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Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom

Wordless Wednesday

From my experience, it’s all about engaging them in the experience. Interaction is a key component to any successful activity. The more involved you feel, the more you want to participate. The same is true of all ages, especially little ones. They have such short attention spans and everything is new, i.e., distracting. The key is to work with those “limitations” not try to squash them. I witnessed a most unengaging book reading one time that made me, who loves books and reading almost more than any other leisure activity, want to run screaming from the room. { photo credit: chimothy27}

A teenage girl was trying to read a short board book to three preschoolers. Now, Sammi can sit through long picture books, so a short board book should have been a piece of cake for these kids. But they were sitting in a row facing the girl and she was sitting up on a chair reading the book to them. Anytime they fidgeted at all, she stopped reading and told them to sit still. At the end of every sentence she stopped and asked them a question about that sentence. Then she demanded the correct answer before she moved on to the next sentence. There was no flow to the story, no magic floating out from the book to capture the interest of these three little ones. It was pure agony. The girl was obviously frustrated by the behavior of the children and they were obviously bored with the experience, yet they pushed on. If this is the perfect example of how not to get kids interested in reading, I’d like to share some tips to turn this exact situation into the perfect way to get kids interested in reading.

6 Tips to Get Kids Interested in Reading

1. Get close. Be on the same level as the kids. Let them climb in your lap or on your back as you read. Let them sit as close as they can get so they can see the illustrations and let the magic of those pictures bring the story to life for them.
   
2. Accept age appropriate behavior. It’s not feasible for a 1 year old or a 2 year old or even a 3 year old to be perfectly still. They wiggle and fidget because that’s what they do. It doesn’t mean they aren’t listening. Because, believe me, they are. As long as they haven’t wandered off into another room, they are still listening and will probably protest if you stop reading. It’s okay that they aren’t able to give you their undivided attention for the length of the book. It doesn’t mean they aren’t ready for it or don’t want it. It just means they can only process so much at a time and the moving around may be a coping skill to help them get the most out of the experience.
   
3. Answer questions. Something like 90% of questions little ones ask about a story come from the illustrations. It’s a visual way for them to understand the story. Take the time to answer those questions and bring it back to the words of the story. Sometimes Sammi will ask a question from the picture that hasn’t been answered yet in the story. I usually say, “We don’t know that yet. But if we keep reading, I bet we’ll find out. Let’s listen for the answer.” And then once we’ve read the answer, we talk about it again.
   
4. Have stacks of books available in all play areas. Anywhere the little ones are free to be and play, have books visible. They will be more interested in them if they seem them often. It’s also a lot easier for you to just pick up a book and read with your little one if you don’t have to go find one.
   
5. Let your kids see you reading. I have a few things around the house that I read: a book, magazines, scriptures, the computer. Sometimes when Sammi or Elli want to get on my lap while I’m reading I’ll read out loud to them. They love being involved in that moment with me, but they usually get their fix and then move on, which gives me time to read one more page/article/post.
   
6. Extend the reading to other activities. Do a craft, make a treat, dress up, get creative. Anytime something relates to the story, tie in that connection so they can remember the book and build their background knowledge. There are tons of blogs that have examples of ways to extend a book into other activities. Some I enjoy are A Mommy’s Adventures and Silly Eagle Books.

I’m sharing these tips today because I’ve been invited to be on the panel of #GNO tonight on twitter. You can learn more about #GNO here and about tonight’s discussion here. Tonight’s topic is “Let’s Play—Getting Our Kids to Love Books and Reading” The discussion is sponsored by a brand new site, Memetales, that is devoted to bring parents, kids and books together in creative ways. I’ve only just begun to explore this site and look forward to sharing more of its potential and usefulness as I become better acquainted with it. If you want more info now, Mom Tried It and No time For Flashcards have both posted about Memetales. Here’s a slide show to give you a glimpse into the vision of tonight’s #GNO discussion and the mission of Memetales.

If you haven’t yet, please check out the Baby Leg Warmers giveaway going on until March 1o.

…time and space for free play.

I’m continuing my series on ways I would love to make a difference in the world. In previous posts I suggested an indoor play area not part of a fast food restaurant in every community and a bookshelf full of age appropriate books for every home. I’ve been thinking a lot about play as a necessary part of child development. I recently began reading Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen. He names three reason child desperately need play in their lives:

1. To Connect, or Reconnect after connection has been severed
2. To Build Confidence by role playing and practicing new skills in a safe environment
3. To Heal from Emotional Distress by recreating the situation with different roles and outcomes

These are compelling reasons why children need generous amounts of free time to play, create, connect, imagine and discover the world around them and their position in that world. I see such potential in my little ones and I want more than anything to provide every opportunity to foster that potential. But my biggest fear is over-scheduling them in sports, lessons, service opportunities and any other good thing that may arise. Cohen goes on to explain that this need for play is not an early childhood phenomenon. That childhood is made up of this need to play and it stretches long past toddlerhood.

