Children and Art Activities: Some Observations

Posted on September 26, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Once a month, our local Family Christian Store hosts the Show-Me-How Story-time with Miss Vivian program. I read a picture book story and do a related craft project, chosen from those recommended in my book. This is the same program that I provide to District 11 kindergartens and Pre-K’s during the school year.

Yesterday, the program’s topic was: How to Stay Healthy This School Year. I read Stan and Jan Berenstain’s, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food. In the story, Mama Bear realizes that the bear cubs and her husband are eating too many sweet and junky snacks. She removes the junk food from the pantry and refrigerator and the entire family goes grocery shopping the next day where they purchase healthy foods: vegetables and fruits, whole grain breads and cereals and eggs, cheese and milk. They go to their family doctor for a check-up and she tells them that if they want to stay in good health, in addition to eating healthy foods, they should exercise every day. Taking the doctor’s advice, the bears begin a program of daily exercise. At the end of the summer, they win a prize for being the only family to finish the entire Bear Country Three-Mile Run.

After the story was over, the children eagerly moved to the tables for the craft project. Each child got a paper plate, 2 small black circles for eyes and 1 small black circle for a nose. Although we all started out intending to make bear faces, two of the children decided to make dog faces and one child made his paper plate into a cat. After gluing on the eyes and nose, each child used markers and crayons to add features and designs to the paper plate face. For over an hour, the children happily worked on their projects…the only frowns I saw on these children were when parents came to say it was time to go. Parents were able to take home an informational flyer, Five Simple Steps to Stay Healthy This School Year.

OBSERVATION #1:

If you give children art supplies and a project to work on, they will be engaged and productive and happy.

OBSERVATION #2:

If you allow children a certain amount of freedom when they are engaged in art activities, they will almost always surprise you with their creativity.

OBSERVATION #3:

Children often become very talkative when they are happily engaged in arts and crafts…this is a PERFECT time for parents to listen and interact with their children.

So, I have a few questions to ask if you are a parent or caretaker of a child age 2-7:

Would you like to put educational, fun-filled activities in your child’s day?
Do you need tips on school readiness for your child?
Are you time-short when it comes to planning activities for your child?
Do you wonder which books to choose to read to your child?
Would you like to have a simple plan to follow on rainy days…or any day?
Do you want your child to be engaged in positive learning on a daily basis?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions:

Purchase a copy of the award-winning Show Me How!.
The low price (50% off) is only available on my website.
This is a perfect holiday gift for anyone who takes care of young children.
Schools and other organizations can receive additional discounts.

A book is a child’s window on the world…no rules, just read!

THE BOOK PINPOINTS 100 OF THE BEST PICTURE BOOK STORIES!

Children who love books step out from inside the covers and succeed in life!

THE BOOK PROVIDES 100 STORY SUMMARIES & TIPS ON HOW TO READ TO KIDS!

Art & children…peanut butter & jelly…combinations that create magic!

THE BOOK OFFERS 100 SIMPLE CRAFT PROJECTS & 100 EASY RECIPES!

We all need a cheering committee…a parent is a child’s most important fan!

THE BOOK GIVES 100 PARENTING TIPS ON BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM!

Want to be in your children’s memories tomorrow? Be in their lives today!

THE BOOK SHOWS YOU HOW POSITIVE PARENTAL PARTICIPATION WORKS!

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by…with gift-giving holidays right around the corner, we are excited to provide Show Me How! at 50% off the cover price. Parents, expectant parents, grandparents, preschool and nursery teachers, babysitters…this is a gift that will keep on giving long after the package is opened. Please visit my website to purchase a copy for yourself or as a gift for someone special! When you purchase a copy, you are helping others…a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book benefits three children’s organizations: http://www.JDRF.org, http://www.bessthebookbus.org and http://www.kidsareheroes.org.

A Reel Cool Summer is a Really Cool Book for Kids

Posted on September 5, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Several weeks ago, I connected online with another author, Martha Rodriguez.

