteen months.
He is extremely active and fast-moving! He is always exploring and will often run off, even if it
means getting into a dangerous situation. He almost always sleeps through the night and only
takes a short nap during the day. He has always been very curious and adventurous, even when it
gets him into trouble – he fell off a chair at a year old and got a concussion! But he recovered
quickly and even that injury didn’t deter his activity level. He takes a bit of time to warm up to
new people, acting shy or even crying around them. Once he is comfortable, he is very sociable
and friendly, laughing and talking. However, he is happy to play by himself as well, especially
playing make-believe or working with blocks or puzzles. He is very attached to my husband and
myself, and it can be difficult getting him to part with us. Once we’re gone, however, he calms
down quickly and is fine. He is usually very calm and fairly quiet, but he can get emotional if
disturbed, particularly when he is hungry or tired. He can get very fussy and irritable at these
times, and occasionally throws tantrums. Grayson is generally fairly passive, especially toward
other kids. He does not show aggression unless someone directly takes something from him. He
occasionally throws tantrums when he is hungry, tired, or not feeling well, but he calms down
fairly quickly when I do not give in. Because of his large amount of energy and desire to explore,
Grayson will sometimes dart off, even if we tell him “no.” Despite this, he usually listens when
told “no” and does not have too many problems with impulse control. Though he has periods of
fussiness and sometimes struggles in new situations, I would consider Grayson an easy baby and
toddler, thankfully!

I had Grayson tested by a developmental examiner at nineteen months old, and I was very
impressed by the results! She determined that he was advanced in motor skills, memory, and
language development. Even though I was thrilled to hear it officially, I wasn’t surprised.
Grayson has always loved solving puzzles and problems, and I could have pretty decent
conversations with him…for a nineteen month old, anyway! I was a bit surprised by the
examiner’s assessment that my husband and I need to improve our communication with Grayson.
I have always tried to base my reactions and responses to him off of his mood and what I think
will be best for him, not just myself.

Grayson has had a pretty typical first few years of life. I believe that the only environmental
event that may have affected Grayson's behavior so far is his enrollment in daycare. Being
exposed to new people and activities likely influenced his desire to learn and explore, and his
why he is so interested now in all kinds of various motor and cognitive activities. If he had
stayed at home with me every day, he would not have had the opportunity to learn to adjust to a
new environment, and would possibly have a harder time warming up to new situations and less
of a drive to explore. According to Piaget’s cognitive theory, children between birth and two
“experience the world and gain knowledge through their senses and motor movements,” so I
think that giving Grayson a variety of learning environments outside of the home likely helped
his initial development (https://www.verywell.com/sensorimotor-stage-of-cognitive-
development-2795462)

Even though Grayson is already nearly four years old, I still feel like I know almost nothing
about being a parent! I’ve spent a lot of time looking into different development theories so I
don’t have to rely on my own lack of experience. I mostly subscribe to Bandura's social learning
theory, which is that children learn through a social context and require observation,
reinforcement, and active participation (http://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html). I think
that it is important for Grayson to have new experiences and learn through watching and then
attempting himself, and I focus on reinforcing positive behavior instead of punishing negative
behavior. I also follow Ainsworth's attachment theory. I try to promote a secure attachment
between Grayson and myself by making sure that I am there to comfort and guide him, while
also encouraging him to be independent and explore on his own, without feeling dependent on
me. Finally, I view Grayson's cognition through Piaget's stages. During the first year, I focused
mostly on sensory activities and games, with colorful toys and songs, since infants in the
sensorimotor stage acquire all knowledge through the senses. Since Grayson has turned two and
entered the pre operational stage of development, I have relied more on reading books and
encouraging him to use verbal language.

Grayson is a fairly easy toddler, but he still had his own version of the "terrible two's." He
follows a routine of sleeping through the night and only taking short naps, but he still does not
like being interrupted from an activity or game for a routine such as a meal or bath. Though it
usually does not take much to get him to listen, he will sometimes throw tantrums or refuse to
change his behavior, for which I reprimand him gently and occasionally put him in time out.
Grayson has shown a lot of growth in his interactions with other children. Though he is still not
aggressive with them, he is more interactive, coming up with ideas and playing enthusiastically.
As far as self control, Gray is still very active and interested in everything, but listens to me
fairly well and does not have much of an issue with impulses.

