Stop! (And make them happy!)

My precocious 5-year old student was learning about whole notes and whole rests today.  When we played the whole notes, I told him you have to give them a full four counts, or else they won't be happy.  We then encountered whole rests, which he thought looked like a stop light.  That's great, I said, because that's what you do when you get to one - stop playing and rest for four counts.  Just like a whole note, they won't be happy if you don't give them four counts.  He counted out his line, giving every whole note and whole rest it's full four counts.  Are they happy? he asked.  Yes, they are very happy!