Communication Skills

We got a form to fill in from Tom's nursery yesterday.  It was all about his communication and understanding skills, and they use what you tell them in conjunction with their own "Communication Toolbox - a box of toys and activities that early years staff use to support their observations about communication development and find out how your child can understand and use language".  Tom actually had the assessment done when he was about 2 and a half because of some concerns I had about his stuttering at the time - they said his understanding was at a 3 to 4 year old level and his communication skills were excellent... which is actually irrelevant to this story, but just made me proud (comes before a fall). 

Anyway, the form asked questions about how well he understood what was asked of him; wanted examples of things he might say; asked what frightened him; what he was especially good at or proud that he could do.  The last question was concerned with burgeoning independence - self dressing, feeding, that sort of thing and then it asked "what does your child find particularly difficult to do".  I had been involving Tom through all the questions and so directed this question at him.  He paused, looking thoughtful, as he does when giving your question due consideration, and then answered decisively,

"juggling"