Devices, devices everywhere... Every single place you look. In the hands of all the children, Instead of puzzles, blocks and books. Whatever happened to the days, when children went outdoors and played? Whatever happened to the times, when they were hypnotized by rhymes? What happened to carefree days of play, running, skipping, jumping? Now the children stay indoors, clicking, tapping, swiping. They sit and stare at flashing screens, for hours without end. No movement, no discovery, no time spent playing with friends. Let's all get back to basics, back to childhoods of old. Let's disconnect our kids, and show them wonders to behold. Summer's here so let's get those kids unplugged! Get them out in nature to explore, imagine, and create. Take them out on expeditions; to parks, beaches, zoos, botanical gardens, fairs, festivals, farmer's market, etc. Doesn't have to be far from home nor expensive. These outings and excursions will help build background knowledge as well as memories that will carry into adulthood. If your kids aren't receptive to the idea of unplugging, consider some of the following titles that are a fun read and highlight the positives of disconnecting and reconnecting with childhood the way it used to be. Back to basics! Also, take a look at our previous blogs, such as Connecting With Nature and The Power of a Garden, for unplugged summer fun ideas! Unplugged by Steve Antony Blip loves being plugged into her computer. She can do all kinds of things, but then one day she gets disconnected and discovers a whole world outside of her computer that is filled with sunshine, plants and new friends! When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins Charlie McButton has likes and like-nots. His likes involve all things electronic, namely battling bad creatures on his computer. When a storm blows through and knocks out power, Charlie’s technological world comes tumbling down. What is he to do until the power is restored? This book is a very fun reminder that there is plenty of fun to be had offline. hello! hello! by Matthew Cordell Lydia’s family is totally engrossed in their gadgets. Feeling restless and bored after her attempts to engage her family members in conversation fails, Lydia ventures outside and finds all kinds of things to say hello to: rocks, leaves, flowers, and more! But the best part of this new world? Sharing its wonders with the people she loves most. #DisconnectToConnect Run Wild by David Covell A boy sits inside on his device. A girl runs by his window and shouts, “Hey, You! Sky’s blue!” Intrigued, the boy heads outside, leaving his shoes and phone behind and enters a world of natural wonders and endless delights. This book perfectly captures the joy of connecting with the world outside your front door. Goodnight iPad: A Parody for the Next Generation by Ann Droyd "In the bright buzzing room, there was an iPad, and a kid playing Doom..." It is time for all of the devices and gadgets to power down and recharge before another day. Older children and adults will especially appreciate this new take on a classic bedtime story. If You Give a Mouse an iPhone: A Cautionary Tale by Ann Droyd As with Goodnight iPad, this re-imagining of a beloved story is set in our modern, ever-connected world. What happens when Mouse is given an iPhone to keep him busy? Well, he misses out on all of the fun going on around him because he is staring at the screen! The lesson to learn from this story? There is so much to see and experience offline! Tek: The Modern Cave Boy by Patrick McDonnell What happens to a little boy who spends all day, every day inside on his phone, tablet, television and video games? He loses touch with all of his friends and family, the great outdoors and even his language abilities! Another cautionary tale, shaped like a tablet itself, that reminds us of the importance to put down our devices and reconnect with the ones we love and the world around us. Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair by Patricia Polacco Everyone in Triple Creek loves their televisions. They watch them while they are eating, playing, working, sleeping and even in school! But Eli's Aunt Chip is different. She doesn't own a television and never has. When Aunt Chip learns that the townspeople cannot read and only use books for furniture and to repair broken roofs, she jumps out of bed to make some changes. This is another delightful story about the need to limit screen time and the importance of books in our lives. Blackout by John Rocco It's a hot summer night in the city. A boy is watching television, his sister is on the phone, his mother is working on her computer and his father is making dinner. Then the power goes out, plunging them into darkness and cutting them off from their various devices. They go up to the roof in order to escape the heat and discover the beauty of the stars and see all of their neighbors out and enjoying each other's company. This story shows the fun that can be had when we disconnect from our electronics and reconnect with each other. Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino Doug is a robot. Every morning his parents plug him in for his information download before their leave for work. One day, after learning all about the city, Doug unplugs and goes on an adventure to the city to see what else there is to learn. By doing, touching, seeing, listening and interacting with a new friend, Doug learns far more than he ever did by just plugging in, showing that unplugging is sometimes the best thing to do. Unplug this summer, reconnect with nature and each other and have unforgettable fun!