Over the last year or so, Grayson has had some major transitions to deal with. First he switched
from part time daycare to preschool, and then switched preschools after only a short amount of
time once we were able to buy a condo in a better area of the city. Thankfully, he has done pretty
well! He has made some friends at preschool and enjoys interacting with others. He does have
some aggression and has trouble following directions and listening, especially in regards to the
other children. He gets frustrated easily when he feels that things aren't going his way. I find that
most of these problems are fairly normal for three year olds, but I do make sure that I keep
scheduling playdates so that Grayson can improve his social skills, and remind him that he needs
to be friendly to the other kids. If his behavior is too aggressive, I will either put him in timeout
or end the playdate. At home, he is much more cooperative and agreeable.

When Grayson was two and a half, I started feeling nauseous, and went to the doctor on a hunch.
Surprise – I found out I was pregnant with our second child! Nine months later, we welcomed
our new baby girl, Reese, into our family. Because of his difficulties with other children and his
strong attachment to both my husband and myself, I was a little worried about how Grayson was
going to deal with the new baby, but he has been amazing! Aside from a little extra clinginess, he
loves helping with the baby and being a big brother.

I can’t believe Grayson is already almost four years old! His infancy and toddler years flew by. I
am so impressed by his language and motor skills, his high level of energy, and especially his big
heart. I can’t wait to watch him continue to grow!
Cherry, K. (2016, September 8). Sensorimotor Stage of Cognitive Development. Retrieved
October 4,
2016, from Very Well website: https://www.verywell.com/
sensorimotor-stage-of-cognitive-development-2795462

McLeod, S. (2011). Social Learning Theory. Retrieved October 4, 2016, from Simply
Psychology
website: http://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html
My Virtual Child #3

I might be just a little biased, but I think Grayson is absolutely brilliant! He meets all of Howard
Gardner’s eight intelligences at varying levels, but according to his teachers’ evaluations and
what I have seen myself, he is particularly advanced in visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic (which
is why we enrolled him in soccer and baseball programs recently!), and linguistic. He has an
unusually large vocabulary for a child his age and has been consistently reading above his grade
level. According to Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, each of the eight intelligence
classifications are separate ways that children learn and interpret information
(http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-research). Though Grayson is not as advanced in
musical or intrapersonal intelligence as he is the others, he has demonstrated every type in some
way. He even started playing the electric keyboard when he turned six!

Grayson’s language abilities are incredible! I am so impressed by his vocabulary and how easily
he is able to talk to people, even adults. Though he still has some trouble telling stories and
keeping all of the details straight, he is easy to understand and speaks very maturely. His
memory has also started to improve…he can even beat me in memory games now! He
remembers experiences in great detail and can go on about them for hours much later. Grayson’s
theory of mind, which involves empathy and the ability to consider other people’s thoughts,
feelings, and wants, has improved a lot since he was a toddler
(http://people.howstuffworks.com/theory-of-mind.htm). He has managed to make some close
friendships and is more affected whenever my husband and I get into arguments, becoming
visibly upset. I can tell that he is much more aware of the feelings of those around him than he
was at age four.

I would consider Grayson to be pretty resilient, but he can definitely become slightly
undercontrolled in certain situations. His aggression has decreased significantly since he was
younger, which is a huge relief to my husband and myself, but he still gets upset in stressful
situations and can be uncooperative when we ask him to do something he does not want to do. I
think that most of this behavior is normal for his age, and has overall gotten much more
cooperative, especially when I give him warnings and time limits for activities. He is still
sensitive to sad events such as the death of his fish or his best friend from kindergarten moving
away, so I make sure to talk to him about his feelings and help him process his emotions as best
as I can.

