Nanny McPhee | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children

Image via Wikipedia

Picture this…a world where no one is in need because their neighbors (or even strangers) will reach out and provide by sharing what they have.

Hmmmmm…..sounds like Utopia.

But is a goal we should strive towards on a global level? I think so.

And, is it a goal we can reach within our own family units? I know it is!

In the movie, Nanny McPhee was able to “convince” the children to share with each other by having them share their beds with various farm animals. As I look carefully, it seems that putting in place three of components of balance and harmony: DISCIPLINE, MANNERS AND ACCEPTING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE’S ACTIONS, is what insured the success of reaching the goal of learning to share.

Is sharing a problem in our home?

How do you handle it?

You all know how passionate I am about using picture books to help children deal with the challenges they encounter in their early years. Reading picture books to young child engages them in the world between the pages, encourages them to observe what is happening to the characters in the story and allows them to relate those events to their own experiences.

Check out the following books that address the issue of sharing:

IT’S MINE by Leo Lionni

SHARING IS FUN by Joanne Cole

MINE! By Kevin Luthardt

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY by Pat Hutchins

THE LITTLE RED HEN AND THE EAR OF WHEAT by Mary Finch

ONE FOR ME, ONE FOR YOU: A BOOK ABOUT SHARING by Sarah Albee

Nanny McPhee’s next lesson is about WORKING TOGETHER. I hope you’ll stop by tomorrow.

Have you seen the movie, “Nanny McPhee”?

Nanny_mcphee Photo courtesy: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3187092 – Universal Pictures

My husband and I recently watched the sequel, “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang”. The original movie came out in 2005 and took place in 19^th century England. A widower is unable to raise his seven children on his own and the children have systematically gotten rid of seventeen nannies before Nanny McPhee appears and saves the day. The sequel debuted last year and takes place in the English countryside during World War II, We are introduced to the harried mother whose husband is off defending the country and whose three rambunctious young children never seem to listen to her and are constantly fighting with each other. (Let me know if this sounds familiar.) 🙂

Into the picture comes Nanny McPhee, a no-nonsense woman who has unseen powers and a gift for bringing calm and order to a situation filled with upheaval and chaos. (Nanny McPhee, where are you?)

What struck me, though, were the FIVE LESSONS the children had to learn while under Nanny McPhee’s care. I truly believe that these are FIVE LESSONS THAT EVERY KID SHOULD LEARN and use, whether at home, in school or ANYWHERE.

1. NO FIGHTING

2. SHARE

3. WORK TOGETHER

4. BE BRAVE

5. HAVE FAITH

Don’t you think it would be a wonderful thing if every man, woman and child on the face of the earth could learn these lessons?

After doing some research, I learned that back in August, Twitter Moms (now Social Moms) had posed the following question on Facebook, “What are the 5 lessons every kid should learn?” I’m sure they had a ton of responses.

But I’m going to stick with my original plan and, for the next five days, I’ll examine each of Nanny McPhee’s lessons to see how we can apply them as parents today. If you look carefully, you will see that behind the actual lessons are three crucial components of a life lived in balance and harmony: DISCIPLINE, MANNERS, and ACCEPTING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ONE’S ACTIONS.

Your comments will add value to the post…are these the lessons you have taught your children?