Sunday Post: Village…It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

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Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is VILLAGE.

 

According to the dictionary, a village is a clustered human settlement or community.  The small photo above shows some of the buildings on Star Island, part of the Isles of Shoals off the coast of Maine.  During the summer, weekly Christian conferences are held, and the island is filled with people seeking a respite from the hectic pace of city life.  During their time there, children become part of the wider community.  The saying, it takes a village to raise a child, originally an African proverb…Ora na azu nwa…and later the title of a book by Hillary Rodham Clinton, becomes a reality.

Although it certainly does help to have the assistance of others, the primary responsibility for raising a child falls to the parents.  Food, shelter, love, early education, rules, discipline, values…these are the basics that every parent is expected to provide. 

One of the most important things a parent needs to insure is that the child is living in a safe environment.  Summer is here and the temperature rises.  But before you open those windows, please check these window safety tips.   Did you know that over 4000 children are injured and wind up in the emergency room every year and about a dozen die from window falls?

According to Pediatrics.about.com, to keep your children safe, in addition to close supervision, you should also:

  • not allow your children to play around windows, even if they are closed, since they can be hurt if they fall through the glass of a closed window
  • not rely on screens to keep your kids from falling
  • consider installing landscaping under windows that might cushion a fall
  • install windows that can open from the top, instead of the bottom, if possible
  • keep furniture away from windows, so that your children aren’t tempted to climb on them
  • teach your children about window
  • planning safety

Keeping young kids happy, engaged and busy during the summer months can be a challenge.  Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is a one-stop guide and activity book.  Using it this summer will help prepare the younger ones for preschool and kindergarten…six and seven year olds will love the craft projects and cooking activities and may be able to read some of the stories themselves…this will help to prevent the academic slide that often occurs during the summer months.  Grab a copy at only $19.95 (over 50% off the cover price) for yourself, a family member, neighbor or church summer school.  Lined sections on every other page provide a place for notes or comments…the book can become a journal of your child’s progress and activities throughout the summer. 

 

Are you wondering if the book really works?  Check out these recent reviews: http://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/show-me-how/

http://creatingcuriouskids.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/summer-fun-shortcut-show-me-how/

http://yourfamilybookclub.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/book-review-show-me-how-build-tour-childs-self-esteem-through-reading-crafting-and-cooking-by-vivian-kirkfield/

By the way, this is my 299th post!  I started blogging almost two years ago.  As a novice, I knew nothing about anything blogging.  When I look at the posts I did in the fall of 2010, I realize how much I’ve learned.  My next post will be #300…I’ll have to think of doing something special to celebrate…any ideas?

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

 http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/ 

And here are some other bloggers who are doing Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/sunday-post-village/

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21 thoughts on “Sunday Post: Village…It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”

  2. Excellent reminders, Vivian, and wonderful pictures.
    We’re in the “watch/voluntary evacuation” area for the big fire tonight, and the news carried reminders that even those not directly in fire danger need to realize the smoke dangers and the harm they can do to lungs, especially for the little people and the elderly.

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    •  Hi Marylin, Hope all is well where you are in the Springs…we got stuff ready just in case we had to go…but I doubt it will come to that where we are.  Yes, it is a horrible situation for so many…Stuart has so many health issues (4 heart attacks, etc.) and is just getting over pnuemonia…so we’ve had the windows closed and the air conditioning on all day…luckily we have air. 🙂  I’m praying for everyone touched by all of the Colorado fires. Thanks for the lovely comments. 🙂  

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    • It is, Eliz! I was there a couple of years ago for Jeremy’s baptism…my daughter and her husband were married in the little stone chapel on the island…and wanted to have their son’s baptism there as well. It is remote, windswept, peaceful…standing on the rocks at the shore is quite an experience…great place to renew and refresh oneself. 🙂

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  7. You have been blogging for a while – maybe a good post would be a reflection on your blog posts: your favourite, your readers’ favourite, etc. That way new readers can click on the links and older readers take a trip down memory lane 🙂

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    • That’s a great idea, Colline…I’ll have to put on my thinking cap. 🙂 Hope you’ll visit for the post I just did…#300 with a picture book giveaway! I always appreciate when you stop by…I need to go and read all of the “Village” posts tomorrow. We’re in the middle of a serious fire siuation here in Colorado…and yesterday and today were getting stuff together in case we have to evacuate. 😦 Hopefully we won’t have to and I will be able to catch up on blog post reading tomorrow. 🙂

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    • Hi Emily…Please come back and visit with post #300…I think you will enjoy it…and there is a picture book giveaway also!
      So glad you liked the village post…it does help when we have support, whether from family or friends or community. 🙂

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  9. Thanks for the reminder about the danger of open windows. I can’t think how many times I’ve yelled at my kids because they weren’t careful around them, even though they’re old enough to know the danger now.

    As for a village, I would love to have one! I agree that parents have the main responsibility but support is always welcome. I have no family support here and it can be difficult. Mym mom does her best being 6000 miles away and my in-laws are useless and have no interest in my kids. At least I have some great friends to make up for it.

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    • I’m glad you have great friends who can help and offer support for you! Family can be wonderful…sorry that your mom is not close enough and your in-laws aren’t able to step up to the plate.
      Hope your summer is filled with wonderful days….I know it will be filled with lots of books. 🙂

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  10. Pingback: Sunday Post: Black & White…or Do We Parent in Shades of Gray? « Positive Parental Participation

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