Ryn, I don't think you need to panic. I think that one of the points that Honore is making is that we need to respond to our children no force our intrests on them. So if he enjoys banging on the piano go for it but let him set the pace. As for the German, children thrive on loving attention no matter what language it's delivered in.

I read a related article a while ago (but I can't track it down) about the way that a lot of modern parenting is focussed on raising adults rather than providing a safe space in which to be a child. That we have become so focussed on the end product (adults) that we have devalued childhood and children. The author suggested that we shouldn't worry so much about what sort of adult our children will become and refocus on what sort of children they are and what sort of childhhod they are experiencing - that if we aim for healthy happy children then healthy happy adults are a natural result.