I try to get Grayson physically active as much as possible! He has been interested in sports since
he was much younger, so we enrolled him in baseball and soccer to keep him active, and he is
really enjoying both! I also make sure to get out of the house with Grayson and Reese as often as
I can, taking them to the park, the zoo, and museums. I think that these experiences have helped
Grayson get used to new people and situations, and his social skills have definitely improved as a
result. He is making friends more easily and is one of the most popular kids in his class! How
popular he is doesn’t matter to me, of course, but I can’t say it isn’t nice to see my son getting
along better with other kids, especially since in kindergarten he initially had some trouble with
“mean kids” and shyness. I love hearing him talk about playdates with his friends! At home, he
is still cooperative and fairly well behaved. His tantrums have significantly decreased, though I
still have to give him warnings whenever I want him to do something and he refuses.
Grayson’s first grade report card was amazing! I am so proud of him. His linguistic skills have
continued to improve, and he is advanced in reading, writing, problem solving, science and
social studies concepts, art, and spatial understanding. Overall none of his academic
characteristics have changed much from kindergarten and even preschool, aside from advancing
at the same rate, but his social skills are improving and he is able to sit and quietly do his work
when he needs to, which is much different from the easily distractible little boy that he used to
be!

I consider my parenting style to be authoritative, which is described as giving reasonable

demands, teaching confidence, and listening to kids along with providing clear rules and
discipline (https://www.verywell.com/what-is-authoritative-parenting-2794956). I try to be
consistent with warnings and time outs when Grayson is misbehaving, and he has become much
more responsive to what I am saying. He has also commented that I am nicer to him than most of
his friends’ parents, and that I am “stricter,” as well. I guess I should take that as a good thing!
Since infancy, I have started implementing more limits and explanations beyond “no” when I am
disciplining Grayson. I have also started giving him more responsibilities, like chores that I think
he can handle. I think that my parenting decisions are based mostly on how I was raised by my
own mother, along with some research that I have done on how to effectively discipline children,
and how to help them achieve confidence.

Multiple Intelligences: What Does the Research Say? (2013, March 8). Retrieved October 17,
2016,
from Edutopia website: http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-research

Clark, J. (2011, April 5). What is theory of mind? Retrieved October 17, 2016, from How Stuff
Works
website: http://people.howstuffworks.com/theory-of-mind.htm

Cherry, K. (2016, April 21). What is Authoritative Parenting? Retrieved October 17, 2016, from
Very
Well website: https://www.verywell.com/what-is-authoritative-parenting-2794956
My Virtual Child #4

I have been so impressed with Grayson as he continues to grow up – he is not a little boy
anymore! His fifth grade report card just about blew me away. Grayson is either at grade level or
above average in every area, and is still particularly advanced in linguistic, spatial, and bodily-
kinesthetic areas. He has an amazing vocabulary and almost always has a book in his hand, and
thanks to his wonderful third grade math teacher, he is now working on math problems at a sixth
grade level. Though he occasionally gets frustrated with the more challenging work, I encourage
him to be patient and not give up. Overall, Grayson has been given the title of “gifted” in the
linguistic area, which is described by Howard Gardner as the “ability to use spoken or written
words” (https://www.learning-theories.com/gardners-multiple-intelligences-theory.html).

Grayson has started to show much more of an interest in art, which goes along with the spatial
intelligence. I signed him up for a few art and design classes, and set up a little area in our house
for him to work on his projects.

Grayson’s language and communication skills have improved so much since he was four. Like I
said, he has a huge vocabulary, and no longer has to overcome any reservations or shyness
before talking to new people. He has a large group of friends and is well-liked by everyone in his
class! As far as reasoning goes, he is now much more accepting of girls instead of just boys, and
is willing to play with them and include them. I am proud of him for this, because a lot of the
other boys in his class aren’t quite so accepting! As far as I can tell, and from what his teachers
and developmental specialists have told me, Grayson does not appear to have any kind of special
needs as far as communication, memory, or reasoning.

Just like always, I am trying to keep Grayson active and healthy. He still loves baseball, and has
started participating in the “All Stars” recreational league. I don’t want one activity to take over
his whole life, so I declined the offer to enroll him in a travel league, but I am glad to watch his
games and help when I can! Even though our lives have all become a bit more difficult after my
husband and I made the tough decision to separate when Grayson was eight, I have been making
an effort take Grayson and Reese to parks, on hikes, and on other outdoor experiences to make
sure that they are getting fresh air and a change of scenery.

