Sunday Post: Children’s Games – Monopoly Rocks! – My 500th Post – Plus a Giveaway!

Posted on April 28, 2014 by viviankirkfield

My blogging friend, Jake, over at Time After Time,did a post this past Sunday on Children’s Games – and I knew I had to participate!

5-year old Jeremy playing Monopoly with his grandpa.

Why should we play games with kids?

It’s a great way to spend time with children – affirming the fact they they are valuable and worthy of your precious time!
It provides an amazing opportunity for conversation – one of the finest language-builders for kids!
It develops math and literacy skills – In Monopoly, for example, Jeremy has to figure out how much change he should get when he purchases a property, he has to read the chance, community chest and property cards, he has to count the spaces as he moves his piece!
It’s FUN for both parent and child!

What games do you and your child play?

Playing games is only one of the ways we can spend time with our kids. Kids also enjoy arts and crafts. They really enjoy helping out in the kitchen. And they LOVE being read to. In honor of this being the 500th post on my blog, I’m giving away a copy of my parent/teacher/child activity book, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. In the package, I’ll also include a couple of craft supplies to get your child started on his next project. Please leave a comment here and on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/showmehowbuildyourchildsselfesteem.

We’ll announce the winner in our Mother’s Day post!

Visit http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com for weekly Sunday posts.

#PPBF – Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli – Helping Fussy Eaters

Posted on February 21, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Friday – and that means that Susanna Leonard Hill has set up a linky for picture book reviews. To see more great book reviews and activities, please click here.

I also want to announce the winner of a copy of My Warp Speed Mind by Donalisa Helsley.

Drumroll….the winner is….Jaymie Shook!

Congratulations, Jaymie…please contact me and I will get your book in the mail right away.

This afternoon, I saw a video of awesome food art, I knew I had to find a book that would address the problem of fussy eaters. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the video – you will be amazed.

Do you have any fussy eaters in your house? I can sympathize because I was one…and so was my oldest son. If picky eating was one of the sports in the Winter Olympics, would your child win the gold medal?

Here’s a great picture book that might help your child try new foods.

MONSTERS DON’T EAT BROCCOLI

Written by Barbara Jean Hicks

Illustrated by Sue Hendra

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers (2009)

Ages: 3-7

Synopsis: From School Library Journal:

“Kids generally don’t like eating broccoli. Apparently, neither do monsters. Sure, they like tractors, rocket ships, and boulders. Only don’t give them artichokes, lima beans, or anything green. When the “monsters” eat giant maple trees, though, they discover Continue reading →

Monday Writing Magic – 3rd Annual Holiday Writing Contest and ReviMo Info

Posted on December 8, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Entering contests is a great exercise in creative writing. It hones your writing skills, brings you into fellowship with other writers and helps you gain courage to put your work out there. For the past three years, I’ve been participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Holiday Writing Contests – today begins;

The 3rd Annual Holiday Contest!!!

The Contest: Write a children’s story about a Holiday Mishap, mix-up, miscommunication, mistake, or potential disaster (a la Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer :)). Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words.

For more information about rules, judging, voting and prizes, please go here.

I thought about what I should write. My trash can is filled with discarded ideas. I hope you will enjoy the story I decided to go with.

SANTA’S NEWEST ELF (157 WORDS)

A letter came for me today.

Dear Jack O’Lantern, don’t delay.

Please come to Santa right away

And help make balls and bikes and clay.

A strong wind blows – I rock, I roll.

I barely miss a huge mole hole.

No hole will stop me from my goal

Of elfing at the cold North Pole.

I cross the street – the light is red.

A tire almost hits my head.

I fear the car will squash me dead.

It pushes me along instead.

And in a muffin shop nearby,

The baker gives a battle cry.

She wants to put me in a pie.

I quickly tumble past – “Bye-bye!”

I see the lights of Santa’s shop.

I slip and slide and belly flop.

I’m turning like a spinning top.

What if I never ever stop?

I hear a jolly Ho-Ho-Ho.

It’s Santa standing in the snow.

He says, ‘The workshop’s down below.”

Elf Jack O’Lantern, come, let’s go!

I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas story – I’ll be linking up on Susanna’s website and you can go and read ALL of the amazing entries here. For the Halloweensie Contest, there were 79 stories!

A couple of important items to mention:

1. The Authors for the Philippines auction is over – they raised over 55,000 British pounds (not sure how many US dollars that is…but it is a lot!). I’ve just packed up a copy of my book that I donated – it is going to a mother of two in Staffordshire, England.

2. Please don’t forget the Kid Lit Giveaway Blog Hop Holiday Extravaganza that is still happening here and on 48 other blogs around the blogsphere. There are so many books and gift cards being given away.

3. I guest posted on the PreK and K Sharing Blog – one of the most incredible blog resources I have ever seen…please go and check them out.

4. Pull out those old manuscripts and dust them off – Meg Miller is hosting a challenge for the New Year – REVIMO will encourage you to REVISE – REVISE – REVISE. There will be prizes, inspiration and information.

5. And, one more reminder about the limited time only Holiday Sale of my book on Amazon – only $10!