What’s In Your Child’s Bookcase Wordy Wednesday: World Read-Aloud Day Special

Posted on March 9, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image via Wikipedia

Today is World Read-Aloud Day!

Please, please, read to your child!

If you don’t have any children of your own, please read to someone else’s children!

If there are no young children around, please read aloud to an older child! There is no age limit on enjoying being read to. As our children were growing up, we had family read-aloud nights…I remember when we were reading the “Narnia” series…sometimes my husband or I would read the chapter to our three children and sometimes our oldest son (about 11 or 12 at the time) would read to all of us.

You can even read out loud to yourself!

Do you have unused or unwanted books lying around? Why not find a worthy organization and donate them…there are many people around the world who would love to have books, but can’t afford them.

The story suggestion for today is a classic from 1932, ANGUS LOST, by Marjorie Flack. It’s a lovely picture book to read aloud…charming illustrations help your child follow the adventures of the little dog who has more adventures than he had planned on.

ANGUS LOST

Written and illustrated by Marjorie Flack

Angus, a little terrier, is bored with his home and yard and decides to see what the world is like. After several scary adventures, Angus wants very much to go home, but he cannot find his way. He spends the night hiding in a cave, trembling in fear the entire time. In the morning, he hears the familiar sound of the milkman’s horse and wagon and he eagerly follows them from house to house, as the milkman makes his deliveries. Finally, Angus recognizes his very own yard and is relieved to be home at last.

Many young children worry about getting lost or separated from those they love and, although we want to encourage curiosity and independence in our children, we are responsible for keeping them safe from harm. This story is a wonderful opportunity to talk about a plan of action in case you are separated while shopping.

One of the best things about reading aloud is that it opens the window for discussion about many issues that may worry your child.

For a wonderful collection of summaries of 100 picture books every young child should hear, please visit my website. SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING is now on sale for half-price PLUS FREE shipping!

In honor of World Read-Aloud Day, we’ve extended the sale price for one more month! And we’ve added a BONUS! One lucky person will also get a CRAFTY EASTER BASKET for their preschooler, filled with essential items for the craft projects…safety scissors, non-toxic glue, construction paper and MUCH MORE! If you purchase a book, you will be automatically entered…if you are not ready to buy a copy, you can enter, no purchase necessary, by filling out the contact form on my website and telling me how you would use the craft supplies with your child. If the response is good, I’m thinking of putting together a prize package that includes child-sized kitchen implements.

Please stop by tomorrow for Healthy Habit Thursday.

Make-A-Meal Mondays: Homemade Butter

Posted on March 7, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image via Wikipedia

Although it happened over fifty years ago, I still remember licking the cream off the cardboard caps that sealed the bottles of milk that the milkman had delivered to my grandmother’s house.

These days, most of us buy all of our groceries at the store, including milk and butter. And, because of the push many years ago to replace butter with “margarine” or other butter-like spreads…which more recent health studies show are probably worse for us than the natural product…many children these days have no idea what real butter tastes like.

Take this opportunity to make some real butter at home with your child!

HOMEMADE BUTTER

You will need: 1 cup heavy whipping cream, electric mixer and a large bowl.

1. Pour the cream into the bowl and beat on medium till stiff peaks form…about 1-2 minutes. This is REAL WHIPPED CREAM! Taste some for an out-of-this-world treat!

2. Continue beating…about 4-8 minutes…and soon the curds will separate from the whey. You could sing “Little Miss Muffet” with your child while you are doing this.

3. Pour off the whey and you will be left with a lump of pure butter.

4. Enjoy with crackers, bread or toast.

5. Put in a covered container and store in the fridge.

6. Instead of using an electric mixer, you could put the cream in a glass jar with a lid and shake…but this will take between 5-30 minutes and little hands might get tired.

Cooking with young children is only one of the many activities that builds self-esteem, develops pre-literacy skills and creates a life-long parent-child bond. If you are looking for more child-friendly healthful recipes or other educational fun-filled activities, grab a copy of my new book for parents and teachers of preschoolers, now on half-price sale with FREE shipping till March 9^th, at my website.

And please stop by tomorrow for Quotable Timeless Tuesdays

Follow-Me-Fridays: Where’s Miss Vivian?

Posted on March 4, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image by psiaki via Flickr

I’ve noticed that a lot of bloggers set aside a day to encourage others to “follow” their blog…sign up to receive notifications of their posts, “like” them on facebook, “follow” them on Twitter.

I’m thrilled that there are people reading my posts…actually over 3000 page views since I started this blog at the end of this past summer!

It’s not so much a vanity issue…but more that the posts that I write may be helping others…or at least putting a smile on their faces. 🙂

I had lunch yesterday with a dear friend, who is also an author. She is also a former journalist and reporter and is always giving me wonderful ideas for promoting my book.

Since the first of this year, I’ve been visiting our local District 11 schools here in Colorado Springs, implementing the SHOW ME HOW Story-time Program in the Pre-K’s and kindergartens. Every Thursday morning, I read a picture book story and then do rhythms and a craft project (from my book) with a classroom full of eager smiling children. What a blast!

I’m happy to say that the program has been really well-received…in fact, the head of the volunteer program for District 11 warned me that teachers are already putting in their reservations to have me do presentations for the new school year in August and September!

So, I thought that perhaps on Fridays, I could share my experiences in the schools. And also let everyone know where I will be the next week. My author friend suggested, “Where’s Miss Vivian?”

I had to cancel yesterday’s scheduled presentation because of a dentist appointment…but it turns out that it was a good thing I did because I wouldn’t have wanted to expose the children to my cold.

Last week, on February 24^th, I was at Columbia school. The children loved hearing about KATY AND THE BIG SNOW by Virginia Lee Burton. After giving the children a chance to discuss the story, we formed a circle and went through the motions of Katy, the crawler-tractor, as she plowed the streets of the town of Geoppolis. The craft project of creating a snow-cleared road way picture captured the enthusiasm of the children to such an extent that they wanted to stay and work on their project after the allotted time and were sad to put down their art materials because it was time for recess! Having to encourage young children to stop drawing and pasting in order to go outside to play…wow…that’s a new one!

As the children lined up, one of the little boys looked up at me and said, “Miss Vivian, I really like you!” Another child piped up, “This was the BEST time EVER!”

What was it that the children were so enthusiastic about?

When we spend time with our children, joyfully interacting with them, we build their self-esteem. They understand that we value them if we give them some of our time.

How can parents shape their children’s future?

Just 15 minutes a day…read a picture book story with your child.

Just 15 minutes a day…do a simple craft project with your child.

Just 15 minutes a day…prepare an easy recipe with your child.

Where can you find all of these activities, laid out in a simple, easy-to-use format?

Hop over to my website and grab a copy of SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING…now on sale for half-price with FREE shipping until March 9th. I guarantee it will be the best $22.50 you have ever spent…and I’m offering a 365-day money-back refund if you don’t agree!

Next week, I’ll be at Taylor school, doing two back-to-back story/craft presentations.

Image of Katy, the crawler-tractor by psiaki via flicker.