Grayson’s social skills both in and out of the home are so much better than they used to be! All
of his aggression from when he was younger is completely gone, and he gets along well with
everyone, kids and adults. He often has friends over on the weekends, especially during the
summer, and spends a lot of time after school riding bikes in the neighborhood, or down at the
park playing baseball or soccer, with other kids. I’m so glad to see Grayson making friends,
especially since he had a rough time when he first started school. But he also makes an effort to
include his sister in his life, without even much prompting! I love to see them getting along.
Overall, Grayson’s academics have stayed fairly consistent. He has always been advanced with
reading and other linguistic abilities, and his spatial skills have been advanced since he was
young, too. The only major changes in Grayson’s academic capabilities are his advances in math
and science. He has started showing a major interest in science and hands on activities, and while
his mathematics skills still lag behind his other academic areas, he is more interested than he
used to be and is able to work above grade level. I don’t want to push Grayson too hard, but I do
force him to practice more advanced math problems, though he doesn’t seem to mind. I also
make sure to limit the amount of television that Grayson watches, and encourage him to read or
write instead. Like when he was six, Grayson’s fifth grade teacher reported that he follows
directions well, listens attentively, and has generally good behavior. The only decline that I can
see from first grade is Grayson’s writing – he has gone from “demonstrates strength” to
“appropriate for grade level.” I don’t mind if Grayson isn’t advanced in every single subject, and
I don’t want to make him feel that he has to be, so aside from encouraging him to write, I try not
to push it.

I feel that my parenting has remained mostly the same throughout Grayson’s life. Whenever he
occasionally gets upset during stressful situations, I comfort him and let him talk through it,
though I don’t have to do this as often as I used to as Grayson’s emotions have balanced out and
are no longer as extreme. I try to remain consist with discipline, especially when Grayson and
Reese’s arguments get out of control, but I never use over the top punishments or physical
discipline. The only difference that I can see in my parenting is that I place more expectations on
Grayson now that he is older. From what I have read, age appropriate chores should be given to
children, adding more responsibilities as they get older, and standards should be set ahead of
time so kids know what is expected of them (http://oureverydaylife.com/many-chores-should-
10yearold-given-home-1284.html). Following this advice, I created a chore chart for Grayson,
and give him an allowance depending on what he completes every week. Overall, he doesn’t
complain much about helping around the house, and is a pretty positive and happy kid.

I will say that I think ages eight through ten have been my favorites so far! Grayson is so bright
and witty, and the amount of conversations that we can have now are endless. I enjoy spending
time with him, taking him to different activities and places, and watching him learn more and
more every year. Even though he is getting nervous about starting middle school soon, I know he
will do great!

Multiple intelligences theory (Gardner). (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2016, from Learning
Theories website: https://www.learning-theories.com/gardners-multiple-intelligences-
theory.html
Sessoms, G. (n.d.). How many chores should a 10 year old be given in the home? Retrieved
November 5, 2016, from Our Everyday Life website: http://oureverydaylife.com/many-
chores-should-10yearold-given-home-1284.html
My Virtual Child #5

Grayson’s middle school and high school years have been flying by. I can’t believe he is already
nearly seventeen! He definitely showed some signs of puberty, especially between the years of
twelve and fourteen. Aside from the predictable growing taller and larger, he had some bouts of
irritability and sullenness. They usually didn’t last very long and weren’t too bad, and since I
read that mood swings and periods of emotional moodiness are common in boys as they begin
puberty, I wasn’t worried and just made sure to let Grayson know that I am here for him
(https://www.verywell.com/the-signs-of-puberty-in-tween-boys-3288401). Since my ex-husband
and I decided around this same time to finalize our divorce, that may have played a role in his
emotional state as well. Also, Grayson started showing an interest in some new activities during
these years as well – namely, girls and his appearance. He never really cared about what clothes
he wore or how he looked until he was about fourteen, when suddenly he started worrying about
what brands to buy and making sure he looked “cool.” He also asked his father to show him how
to shave, even though it definitely wasn’t necessary yet!

Grayson was just as active at ages twelve and fourteen as he was when he was younger! He tried
out for and made the high school baseball team, something that he was extremely proud of, and
he has spent a lot of time practicing and training for the season. He also continues to enjoy
roaming around the neighborhood and riding bikes with his friends, both of which are physical
activities that are definitely helping him stay in shape. Though he does not play any sports
formally aside from baseball, he often goes to the park to play basketball with some other boys
or just shoot hoops by himself.

