Briggs is officially 7 years old. He is 4'1" tall (65th percentile) and weighs 47 lbs (28th percentile). He wears his size 6/7 and 7 clothes and size 13 shoes (although he's probably about due for the next size shoes since he's been wearing the same ones since the fall.) Briggs has lost 6 teeth (2 on top within the past few weeks and 4 on bottom). He just went to the orthodontist and will be getting an expander next month.
Briggs is in 1st grade in Mrs. Spence's class. He has participated in a season of soccer, a season of basketball, and two NTA shows (Aladdin, Jr. and Seussical, Jr.). He has also recently started taking piano lessons and is signed up for his first season of baseball this summer. Briggs goes to bed around 8:00 (and falls asleep quickly) and typically wakes up around 7:30. It's not uncommon for him to wake up in the night to use the restroom, and he also will sometimes sleepwalk.
Likes: Briggs still loves all things vehicles, with trains hanging on as a very favorite thing. Legos are his favorite activity (with his 2 Lego trains topping the list), and he loves to put together and take apart his various Lego sets. Lego City and Harry Potter sets are his favorites. He and Adelie often play with his Lego sets and her Polly Pocket sets together. Briggs also enjoys doing perler beads, drawing and coloring, playing with his trains and cars, and building with Magnatiles.
Briggs made a Lego museum with his Lego sets and Magnatiles
Reading is another favorite activity. Briggs has ventured into the realm of chapter books and enjoys reading Magic Treehouse, I Survived, A to Z Mysteries, and Ranger in Time. He also loves listening to audio books and spends much of his free time in the play room with Adelie building with Legos or doing Perler beads and listening to audiobooks. He and Adelie have recently listened to the first 3 Harry Potter books, several Humphrey books, Tuesdays at the Castle, and have been working their way through all 26 of the A to Z Mystery books.
He's a reader!
Briggs enjoys playing outside. He loves riding his bike, riding his scooter, playing with friends, and catching bugs. When the weather is nice, there is always a revolving door of bugs in his bug catcher. He has also started wanting to practice catching and hitting a ball in preparation for his first baseball season this summer.
Briggs is very social and gets along well with others. George and Hudson are two of his favorite friends from school, but he also still plays with a variety of the girls his age who live in the neighborhood. As the weather is getting nicer, it's not uncommon for the doorbell to ring with 4 or 5 little girls standing on the porch asking if Briggs can come out and play. Briggs gets along well with both girls and boys, but Adelie still remains his favorite playmate.
Walking home from school with his friend, George
Briggs enjoys when we do family movie nights. His favorite movie is 'Paw Patrol: The Movie." He also really enjoys episodes of the TV show 'Bluey.' Briggs is still sensitive about scary things or bad guys in movies, often closing his eyes at parts he doesn't want to see. He prefers watching movies he's already seen (so he knows if there is anything scary in it.) He has gotten better about branching out and watching new things. Briggs also enjoys family game night and is very good at understanding rules, strategizing, and keeping up with the rest of the family. Favorite games include Ticket to Ride, Just One, Apples to Apples, and Dragon Realm.
Briggs is a pretty good eater. He will eat his fruits and vegetables, although neither are his favorite. He loves meatballs, chicken or tuna casseroles, burgers, tacos, chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and pizza. He's not super adventurous with his eating, preferring tried and true favorites to new recipes. He always has room for dessert.
Dislikes: Briggs is getting better about things that used to scare or bother him, like fireworks, wind, cutting his toenails, shows at Disney, and movies. But there are still things he doesn't like. Briggs does not like storms. He still does not like scary parts or bad guys in movies. He gets upset with the anticipation of shots or pulling out loose teeth. Briggs is sensitive about people laughing at him, getting upset if we laugh about cute things he says or does. Of all my kids, Briggs continues to have the biggest temper and shortest fuse, but can now calm himself down pretty quickly and apologize...sometimes with a little incentive or threat of a consequence. Briggs does not like having to wake up or get ready for school or church or stop a fun activity. (This is often when we'll see that temper come out.) He will often say he doesn't want to go to school or church, but always does fine once he's there.
Skills: Briggs is a pretty coordinated little guy. He runs fast, rides his two-wheeled bike well, and does great on his scooter. He is starting to try various sports, but hasn't really found one that he wants to practice on his own on a regular basis. Briggs has a very good eye for detail and can follow directions or patterns to make perler bead creations and Lego sets. However, he's also very creative and mechanically minded and will make up his own perler beads, Lego creations, drawings, and things made from the recycling.
Briggs continues to grow in his independence. He does all his own self-cares, including showering, brushing his teeth, cutting his toenails (if I remind him), fastening clothing, and tying shoes. He can also do his chores around the house (with reminders) like putting away his laundry, loading his dishes in the dishwasher, taking his sheets off his bed, and cleaning up the playroom. He would always prefer help, but is very capable of doing these things on his own.
Briggs is a bright little guy. He is a proficient reader, reading chapter books on his own. Math and reading both seem to come pretty easy to him. He is scoring in the 97th percentile for reading and 95th percentile for math on his standardized tests. He's a rule follower and never wants to get in trouble or be singled out, so he is a good listener at school and church. His teachers always comment on what a nice or sweet boy he is.
My sweet boy
Personality: Briggs is a sweet and sensitive boy. He still likes to snuggle, sit on my lap, hold my hand, and loves when I volunteer in his class. He still has things that he is sensitive about and cries easily when he gets hurt or upset. However, he is also growing into more of a boy with increasing energy and activity level, acting silly, and trying to make others laugh. "Squirrely" is the word I sometimes use when Briggs is getting wound up or acting really silly. After spending time with other 7 year old boys at birthday parties or in his classroom, I still realize that Briggs is on the more mellow end of that spectrum.
Briggs is fun to spend time with, easy to take places, gets along well with others, entertains himself well, and is a smart little guy. He's always making astute observations and asking good questions. He enjoys helping Zach do projects around the house, although is still definitely more of a Mama's boy. Briggs is a creature of habit (hand socks, anyone?), is typically pretty cautious, and prefers things to be predictable. He sometimes needs to be pushed to try new things or activities as he is very content to just stay at home and play.
It's so fun to watch Briggs grow and change. He is getting braver, growing in his emotional regulation, trying new activities, and developing such a fun personality.
I sure do love my 7 year old!!
