Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children

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

Children’s picture books are among some of the most prized collectibles. Many don’t survive the wear and tear of childhood…others live on to be passed down from generation to generation.

For me, the value of the book is in the joy each story gives to the children who hear it.

Some collectibles are valued in the millions but the smile on a child’s face is priceless.

Books are a window on the world for young children…and the time spent talking about the story and encouraging the child to relate the events in the book to his own life experiences can help strengthen the parent-child connection. Children who are comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings at a young age will be more likely to come to parents with problems and concerns as they get older.

Many of you have heard of the horrible tragedy that occurred a few nights ago in my state of Colorado in the theater in Aurora. Our hearts go out to those who were impacted by this and our prayers are with their families and friends.

One of our biggest problems in the world today is the inability of people to tell others when they are angry or frustrated or depressed or unhappy. Engaging with young kids with stories and activities is a great opportunity for this type of communication.

If you need a guide to choosing great picture books and awesome activities, please take a look at my award-winning resource for parents and teachers… Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking

I’m so pleased to announce that it is now available for shipment to Canadian residents…please visit my website and click on the special PayPal buttons for Canadian shipment!

If you’d like to see the book in action, please check out a new review of Show Me How! Erik did several of the activities with his younger sister and took some fantastic photos…the mac and cheese casserole picture will make you hungry!

Show Me How will be featured on Diane Hower’s segment of the local NBC affiliate morning show (Grand Junction, CO at 6am to 7am Mountain Time) on Tuesday, July 24^th http://www.nbc11news.com/news/misc/50648692.html and will be reviewed on her blog: http://bookwisdombydiane.blogspot.com/.

I hope everyone will tune in and I’ll try to post the show’s highlights on my blog next week.

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://tacts21.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectables/

http://cyclingrandma.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/silver-coins-for-uri/

http://jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/3006/

http://p0nky.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://northernnarratives.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/camp-collection/

http://firstandfabulous.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://francineinretirement.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://africatoalgarve.blogspot.pt/2012/07/collectibles.html

http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectables/

http://36beauty5.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://shaanthz.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://flyingsouthforthewinter.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

http://rondomtaliedraai.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/sunday-post-collectibles/

Obama arrives in Colorado to meet families of shooting victims – CNN (cnn.com)
America resigns itself to no change in gun laws – AFP (google.com)

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

I’ve only “heard” true silence twice in my life…twenty-five years ago while parasailing and last year while skydiving. Silence…the absence of sound or communication…is sometimes helpful when one needs to collect one’s thoughts or ponder an important decision.

But should we apply this to our parenting approach…following the old proverb that says…children should be seen and not heard?

I don’t recommend it.

Why not?

Children need opportunities to tell us what they think and feel.

Children need time to interact with their peers.

Children need to form strong friendships in those early years in order to develop healthy relationships later in life.

These activities don’t call for silence…they call for open and honest communication.

What activities do you have planned for your kids this summer? Summer is a perfect time to read picture books to young children! Children who are read to at an early age are more successful in school. I’ll be posting an A-Z list of some of the best in my next post.

For great story suggestions and quick and easy activities for kids, you might want a copy of Show Me How!