One of the changes I’ve noticed the most about Grayson during the teenage years so far is his
change in thinking. His sense of humor has gotten so much subtler and more observant. He’s
able to make jokes about himself now, such as when he got braces at age twelve, and has even
made jokes at my expense! His thinking has also gotten a lot more abstract, with more of a focus
on morality and analyzing the personalities of the people close to him, mostly my ex-husband
and myself. According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, the formal operational stage
usually begins around age eleven or twelve, and involves creative thinking, reasoning,
classifying, and drawing conclusions, so it is not surprising that I’ve noticed such a drastic
change in Grayson’s way of thinking once he hit adolescence
(www.simplypsychology.org/formal-operational.html).

Overall, I don’t think that Grayson’s changing thought processes and humor have really affected
his interactions with family in a negative way. I am able to have more in-depth conversations
with him, particularly about current events and news, which he has taken a new interest in. I
occasionally have to remind him who is in charge when he tries to use his new powers of
reasoning to question my decisions or argue something that is nonnegotiable, but I try to remain
reasonable and not get irritated. With his peers, Grayson appears to use the same type of humor,
which is shared by his friends. They are constantly joking around, though they don’t seem to
discuss news events the way that Grayson does with me.

Looking back at Grayson’s old seventh and ninth grade report cards, I continue to be so
impressed. Grayson made all A’s in seventh grade, and only one B in ninth grade, which can be
attributed to his lack of interest in music. He is a grade level above in math and still advanced in
English and social studies, as well as all of the art classes that he takes. A long visit from his
uncle, a biology teacher, when he was fourteen really helped him gain more of an interest in
science as well, particularly genetics and medicine. He began taking honors courses after seventh
grade as a result of his success in his English and Social Studies gifted program. Though I was
concerned that the more difficult classes in high school may be too much for him, he completely
blew me away. He got A’s in all of his classes, including Honors Spanish, English, and Biology,
along with Algebra II. Now that he is entering his senior year, he has the ability to take a crazy
amount of AP classes – I think I’m going to have to limit him to just a few so he doesn’t exhaust
himself!

Grayson has continued to have a lot of good friends through high school. He is usually content to
get together at one of their houses to play video games and hang out, though he did once go
camping with his one friend’s family, and has gone on a few other trips. I’ve noticed a growing
independence lately, as he spends more time with his friends and new girlfriend and less with his
family. I know it’s normal for teens to pull away from their parents a little as they get older so I
encourage his independence, but I still make sure to enforce boundaries, along with a curfew
whenever he goes out.

For the most part, Grayson still remains to be a very good kid. As far as I know, he hasn’t ever
been involved in drugs or alcohol, and the worst act he’s ever committed was sneaking into the
school one evening to shoot hoops when he was twelve. I think getting caught scared and
embarrassed him enough that he learned his lesson for good! He has definitely developed an
interest in sex, as I’ve heard him discussing it with his friends and know that my ex-husband had
an open conversation with him about safe sex once his relationship with his girlfriend became
more serious. I don’t know if their relationship has actually gotten to that point, but as long as
they are being responsible and safe, I don’t have a problem.

Aside from a few small dents in the car, and the questionable decision to get small matching
tattoos with his girlfriend, I can’t say that Grayson’s behavior is bad at all. I’m not pleased with a
few of the choices he’s made, such as that one, but considering his academic achievements,
dedication to baseball and his part-time job, and overall polite and good demeanor, I’ve made
sure that I don’t overreact and punish him harshly for any small thing that I feel he does wrong.
So far, he has been open with me whenever he makes a mistake, such as breaking curfew or
backing up into a parked car, and I don’t want to break that trust. I do make sure that I continue
to set limits, expectations for him to help around the house, and consequences for missing curfew
too often or being reckless with the car. This usually consists of taking away his driving
privileges for a short amount of time and making him pay for any insurance claims.

As Grayson heads into his senior year, thinking about where he wants to go to college and what
he wants to study, I feel like the years have flown by. I can’t believe that he has only one more
year of high school left!

