Some of you might read that title and think it’s a little ridiculous. But there are those who just are not all that interested in games; we like sharing work or pretend play or reading, but sitting down to an extremely simple game with a very young child can lack appeal. Having a few good reasons to play a structured game could make the difference in whether we teach our child how to play dominoes, memory, or spades. Perhaps that … Read More...
Imagine yourself and your child standing in the library. Or if you’re like me, imagine following your almost running child around and around the library. You have this idea that you can find a perfect selection of books if you could even read one spine, but your child is too intrigued by the long rows of books to give you a chance to browse.
The following list might help you, as you can just ask your friendly librarian for particular … Read More...
Many children are drawn toward farm play, even when their experience is limited to suburban sidewalks or city parks. They imagine themselves as both the busy farmers and the creatures of the field, sty, yard or barn. (What is that mooing, bleating, and clucking I hear from behind a closed bedroom door?!)
In our family, the children also had favorite bedtime stories about farmers and the farming life for many years, leading to library and bookstore searches to add variety … Read More...
“Facts are fine, fer as they go… but they’re like water bugs skittering atop the water. Legends, now—they go deep down and bring up the heart of a story.” from Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry.
When your child slips a sword into the sheath at their side, dons a cap suited to Sherwood forest or adds another silk to their royal attire, they are exploring the archetypes that help us find our way in our world. These broad … Read More...
“Those who wish to sing always find a song” Swedish Proverb
I read this proverb and have to say, I’m not so sure it’s right. I think a lot of us want to sing, but we’re unsure what to sing and are a bit intimidated by the prospect of sharing our imperfect voices.
We resist even though numerous studies have shown the mental and physical health benefits of singing. We understand intellectually that singing creates stronger relationships between groups as … Read More...
As noted scientist Temple Grandin titled her book of the same name, animals make us human. This can seem a very strong statement until one watches children and notes their affinity for and curiosity about animals. Some kids watch creatures from a safe distance. Others are more forward and grab every cat or dog they can get close enough to to touch. Most children will add the names of animals to their first few words. However they show it, new … Read More...
We want to do so much to help our children, but life teaches us that their greatest gifts may be the intangible tools they carry inside themselves. Watching them, we see that some are born with a fully-stocked “toolchest” that will aid them on any path they choose. Other children seem to need a little more help, whether in recognizing what was there all along or in developing skills unfamiliar to their natures.
Regardless of how competent children are out … Read More...
Is your crafting cupboard or drawer bursting with broken bits of crayons, uncapped, dried out markers, crumpled paper and bits of yarn all randomly stuck together with leaked glue from the left-open bottle? Does the sight of glitter and the memory of trying to clean it up bring tears to your eyes? Are you stifling frustration every time your child asks to paint? How is it that some people seem to be able to make craft time with their children … Read More...
Perhaps you have noticed with your children that as they pass into the early stages of puberty (the so-called tween phase) they lose some of the contentment that accompanies middle childhood. Our children were more likely to be “bored” or to flit disconsolately from one once-favored activity to another, unable to really settle down. In this stage, children begin to seek work that they can see has meaning and purpose; they’ve passed the joy found in imitating adult work and … Read More...
What is it about blocks that makes them one of the first toys babies play with, as well as an activity that children return to throughout childhood? You’ve seen your baby, only just having mastered sitting up, begin to stack two or three blocks together. You’ve seen your toddler building the tallest tower they can manage, glorying in the crash when it tumbles down. And you’ve seen older children lost in their play as they maneuver their blocks this way … Read More...
