Word Building

It is not easy to speculate how kids relate words and remember them.

The other day Prachi and I had been to the library for the story and rhyme time and on returning as is the practice with us I was detailing to her in a story-like manner what we had done.
Me: Wasn’t it fun with all those songs and that librarian Alexander singing in weird voices?
Prachi: Who?
Me: That guy with along hair who sang for you. His name is Alexander.
Prachi (with a look of amusement on her face): Alexander? Goosey goosey Gander?

These days she is trying to pick up English words. We were playing this game where she said words in Konkani (our mother tongue) and I said them in English.
Prachi: Khelche samanu (meaning Play things)
Me: Toys
Prachi: Oh! what is that place where go to pee?
Me: Oh! That’s a toilet.
The point that she was able to recall by the similarity of pronunciation delighted me. On the same lines,
Prachi: What is a tiger called?
Me: Waaghu
Prachi: Lion?
Me: Simhu
Prachi: Cheetah?
Me: mmmm.Chirathe
Prachi: hehehhe.chirathe…karathe

Note: Karathe is bitter gourd/karela in konkani