The “Disengage” post is now finished. For real this time. And what fortunate timing – naptime is over and the little fingers have free-roam once again!
Archives for February 2010
Now That's What I Meant to Say…..
The “Disengage” post is now finished. For real this time. And what fortunate timing – naptime is over and the little fingers have free-roam once again!
The Dangers of Multitasking with Little Fingers Around…
An explanation to those of you who may have read the “Disengage” post and were left scratching your heads. I was writing a draft when my children woke up. I made the mistake of leaving the screen up while I switched gears into “Mom mode”. After breakfasts and baths and laundry, I stole away a few moments to make some additions and realized that somewhere in the morning melee, some small fingers had clicked on the publish button. From what I can see, there’s no way to change it back to a draft once it’s published; I can only edit. So I guess we’ll just have to call it a cliff-hanger for now!
Positive Guidance Tools of the Trade – Disengage
My childhood and teenage years were shaped quite a bit by the fact that my dad was a lawyer and then a judge. Building and presenting a logical and convincing argument was a favorite family pastime. We engaged in (usually) friendly debate the way other families play Scrabble. As my father’s child, I learned the art of pursuing an argument. As a parent and a teacher, I have learned the art of ending one.
Book Activity: Please Write Back!
In Please Write Back! Alfie writes a letter to his grandma- going through all the steps of letter writing addressing and stamping by himself- and then waits anxiously for her reply. Finally, he gets something. But it’s not the letter he expected, it’s a package!
After reading this simple story, extend the story and support sensory skills by doing a feely box activity. Just as Alfie was anxious to find what was in his box, the children can take turns feeling an item in a box and guessing what it might be. You can simply use a box and hold it high enough that the children can’t see – though someone will always try to peek! You can create a simple feely box by securing a sock around the top of an empty oatmeal canister. Then, cut the end of the sock, so that a hand can reach through it and into the box. You could also make one with a small square box, using an inexpensive (and/or outgrown) stocking cap in the same manner. Stretch it around the sides and then cut a slit in the top for a hand to reach through.
Book Activity: Raymond and Nelda
Here’s a quick one for those of you looking for more mail-themed reads. Raymond and Nelda is a story of….well, Raymond and Nelda, of course! They’re best of friends but have a falling out. Their neighborhood mail lady sees both of them upset and urges them to work it out. Through a series of letters they eventually come to understand that they each made mistakes and need to apologize because their friendship is more important than their pride. This book is great for tying together the themes of friendship and communication!
You could follow this book up with a variety of mail-themed activities, but I usually have a short discussion about the social aspect of the books (being a good friend and making apologies) and then build some pre-reading skills by doing a little phonemic awareness exercise in small groups.
Mailing May and Mailing Me!
Back in 1914, a five year-old little girl by the name of Charlotte May Pierstorff wanted desperately to visit her grandmother, but her parents couldn’t afford the $1.55 it would cost for a train ticket. Soon her family hatched an ingenious plan and, with the help of a cousin who worked on the mail car of the train and some creative application of the postal code, May was sent by parcel post with 53 cents in stamps on her coat. This true story is told in wonderful narrative fashion and with beautifully detailed watercolor illustrations in the book, Mailing May , written by Michael O. Tunnell and illustrated by Ted Rand.
A Book Like Me
In case you didn’t know it, February is Black History Month. Seeing many of the books and articles marketed toward this time of year has caused me to think a bit about the use of ethnicity in children’s books. I really am a big fan of ethnic books for children….and I’m not. Let me explain.
Cornmeal Play
If you’re looking for something new to put in your sensory table, consider cornmeal! Some types are more fine than others – the fine stuff can leave a bit of a dusty residue on those little hands, but no permanent harm done, right? Whether you have coarse or fine cornmeal, the kiddos just love it! Compliment the play with toy cars, scoops in a variety of sizes, and even combs to create a fun texture! Around Valentine’s Day, I threw in some foam hearts and the children kept themselves engaged burying and digging up their “treasures”! You could add any foam features, plastic figures, or some beads or rocks.
The Perfect Pretzel Recipe…..Really.
I have never found a recipe for big soft pretzels that I really loved. They were too complicated to make with kids, or didn’t taste very good, or had the wrong texture. Well, that all changed this last Christmas when my sister-in-law, gave me this little gem as part of a collection of recipes. (I love getting good recipes for Christmas!) I tried it out, and it couldn’t be easier! The kiddos can help from start to finish. Just mix your ingredients, shape your dough (letters, hearts, geo shapes, or the traditional pretzel knot), brush, sprinkle, and bake. They’re so fast, but so good! Here’s the recipe so you can find out for yourself!
Big Soft Pretzels
