12 x 12 in 2012 Picture Book Writing Challenge: 1 down…11 to go!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by viviankirkfield

The blogosphere is full of challenges this year.

One of the ones that struck a chord in me was Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 in 2012. Julie is a talented writer, inspired blogger and generous spirit. I’ve never met her, but if you visit her blog, you’ll see what I mean.

Badge by Linda Silvestri

When my children were little, I always had a pad of paper and pencil and pack of crayons wherever we went. Bored children? Write a story! Cranky children? Write a story! Happy children? Write a story!

You get the picture!

The original mock-up for The Balloon Man

Sad to say, many of those stories were tossed during different moves we made over the years. Others languished in taped-up boxes, forgotten in the shadowy corners of a closet.

My children are grown now, with families of their own…but my passion for picture books remains fresh!

Of course, I am fortunate in that I get to read picture books with a new generation of children when I present the Show Me How Story-time with Miss Vivian programs to library groups, kindergartens and Pre-K’s. And I do have the opportunity to read to my grandchildren when I visit them.

But one of my dreams is to write a picture book story that children love and want to hear over and over and over again.

And that’s why, when I saw Julie’s 12 x 12 Challenge, I knew I had to participate. Write twelve picture book drafts in a year…one each month.

January has come to a close…and I’m proud to say that I’ve completed my January assignment!

I know it needs a LOT of work…it’s just a rough first draft.

The tentative title:

Caroline’s Hat…or Caroline’s Flower-Sprigged Hat.

The story:

Little Caroline is out in the garden. She forgets her hat when her mother calls her in for lunch. While she is gone, several garden animals help themselves to parts of her hat so that when she returns, it is not where she left it. As Caroline searches the garden, she discovers her hat is being used by the animals for their own purposes.

The opening lines:

“The soft summer breeze tousled Caroline’s’ curls,

As she lay in the tall green grass.

On a blueberry bush, the red ribbons waved,

From the brim of her flower-sprigged hat.”

I think we all have secret dreams…would you like to share yours?

Today is the last day of the month, so our 2012 PPP “Read to your Child Everyday” Challenge ends for January. In the next few days, I’ll be posting the name of the January winner of a picture book.

Following in the Footsteps of Steve Jobs

Posted on January 26, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Have you seen the February issue of Parenting Magazine?

Splashed on the cover is a picture of a young boy, with glasses, and a thoughtful yet mischievous expression on his face. I guess you might say he is the “stereotype” of an “intelligent” child. The lead article in this issue is entitled, “Raise the Next Steve Jobs…or at least a really, really bright kid”. (Click on the link and it will take you to the entire article on CNN.com)

Parenting’s senior editor, Christina Vercelletto, did a masterful job of pulling together the opinions of experts along with a mountain of research and contributions from colleagues Lois Barrett, Stephanie Eckelkamp, Beth Weinhouse and Stephanie Wood, as she focused on revealing “what makes a child grow into a brilliant adult”.

The feature recounts how Steve Jobs dropped out of college, but went on to change the world with his Apple computer. The article examines topics like “genius defined”, “the lowdown on testing” and “the power of a parent”.

I was honored to be a contributor to that article. Asked what I thought about the validity of IQ and standardized tests and whether they should be used to determine a child’s potential for success in school and later in life, I responded that I believe there are many factors that can affect the score of these tests. “What if the child didn’t get a good night’s sleep or is getting over a cold? Maybe the room is too hot or the kid next to him is fidgeting and distracting him.”

The Parenting Magazine article emphasizes several things that parents can do to encourage school success and greater enthusiasm for learning. These echo the suggestions that are found in my Show Me How book, where I provide activities and concrete examples for parents of young children.

1. TALK, TALK, TALK…about anything and everything. Engage your child in conversation at the breakfast table, while shopping, in the car, on a walk. Ask open-ended questions like the one given as an example in the article, “What would happen if we stopped for ice cream on the way to the beach?” And don’t talk down or baby-talk to your children…your children will learn whatever you teach them.

2. READ, READ, READ…anything and everything. Picture books, comic books, travel guides, atlases, cookbooks…children have more of a chance to succeed in school when they have access to books and someone who reads to them.

3. PRAISE RESULTS…mastering tasks and skills motivates children to seek new challenges. Chapter One in my book, I Can Do It Myself, encourages parents to allow children to try to do things on their own, even if they fail in the beginning. Give praise for problem-solving and good effort as opposed to blanket praise. True self-esteem is built on a basis of self-worth. We feel good about ourselves when we accomplish our goals. We all need a cheering committee…and parents are a child’s most important fans!

4. CELEBRATE CURIOSITY…very young children are almost always curious. But something often happens as they get a little older…they stop asking questions and begin to operate within the confines of what is considered the “norm”. Parents need to encourage their children by sharing their passions…art, music, sports, carpentry. And they also need to observe what special talents or strengths their children have and show an interest in those…even if it is watching an anthill or making intricate mud-pies.

5. SEIZE TEACHABLE MOMENTS…encourage observation of detail and build vocabulary, math and money skills while shopping, driving or doing just about anything with your child. Parents can engage young children in conversation about the shapes and colors of fruits and vegetables….and older children can discuss where the foods come from and how they are grown. And that advice brings us back to number 1: TALK, TALK, and TALK.

I don’t know if you want your child to be the next Steve Jobs. But I do know that every parent wants their child to have a positive self-image and thrive and be happy and succeed in life and in school. Look back over the five points above…they are simple steps you can take that have big results: Talk with your children; read with your children (join my reading challenge…you might be the lucky winner of a picture book for your child); praise your children; celebrate your children’s curiosity and seize teachable moments.

Since when did obedience become the epitome of good parenting? (antiworldnews.wordpress.com)
Chores | Information Center | Education.com (education.com)
I’m About To Drop Some Knowledge On You (mrmomman.wordpress.com)
Parenting Do’s and Don’t – – Parenting Styles (Part 9) (scaredmom.wordpress.com)

Have You Seen This Movie?

Posted on January 22, 2012 by viviankirkfield

In 2003, 13-year old surfer, Bethany Hamilton, lost her arm to a shark attack.

Soul Surfer tells the story of her miraculous recovery and re-entry into the world of competitive surfing.

The movie was released in 2011 and stars AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and features singer Carrie Underwood in her first film role.

This is not a movie for young children, but it is definitely a must-see for parents. Bethany’s parents support and embrace her in every direction she takes. The love and the positive affirmation she receives from her family are major contributing factors in Bethany’s acceptance of herself. When Bethany joins a Christian mission in tsunami and earthquake-ravaged Thailand, she discovers that while she may have lost her arm, others have lost everything. This experience helps Bethany put her situation in the proper perspective and she is able to encourage and motivate others to have the courage to live.

For more information about the movie, you can visit Soul Surfer on Wikipedia.

Home movie night is just one way for families to cut down on expenses. I got the DVD of Soul Surfer from our local library for free.

Do you and your children have a library card? Do you make good use of this amazing community resource? If you haven’t already done so, please check out your library…many libraries have amazing programs for children and adults of all ages. The librarian can assist you in finding wonderful picture books that you can share with us in the 2012 PPP Challenge to read every day with your children.