What’s In Your Child’s Bookcase Wordy Wednesday: HOOT AND HOLLER

Posted on March 16, 2011 by viviankirkfield

A sketch titled "Owls of the Yosemite Reg...

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Friendship…something human beings cannot live without.

Today’s story recommendation is about friends who learn the importance of voicing their feelings about each other.

Written by Alan Brown

Illustrated by Rimantas Rolia

Holler, a big owl, and Hoot, a little owl, played together every night in the woods. They were both shy, and neither friend spoke of how he felt about the other. A storm separated the two owls and each worried that he would never find his best friend. A wise old owl advised Holler to call out loudly for Hoot. Although Holler was very shy and had never been able to raise his voice, he found the courage to call very loudly…and Hoot heard him! They found each other and were overjoyed and were finally able to express their feelings of love.

How difficult it is to express one’s feelings sometimes! We can help our children by being good role models…don’t wait for a special occasion to tell your child that you love him. Children need to know they are loved every day of their lives. And, although the verbal confirmation of your love is important, you need to show your child as well…with Positive Parental Participation!

Yesterday’s Quotable Timeless Tuesday’s post was all about friendship…but I saved one for today because it fit so perfectly with the story of Hoot and Holler and not telling our friends how we feel about them.

“Do not save your loving speeches,

For your friends till they are dead.

Do not write them on their tombstones,

Speak them rather now instead.” – Anna Cummins

In the same way, please don’t save your praise and loving words for your children…speak them every day. The tragic events in Japan give voice to our awareness that each day is precious and tomorrow is not guaranteed.

For more gentle parenting tips and 99 other picture book recommendations, please visit my website where you can pick up a copy of SHOW ME HOW! at half-price AND enter to win a FREE Crafty Easter Basket filled with craft supplies for your preschooler.

Please stop by tomorrow for Healthy Habit Thursdays.

Cinema Sundays: My Picks of Great Flicks: VIVA CUBA

Posted on March 13, 2011 by viviankirkfield

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Most countries and communities have emergency plans in place, but the earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan and their far-reaching effects on the rest of the world are natural disasters on such a large scale that they were impossible to plan for. Japan, and the other areas affected, will have to accept help from many different countries and organizations in order to provide what is needed for the survivors and to make the cities habitable again.

Perhaps that is the silver lining in this cloud of disaster…perhaps, as Dr. Robert Schuller used to say, this is an opportunity for heroes to step up to turn “scars into stars”…a chance for neighbor to help neighbor and people who don’t know each other to become friends.

Friendship is my theme for this coming week…and my movie pick today is “VIVA CUBA”…a past winner of the Cannes Film Festival.

In VIVA CUBA, we have a modern-day Romeo and Juliet. Filmed in Cuba, the 2005 movie is in Spanish, with English subtitles. It tells the story of Malu, a young girl from an upper-class family and Jorgito, a boy whose parents are poor socialists, but proud of their family’s social standing.

When her mother decides to leave Cuba, Malu and Jorgita run away, trying to reach the other side of the island where Malu’s father lives. They hope that he will refuse to grant permission for Malu and her mother to leave Cuba, therefore enabling Malu and Jorgito to remain friends. When the children and all the parents are finally together however, the parents use the opportunity to continue arguing and fighting, ignoring the children and their concerns.

The film won 34 national and international awards and explores the question of emigration and the effects on children who have to leave friends and extended family behind. I don’t think this is a “family” movie…but it is definitely a movie for parents. In my opinion, this was the ultimate movie about friendship…but I think it is also a film with a wake-up call to parents who are separated, divorced or just not getting along. When children are involved, we need to make them aware of what is going on (they already know much more than you think) and give them the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns.

We need to encourage our children are to offer their opinions and voice their questions and concerns without the fear of being judged or yelled at. This builds their self-esteem and enables them to feel comfortable coming to us with their problems. For 99 other gentle parenting tips like this one, please check out my new book, now on sale for HALF-PRICE on my website. When you purchase a copy of the book, you are automatically entered in the drawing for a CRAFTY EASTER BASKET filled with craft supplies for your preschooler. If you’d like to enter to win with purchasing, just fill out the contact form on my website.

Please stop by tomorrow for MAKE-A-MEAL MONDAYS.

What’s In Your Child’s Bookcase Wordy Wednesday: World Read-Aloud Day Special

Posted on March 9, 2011 by viviankirkfield

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Today is World Read-Aloud Day!

Please, please, read to your child!

If you don’t have any children of your own, please read to someone else’s children!

If there are no young children around, please read aloud to an older child! There is no age limit on enjoying being read to. As our children were growing up, we had family read-aloud nights…I remember when we were reading the “Narnia” series…sometimes my husband or I would read the chapter to our three children and sometimes our oldest son (about 11 or 12 at the time) would read to all of us.

You can even read out loud to yourself!

Do you have unused or unwanted books lying around? Why not find a worthy organization and donate them…there are many people around the world who would love to have books, but can’t afford them.

The story suggestion for today is a classic from 1932, ANGUS LOST, by Marjorie Flack. It’s a lovely picture book to read aloud…charming illustrations help your child follow the adventures of the little dog who has more adventures than he had planned on.

ANGUS LOST

Written and illustrated by Marjorie Flack

Angus, a little terrier, is bored with his home and yard and decides to see what the world is like. After several scary adventures, Angus wants very much to go home, but he cannot find his way. He spends the night hiding in a cave, trembling in fear the entire time. In the morning, he hears the familiar sound of the milkman’s horse and wagon and he eagerly follows them from house to house, as the milkman makes his deliveries. Finally, Angus recognizes his very own yard and is relieved to be home at last.

Many young children worry about getting lost or separated from those they love and, although we want to encourage curiosity and independence in our children, we are responsible for keeping them safe from harm. This story is a wonderful opportunity to talk about a plan of action in case you are separated while shopping.

One of the best things about reading aloud is that it opens the window for discussion about many issues that may worry your child.

For a wonderful collection of summaries of 100 picture books every young child should hear, please visit my website. SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING is now on sale for half-price PLUS FREE shipping!

In honor of World Read-Aloud Day, we’ve extended the sale price for one more month! And we’ve added a BONUS! One lucky person will also get a CRAFTY EASTER BASKET for their preschooler, filled with essential items for the craft projects…safety scissors, non-toxic glue, construction paper and MUCH MORE! If you purchase a book, you will be automatically entered…if you are not ready to buy a copy, you can enter, no purchase necessary, by filling out the contact form on my website and telling me how you would use the craft supplies with your child. If the response is good, I’m thinking of putting together a prize package that includes child-sized kitchen implements.

Please stop by tomorrow for Healthy Habit Thursday.