It’s not just important that children play, but that they have playmates. This could be siblings, friends and even, maybe most importantly, parents. When we use play as an opportunity to connect with our children we can learn something about them and their experiences that we would never be able to draw out of them through conversation alone. When we use play to build confidence in our children they are learning in a most powerful way the strength of their character and determination to master a skill. When we use play to help them heal from emotional distress we skip over the discipline, yelling, correcting that we somehow come to rely on and jump instead straight to the heart of the matter and bring our little ones back to the joy of life they so often display.

For these reasons, and many more, I want every child to have the time and space to play.

What do you want for every child?

I am an Amazon Affiliate and use affiliate links to as an easy way to find more information on books or other products I share in my posts. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I receive a small percentage of that sale. Happy shopping

If you haven’t yet, please check out the Baby Leg Warmers giveaway going on until March 1o.

I managed to browse through a HUGE used bookstore all by myself this week. Brent stayed in the car while the girls were sleeping so I had a whole hour to myself. I found a bunch of books that were pretty cheap and even a big hit with Sammi and Elli. We also “discovered” one Elli got for Christmas that we hadn’t read yet. It’s been a great week for reading at our house.

Ladybug Girl (Elli’s Christmas present)
by David Soman and Jacky Davis

Ladybug Girl is the story of how Lulu entertains herself one morning when everyone at her house is busy. She is dressed up as a ladybug, which immediately drew Elli to the book. Their room right now has ladybugs decorating the walls and curtain and they even have ladybug wings they like to wear on occasion. They could really relate to Lulu who wanders her house and yard finding adventures to entertain herself until her mom is done with her “work.” The first time we read this book, Elli was on my lap and her little legs just kicked and kicked in joy when Lulu jumped off a log and said, “Ta-da!”

Clifford’s Happy Easter
by Norman Bridwell

I thought Clifford’s Happy Easter would be a good one with Easter approaching. It has tons of eggs on the cover and we’ve been doing Easter egg hunts for two years straight. When I brought out the stack of brand new books this was the first one she wanted to read. We were driving in the car so she just looked at it by herself but she was back there laughing at the silly situations and telling us her version of the story as she showed us the pictures. She really got to exercise her creative imagination muscle with this book. It will be fun to read this book again and again in preparation for Easter.

What books have you enjoyed reading with your little ones?

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out Feed Me Books Friday hosted by Adventure Mom Janna. I promise you’ll have a long list of books to look for at the library!

I’m so ready for spring! I love the warmer weather and the chance to get back outside. The girls have been missing the park so much, but it’s just been so cold/muddy/snowy over the last little while that I haven’t felt good about taking them out to play. This week we’ve spent recovering from ear infections {blah} so I’m definitely ready for some warmer weather.

The girls are itching for warmer weather, too, as they’ve taken to wearing summer dresses around the house. Most of Sammi’s dresses are pretty long, but poor Elli’s toddler dresses barely come to her knees. I keep searching through her clothes to find leggings for her. That’s when it {finally} hit me how ingenious baby leg warmers really are. I never really saw the need with Sammi, but I totally get it now with Elli and am dying to get my hands on some!

In the meantime, I have some to give away to one lucky reader! I recently reconnected with a long-ago friend on Facebook {gotta love it!} and she happens to have an etsy shop where she sells leg warmers, among other beautiful creations. Amanda has offered a pair of leg warmers to one of BBGU’s readers. First, a little about Amanda and second, the guidelines for the giveaway.

Amanda Sews

“My business mostly started by accident. My mom liked sewing things for me when I was a child, and I learned to sew from her and some of her friends and family members. As an adult, I’ve often sewn things for myself and even made a few things for friends. After I had my daughter, I started making things for her. I had people approach me asking about some of the things I’d made for her, so I decided to open an etsy shop selling some of my creations. Through local boutiques, I’ve had the opportunity to make some custom adult things too. I’m learning to design my own patterns, when I can’t find patterns for what I want to make. Coming up with my own sleepsack pattern was a process that took me a couple months and lots of trial and error.

“I have always collected fabric and have a huge stash (some of it inherited from family members), so having a place to keep it all is important. When we moved into our house, I had my very own room for sewing. But, when Jess was born, that room became her room. Luckily, we have a very large master bedroom, so I use part of it as my sewing area. I love having enough space to keep my machines set up, so when I only have a few minutes and feel like some quick sewing, I can do so. I periodically go through my fabric to see what interests me or fits with ideas I have floating around in my head. For example, lately I’ve been thinking about spring/summer dresses, so when I rediscovered some vintage Hawaiian shirts and muumuus my grandmother gave me several years ago I knew they would be perfect for refashioning into little girl’s dresses.