McLeod, S. (2010). Formal operational stage. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from Simply
Psychology website: http://www.simplypsychology.org/formal-operational.html
O'Donnell, J. (2016, March 22). What are the signs of puberty in tween boys? Retrieved
November 20, 2016, from Very Well website: https://www.verywell.com/the-signs-of-
puberty-in-tween-boys-3288401

My Virtual Child #6

Grayson is on a great path in every domain. Physically, he has fully grown into a strong, healthy
young man with only a few bouts of illness here and there, mostly resulting from stress and
working too hard. Cognitively, I couldn’t be prouder of him! He got straight A’s in all of his AP
classes during his senior year, scored in the top 5 – 10% in all subjects on his SAT and ACT, and
got into several very good schools. He will be attending a prestigious out-of-state university,
where he will be living on campus very soon! I am nervous about him going to school so far
away, but I know that is responsible enough to handle it. Socially, Grayson has developed a
great, fun group of friends. He was one of the most popular kids in his senior class and has
continued to be very outgoing and friendly, but he manages to balance going to parties and
hanging out with his friends with his job and schoolwork. Emotionally and morally, Grayson has
grown very much. He has phased completely out of his slightly rebellious teen phase and has
grown closer to his father and especially to myself. He is no longer embarrassed to come to me
for advice or help. He has developed strong morals and is very responsible, even using his
knowledge from his Psychology class to give advice to his friends!

I like to believe that Grayson was very much affected by some of my parenting choices. I think
that my encouragement of his independence helped him mature faster than many of his
classmates, but I always ensured that he knew that I was there to help and guide him, which I
think influenced the closeness between us now. I also believe, based off of what we have learned
in class, that spending so much time taking Grayson to the library, museums, and other
interactive locations helped him grow cognitively by giving him experiences that he otherwise
would not have had. I also made sure to give Grayson responsibilities around the house and
limits to his freedom, which I think impacted his maturity and ambition to do well.
I believe that Grayson’s overall temperament and attitude is mostly genetic, as many aspects of
his personality, including his morals and responsible demeanor, remind me of myself. The
several moves our family made, particularly when Grayson was in daycare and preschool, likely
affected him by forcing him to meet new people and make new friends multiple times early in
his life. This caused him to develop social skills and grow out of his aggressive and shy period
quickly so he would be able to form relationships with peers. Another environmental event that
likely influenced Grayson’s development was the divorce of my husband and myself around the
time that Grayson was entering high school. Though in the short-term this caused him to become
moody and sometimes emotional, in the long run I believe that it made him mature quickly and
feel more responsible for his actions. Culture-wise, I definitely think that our middle-class
economic status played a role in Grayson’s cognitive skills. We were able to spend his childhood
giving him fun, interactive experiences that would be more difficult for a child in a lower
socioeconomic class to have. However, as Grayson got older and became the child of divorced
parents, I think that the tightening of our budget helped him appreciate what he had and develop
a stronger work ethic, as he learned that he had to pay for his own wants himself.

I absolutely loved completing My Virtual Child. It quickly became my favorite aspect of any
class that I am taking this semester. It was so easy to think of Grayson as real, and I enjoyed not
only running the program and writing up the discussion answers, but talking about him outside of
the classroom as well. This activity has such strong implications for me as both a parent and
teacher. It was shocking how much each decision I made as a parent impacted Grayson’s
development and actions. I could even see how choices that I made early in Grayson’s life
influenced his cognitive, emotional, and moral domains years later. This program will affect how
I deal with both parents and students as a teacher, as it has taught me how important every
decision, as small as it may seem, is in the development of a child. I will make sure that I think
carefully about how to appropriately deal with any situation that arises in my classroom, and will
advise parents to do the same. Hearing about my classmates’ virtual children has also shown how
different every child can be. As a teacher, this means that I will need to take into account
differences in children’s cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development to make sure
that I am teaching them in a way that is meaningful and helpful. Finally, I have learned how easy
it is to get attached to a child – even a virtual one! If I can feel so close to a child that I am
raising online, I can only imagine how strongly I will feel about one that I am watching and
helping grow and develop in real life every day, either as a mother or a teacher.