We realized we were on the same page about many things…have 3 children (2 boys and a girl), love our families, have a passion for picture books, recently had our first books published…the list could go on and on. Martha and I exchanged books and she’s already written a review of my book: http://bit.ly/peQ3mt

So now it my turn to tell you all about her book, A Reel Cool Summer.

As parents, we all know how difficult it can be to keep children entertained and busy…especially during the long hot summer. The story opens with three siblings, Joey, Jacqui and Danny, complaining about how there is NOTHING to do. After bantering back and forth, the three kids decide that what they need is a pool for their backyard so that they can cool off. While the two younger children go to ask their mother if they can buy a pool, Joey, the oldest, goes to get the mail.

After pleading with their mother to no avail, Joey takes his brother and sister aside and tells them about a contest that the library is holding. All they have to do is make a movie…and the winner will receive $100…enough to buy the pool that they all want. The entire family works together to build the props and make the costumes and Danny, Jacqui and Joey finish the movie and hand it in to the library with just moments to spare. Will they win the first place prize of $100 and be able to buy the pool that they want? Will they win the third place prize of the mystery box that contains who knows what? You’ll have to buy a copy of this lovely book to find out. You can visit the author’s website and purchase a copy at: http://www.readtomepublishingllc.com/Book.html

She also has a blog: http://areelcoolsummer.blogspot.com/

And you can contact her: info@readtomepublishingllc.com

One of the coolest things about this book is that kids love it. I brought it along with me on my recent trip to Chicago and read it to my 8-year old great-niece and 6-year old great-nephew. They absolutely LOVED it and listened intently to the story. They took turns reading some of the pages and were engaged with the colorful illustrations…which were done by the author’s now-adult son, Joey.

Ms. Rodriguez is to be commended on her first book for children. ..kids obviously love it. As soon as we turned the last page, my niece and nephew jumped up and ran into the house clamoring, “Can we go in the pool?” They were also anxious to hear it another time, so later we sat under the shade of a big tree and read the book again.

I’m sure that the author has more stories about Joey and Jacqui and Danny that she will share with us in future books…I know my niece and nephew and all kids ages 5 to 9 will be ready to listen.

Small Investment = Big Rewards

Posted on July 23, 2011 by viviankirkfield

I just finished reading a classic in self-help literature – One Minute for Myself – by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

The book was published in 1985, but the simple underlying truths put forth are as relevant today as they were then.

According to Dr. Johnson, the one minute you spend taking care of yourself is a small investment with a big reward.

In the same way, the 15 minutes a day you spend participating positively with your child is also a small investment with very big rewards.

THE INVESTMENT

Read a picture book story with your child.
Do an arts and crafts project with your child.
Prepare a recipe together.

THE REWARDS

Build your child’s self-esteem.
Develop your child’s pre-literacy skills.
Improve your child’s school readiness.
Create a life-long parent-child bond.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of parenthood?

Take a minute (or a few minutes) for yourself – refresh, rejuvenate, relax.

And then spend 15 minutes with your child – reading, crafting or cooking.

Visit my website to find out more about Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. Buying a copy of this award-winning book is a very small investment with a very big reward. If you have a Kindle, you can make an even smaller investment…just $9.99 at Amazon’s Kindle Store.

Just 15 minutes is enough time to read a classic picture book story.

Just 15 minutes is enough time to make one of the easy craft projects.

Just 15 minutes is enough time to prepare one of the simple recipes together.

Looking for something to do with your young children on Saturday, August 6^th?

If you are local to Colorado Springs, please stop by the Family Christian Store at 7560 N. Academy. I’ll be there from 11am to 1:30pm and there will be two identical presentations for parents and children. From 11:30 to 12 and from 12:30 to 1pm, I’ll be reading a picture book story that will help young children deal with school anxieties. Then we will be doing a simple craft that each child will be able to take home. There will also be a free hand-out for parents on Five Steps to a Smoother School Year. Parents will also have the opportunity to fill out an entry form to win a craft kit for their preschoolers.

We all want our children to have the best school year ever…whether they are in daycare, nursery or preschool, kindergarten or first grade. This will be a fun-filled experience for all! Please spread the word!!