“Family always comes first, so most of my sewing is done when Jess takes her daily nap (along with everything else we Moms have to do during naps). When things get more busy, I also end up sewing at night after she’s gone to bed or on Saturdays when John is home. There are always more projects than there is time for and I always seem to have at least half a dozen projects in various stages of completion (not counting the list of ideas I haven’t even started yet). Sometimes I get a little burnt out, but it usually doesn’t last too long. ”

Leg Warmers Giveaway

The deadline for the giveaway is Wednesday, March 10 at midnight EST. There are multiple ways to enter. You can tweet and post on Facebook as many days as you’d like with one entry for each day. Here are all the ways you can enter:

REQUIRED:

• Visit Amanda’s etsy shop and pick the set of leg warmers you would choose if you win. Come back and leave a comment saying which ones you’d like to win.
• Please leave a separate comment for each entry to make sure all your work is rewarded.

Optional:

• Subscribe to Because Babies Grow Up (if you’re already subscribed, leave a comment saying that)
• Become a fan of Because Babies Grow Up on Facebook
• Tweet “@ajpassey has a #giveaway for a pair of leg warmers for little ones. Come join the fun: http://bit.ly/bLVN7w”
• Post on Facebook “Because Babies Grow Up is giving away a pair of leg warmers for little ones. Come join the fun: http://bit.ly/bLVN7w”

Good luck with the giveaway! Please leave all your comment entries by midnight EST Wednesday March 10. The winner will be announced Thursday March 11.

We’ve got one heck of a photographer-friend, Jenni. She’s also the mastermind behind the Oobleck cupcakes I posted yesterday. She was at our Dr Seuss shindig yesterday snapping photos like crazy. She posted all the best ones on her blog, but I thought I’d share my favorites with you here.

Getting into the spirit of the Cat in the Hat

Just how I envisioned it:

• Reading Dr Seuss
• Kids gathered around
• Parents close by
• Snacks not too far off, either.

It was the perfect party, in my opinion. Lots of friends came and brought Dr Seuss books and food. The house was decorated with pictures and books in honor Dr Seuss. We visited, shared and played for hours. Thanks everyone who participated!

What makes a perfect party, in your opinion?

Today marks 106 years since the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr Seuss. Even if you haven’t fallen in love with Dr Seuss’s works themselves, you’ve probably loved classics that follow the style he made popular. That style is marked by imaginative characters and settings, bold colors, rhymes that trip the tongue and made-up words. In conjunction with Dr Seuss’s birthday, the National Education Association has developed an initiative to encourage reading called National Read Across America Day. {Last year, Aaron Nigel Smith joined in the celebrations to inspire young readers.} This year, to celebrate both, we are having a wild Dr. Seuss birthday party!

Sammi has been so excited to have a birthday party. We’ve read Dr Seuss books and she and Elli have been heard around the house belting out “Happy Birthday to You.” It has really helped her and Elli establish the pattern of birthday parties and their preparations. We were able to borrow a box of Dr Seuss themed decorations from the library as well as a few more books. Here’s a peak at what we’re preparing:

We’ve invited tons of friends to celebrate with us. Each family is bringing their favorite Dr Seuss book along with a treat/drink/craft that is inspired by their favorite book. I’m making meatballs inspired by the GUFF going by in Oh, the Thinks You can Think! I asked a dear friend to bring her Oobleck cupcakes that she debuted at her son’s birthday party (which inspired a lot of what I hoped to do for this party.) She graciously shared her yummy recipe, too, so you can whip up a batch of these little cupcakes today to celebrate!

Oobleck Cupcakes

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 egg whites from large eggs
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Green Food coloring

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, shortening, milk and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix at low speed for 2 minutes. Scrape bowl. Add egg whites and mix at high speed until fluffy and smooth, approximately 2 minutes. add food coloring.
• Fill liners 1/2 to 2/3 full of batter. Do not overfill. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes in pans then remove from pan, and place on wire racks to cool completely.
• Frost

Vanilla Buttercream frosting

16 ounce(s) marshmallow cream
1 1/2 cup(s) butter softened
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1/2 cup(s) confectioners’ sugar (more if necessary)

Beat the marshmallow cream using an electric mixer set on low. Add the butter (in 1-inch pieces) and beat until smooth. Add the vanilla extract, and confectioners’ sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, and continue to beat on medium-high until smooth and fluffy. Add more sugar to adjust texture.

So, grab a Dr Seuss book, or any favorite, and sit down with your little one today and read, read, read!

What book has inspired you to read, either for yourself or with your little one?

Brent came home early from school the other day with the brilliant idea to take the girls on a nature hunt. We drove to the start of a trail that would take us through two covered bridges and a tunnel. When we parked the car, we asked the girls to look around outside and help us make a list of the things we might see on our nature walk. With our list in hand, and a camera in each girl’s hand, we set out to find everything on our list.

