Project 365 Challenge: Official Comment Page for January

Posted on January 9, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Are you taking part in the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge?

I got a great suggestion from Jennifer, one of the parents reading to her child every day. She thought it would help if we set aside a page each month for parents to bookmark and return to as they read picture books and do other activities with their kids. That would make it easier for me to keep track of the comments when it comes time to award the picture book prize at the end of each month.

So this will be the post/page reserved for January comments. Don’t worry if you comment on a different page though…I will definitely count all of the comments that pertain to the picture books and activities. Jennifer, I really appreciate the feedback and will send a picture book out to you for your help!

I was visiting several new blogs recently, as part of Susannah Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday and the Comment Challenge from MotherReader and Lee Wind. The problem with visiting and commenting on so many blogs is that you forget where you were. Anyway, on one of these fantastic blogs, I saw a quote that I’ve always loved. If you recognize it as one that is posted on your blog, please let me know so I can thank you.

“We beg,

We pray,

Go throw your TV set away,

And in its place you can install,

A lovely bookcase on the wall.”

Roald Dahl, prolific author of children’s books, is best known for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. If you want to find out more about him or his books, you can visit his amazing website.

Does your family watch a lot of TV? I’m not saying that all TV is bad…there are definitely some worthwhile educational shows for kids…PBS has some wonderful offerings…not just kid’s programming…the music specials are fantastic!

But what else could you all be doing if you turned it off? Join the Challenge…and if you don’t have young children, please pass along this link to others that do. I will thank you now in advance…their children will thank you years from now when they are doing well in school and loving reading!

No Rules…Just Read!

Two Versions of a Picture Book Spread (illustratorsforkids.wordpress.com)
Project 365 and the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Picture Perfect Book Friday: The Kissing Hand (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)

Perfect Picture Book Friday: The Kissing Hand

Posted on January 6, 2012 by viviankirkfield

The 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge is underway!

Picture books and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Reading with your child only takes a little time each day, but the impact it will have on your child is big and will last a life-time.

I’ve just linked up with a fantastic resource for parents and teachers and anyone who wants to find great picture books to read with young children. What’s really cool is that for many of the stories, there are also suggestions for other activities that extend the learning experience. Perfect Picture Book Friday is part of the blog of Susannah Leonard Hill, a talented author of many children’s books. I’m honored to contribute, and hope that her site will also encourage every parent and anyone involved in the care and education of young children to take part in the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge.

Here’s a wonderful picture book that I have shared with hundreds of children.

The Kissing Hand

Written by Audrey Penn and Illustrated by Ruth Harper and Nancy Leak

Published by Child & Family Press, 1993

Intended audience age: 2 – 7

Theme/Topic:

As the author says, “This is a story for any child who confronts a difficult situation, and for the child within each of us who sometimes needs reassurance.” The Kissing Hand will help any child who is anxious about starting a new school or trying a new experience.

Story Opening:

“Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried.”

Brief Synopsis:

The little raccoon would rather stay home with his mother and play with his friends and swing on his swings because he is afraid of the new experience of going to school. Chester’s mother is able to help her son overcome his fears by giving him a special secret that her mother shared with her when she was little.

Why I like this book:

Young children love this story and appreciate Chester’s fear because many of them have experienced it also. As adults, we might envy the carefree life of a child…with no responsibilities and all the time in the world to play. However, a child’s life is not really carefree…and children are learning at an amazing rate while they are playing…and especially while they are sharing a story with a parent! Young children can identify with Chester and will be encouraged when they see how he was able to overcome his fear of going to school and his reluctance to leave all that is familiar. The book provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to engage with their children about this very common problem.

Resources and Activities:

If you are looking to extend the learning experience with your child, here is a super simple craft project you can do.

THE KISSING HAND CRAFT PROJECT

Materials needed for each child: 1 piece of light colored construction or copy paper, fine-line markers and/or crayons.

Have the children place their hands on the paper. Draw the outline of their handprints.
Talk to your children about the people (or pets) they love and those who love them.
Let the children decide which people will be represented by each finger…mother, father, siblings, grandparents, pets, favorite stuffed animal, teacher, etc.
Use markers or crayons to add the features to each finger.
Make sure the children reserve one of the finger of the handprint for themselves…we need to love ourselves before we can reach out and truly love others.
Help the children label each figure with a name to identify who it is.

When we brought the Show-Me-How-Story-Time-With-Miss-Vivian program to Chicago last summer, we had a ball with the children who came to hear The Kissing Hand and do the KISSING HAND CRAFT with us. Reading and crafting with kids is so much fun for everyone involved!

Join the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge and read a story a day with your child. Leave a comment and share with us what books you are enjoying with your child. Someone is going to win a picture book at the end of each month…maybe it will be YOU!

Please remember that if you participate in this Challenge, you are entitled to a $5 discount on Show Me How, a great resource that gives you 100 picture book summaries and an easy craft and simple cooking activity for each. Right now you can save two ways, because we are offering FREE SHIPPING for the month of January.

Parenting Tips on Reading Revealed in Radio Interview

Posted on December 14, 2011 by viviankirkfield

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak about reading with children and the impact it has on young children. The hosts of Bookmark Radio, Michael Scott and Wendy Duncan, are avid readers and lovers of books.

We talked about how important it is to read with young children on a daily basis. I hope you will click on this link to hear the radio interview:

November 21, 2011 http://castlerockradio.com/media_player.asp?messageID=107557

Here are some of the highlights of our conversation:

Reading with young children develops their literacy skills.
Children aren’t born knowing how to hold a book or turn the pages.
Parents need to be good role models and be seen reading by their children.
Reading with children is fun for everyone.
Children who are read to are more successful in school.
Adding cooking and crafting activities related to the story is a plus.
The messages in picture books can help children deal with many problems.
Cooking and crafting encourage children to master tasks and skills.
Self-esteem grows when parents engage positively with their children.
Parents are the first and most influential teachers for their children.

For more information about using picture books to help your child develop a positive self-image and better literacy skills, please visit my website. With your own copy of Show Me How, you will have 100 summaries of some of the best picture books ever written with an easy craft activity AND a simple recipe for each recommended title…right at your fingertips to use with your child. Each activity takes only about 15 minutes.