Pete and Repeat were in a boat.

[mrissa]

One of the primary duties of a godparent is to teach the godchildren annoying things. My own godfather Dave, for example, taught me to talk like a Valley Girl when I was in my early grade school years. (Happily, he also taught me to stop.) In that fine tradition, timprov set about to teach Robin the really annoying circular whatsit:

timprov: Hey, Robin, I have one for you. Pete and Repeat were in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left?
Robin: Repeat!
timprov: Pete and Repeat were in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left?
Robin: Just the other Pete!

And all the grown-ups laughed that he saw his way out of it on the second time through, and so, heartened by his success, Robin dimpled and went on:

Robin: Hey, Tim, Pete and Repeat were in a boat. Pete fell out. Who was left?
timprov, obligingly: Repeat.
Robin, in congratulatory tones: You got it!

markgritter also taught him Rock, Paper, Scissors...sort of. porphyrin says she would love to be a fly on the wall when Robin attempts to explain this game to the other kids at daycare, and I have to agree that it would almost certainly amuse the heck out of me.

Comments

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

This made me laugh so hard. I love that kid.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

He is awfully special.

[columbina.livejournal.com]

Robin has successfully hacked the Kobiyashi Maru scenario.

[the-flea-king.livejournal.com]

Kid's gonna be a genius! I love these anecdotes.

[lydy.livejournal.com]

My own favorite circlular reference game is

A: You remind me of a woman.
B: What woman?
A: A woman with powers.
B: What powers?
A: Voodoo.
B: Who do?
A: You do.
B: I do what?
A: You remind me of a woman.


It's not as neat and natural as the Pete and Repete joke, you have to teach it. But I've always loved it because of its rhythm. Especially if A puts a little shivvery bit into saying voodoo

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I learned that one from Labyrinth, I think.

[lydy.livejournal.com]

That was in Labyrinth? And I've forgotten? It's such a wonderful movie in so many ways. How could I have forgotten that. Obviously, I must watch it again soon.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I may be misremembering, because it's been 11 years since I saw it last, but I thought it was there. But yes, your solution here is the obvious one in either case: more watching of Labyrinth.

[crimini.livejournal.com]

N loves Rock, Paper, Scissors. We do it when we have to wait in line at the supermarket. He's still small enough to fit in the cart seat, but not for much longer.

And have you started teaching Robin knock-knock jokes? Hilarious listening to a bunch of preschoolers telling each other knock-knocks.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Yes, we did knock-knocks last night at dinner. He chortled merrily at the interrupting cow knock-knock.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

My grandfather used to do Pete and Repeat to me. I never did figure it out (yes, I really am that literal minded) but I used to find it *very annoying*.

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

My nephew's favorite joke is:

Him: Knock-knock!
Me: Who's there?
Him: It's me!

And the collapse in a fit of giggles. To be fair he's still a youngin', and it is pretty hilarious. I think the tone really does it for me, he uses this kind of petulant "God, grownups are so blind" voice.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

We have a little friend younger than Robin who has gotten the idea that knock-knocks are funny without having much notion of how they actually manage funniness. So you get the surrealist knock-knocks:

Knock-knock!
Who's there?
Frankenstein!
Frankenstein who?
Frankenstein eggbeater! Ah, hahahahaha!

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

Perhaps we are too old and jaded to get the joke? ;)