Our list: We added to it as we saw new things like the water and little rocks

After looking at all the pictures, which item on our list did we NOT find? There was only one.

As we head into this weekend I am grateful for two things:

1. Antibiotics
2. Ear infections

Yep, I’m grateful that Sammi has a double ear infection because it explains why she hasn’t been hearing well the last few days. I was really starting to worry about the rapid decline in her hearing and was starting to look into where to get a hearing test done. She hasn’t complained about her ears at all so I had no idea. Now, I’ll be even more grateful when she’s back to her normal self.

Also about the ear infections. Elli has a double ear infection as well. Having both children sick explains why they have both been so emotional and clingy this week. I have developed a sinus infection so the extra crying has been more miserable than normal.

Which brings me to the antibiotics. I’m glad we don’t need them often and I’m glad we have them available when we do need them. I know it was purely mental, but Sammi was in a better mood after her first dose. She’s been such a trooper!

On a bright note, I have been steadily reading daily. Currently I am on page 179. That’s 145 pages in two weeks or just about 10 pages a day. I’m lovin’ it! I mentioned before that I was trying to become a daily reader. I think I always have been but I wasn’t taking into consideration the magazines, blogs, and scriptures that together I read daily.

In addition to The Dreamers, I started Playful Parenting by Lawrence Cohen and am really enjoying his perspective and anecdotes that illustrate the points he makes. Play really is necessary for children to make sense of the world around them. We need to make sure we give them ample space, time and interaction that they get enough play. And finally, I just got Jim Trelease’s The Read-Aloud Handbook. I know. I’m shocked I didn’t already own it, too. But now I have it and I can’t wait to refresh my memory by reading it again.

Welcome to the random thoughts swirling in, through, and around the sinus infection. They’ve been getting muddled a bit this week. I am hoping that come Monday I will be clear headed again and have a lot more energy for cleaning. and blogging.

Have a great weekend!

Today we are sharing our family’s favorite Dr Seuss books as part of Feed Me Books Friday hosted by The Adventure of Motherhood. Check out the other posts today about Dr Seuss books!

My Fave Dr Seuss Book:
I Can Read With My Eyes Closed

We’ve read this one so many times, I literally can read it with my eyes closed! I was a bit hesitant the first time I read this book because I thought it would downplay “reading” and upplay imagination. But I was wrong, gratefully. It’s actually about how important it is to keep yours eyes open to read and observe the world around you. My favorite line is “And when I keep them open I can read with much more speed. You’ve got to be a speedy reader cause there’s oh so much to read.” We’ve worn our copy of this book almost completely out.

Brent’s Fave Dr Seuss Book:
Sneetches and Other Stories

Brent loves to read the Sneetches story to the girls at bedtime. At first I thought it was a little long for a bedtime story, but now that I’m more familiar with it, it goes rather quickly. I think Brent really likes the rhythm of this book’s rhymes and he kind of sings the words in a bouncy voice. He also likes the message of the Sneetches lesson, that we are all the same no matter out outsides and we can live in happiness and peace together. But we do always wonder with the Sneetches without stars upon thars never had their own frankfurter parties. Some mysteries are left unexplained, I guess.

Sammi’s Fave Dr Seuss Book:
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Sammi requests this one quite often. It’s another one I can almost read with my eyes shut. It doesn’t have a single storyline, rather each couple of pages work together around the same characters or topics. The lack of a coherent story is kind of difficult for me, but it does have some pages we quite love and quote often. For example, one page counts the fingers on Ned and he has eleven. Our quotable line is “Eleven, this is something new. I wish I had eleven, too!”

Elli’s Fave Dr Seuss Book:
Sleep Book

Yes, at 18 months Elli has a fave Dr Seuss book and it is indeed The Sleep Book. It’s kind of a long book so I usually read the first few pages (which are the best, in my opinion) and then read a couple out of the middle and then the last three pages. I’m not sure why Elli likes this book so much. We tried reading it to Sammi for ages before she showed any interest in it. But it’s a regular now at bedtime. My favorite line is “And people are gradually starting to say, ‘I feel rather drowsy. I’ve had quite a day.’” That’s exactly how I feel at the end of most days.

My Least Fave Dr Seuss Book:
The Cat in the Hat

I’m not fond of this one in the least. The poor kids are totally overwhelmed by the cat and then the poor cat is totally rejected by the kids. When I read it, all I can think about is the experiences of the characters on an emotional level. I think Dr Seuss definitely improved over his career. I haven’t read The Cat Comes Back. Maybe I should give it a try. But I’m not entirely motivated to. Maybe if it shows up on my doorstep, I’ll give it a go. But for now we’ll stick with our favorites.

What are your family’s favorite Dr Seuss books?