Happy reading and adventuring!
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Fairy tales, the timeless stories of monsters and heroes, damsels and princes, talking creatures and unbelievable happenings; that touch of magic that children crave and that stirs the imagination. In fairy tales, anything is possible, any problem can be overcome and ordinary people can do extraordinary things. It is this sense of magic and endless possibilities that speaks to the heart of a child. So with the end of the school year and the long summer break looming ahead, think about using fairy tales to teach positive life lessons without the lectures. Child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim explains a child’s need for magic in his book The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales: “The fairy tale proceeds in a manner which conforms to the way a child thinks and experiences the world; this is why the fairy tale is so convincing to him. He can gain much better solace from a fairy tale than he can from an effort to comfort him based on adult reasoning and viewpoints. A child trusts what the fairy story tells, because its world view accords with his own.” Fairy tales remind us that evil does exist but it also shows us that evil can be conquered and good prevail. Eighteenth century German poet, philosopher and playwright Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller remarked that “deeper meaning resides in the fairy tales told to me in my childhood than in any truth that is taught in life.” So sit and read a fairy tale with your child and let the tale help to impart the morals and manners you wish to take hold. Children will invariably ask questions and a conversation may ensue giving you the opportunity to impart your own wisdom and make the implied message clearer in their minds. Check out our blog post The Magic of Fairy Tales to see a list of great fairy tale books to share! Creating a Fairy Garden To bring the fairy tales to heart, take it a step further and jump on the fairy bandwagon and create your own fairy realm. The fairy garden movement evolved out of the fairy door phenomenon, those little doors that began springing up in random locations all around the country, igniting everyone's curiosity. What's behind the door? stirred the imagination and lead to complete fairy homes and then whole fairy communities. Fairy gardens are the embodiment of imagination, creativity and magic. I dare you to look at one of these miniature worlds and not smile. They immediately spark wonder and delight in all those who come upon them and this is especially true of children. The beauty of creating a fairy garden with children is that the possibilities are truly endless. They can be indoors or out, feature real plants or fake, be created with purchased, found or natural materials in a container, flower bed, out in the yard, around a tree stump, anywhere at all. They can even be based on a fairy tale you have read with your child. The best fairy gardens for children are those that children themselves have a hand in creating and that feature manipulatives they can rearrange and move about as they wish. Think of it as a sort of doll house. Playing in a fairy garden allows a child to exercise their own creativity and engage in pretend, imaginative play that will aid in the development of small motor skills, coordination and focus. Additionally, manipulating small figurines and objects in a fairy garden will boost their oral storytelling skills as they invent stories and scenarios while they play, taking their cue from tales you have already read together. The following is a list of things to consider before starting your own fairy garden:
Our Fairy Garden Fairy gardens should be a continuous work-in-progress. Kids need to be able to flex their creative muscles and make their imaginings come to life. Also, fairies enjoy getting new things just as much as people do! Our fairy garden is no exception and first came about on a whim after removing a large bush that was next to our deck. The space left behind was the perfect blank slate for us to transform into a magical place for fairies to gather! We are trying to use more natural materials to create our own dwellings and furniture for the fairies, but when you're at Michaels and your 2 year old catches sight of all of those beautiful fairy figurines and houses...well, how can you say no and just walk on by? Therefore, as stated earlier, our garden is a mix of a little bit of everything: found/re-purposed, homemade, natural and purchased items. My daughter is always an active participant in the process and uses the garden for make believe play. Consider some of the following titles to bring fairies to life and make it a memorable summer for you and your child: *Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts! My collection of fairy encyclopedias and art books started when I was young and has continued to grow as my daughter's own love of fairies has blossomed. You would be surprised what amazing books you can find at a used book sale, so keep your eyes open for a glimpse of gossamer wings when browsing! Do you have a fairy garden of your own? Share a photo with us in the comments!
Happy reading and creating! It’s an undeniable fact that children who spend more time outdoors are healthier, both physically and mentally, than their more indoor bound peers. Establishing a connection with the natural world early on is an essential, not-to-be-missed aspect of childhood, but, with the reduction of recess and free time in education and the overall increase in screen-time, children today are beginning to suffer from ‘nature-deficit disorder.’ This term, coined by Robert Louv in his 2005 book The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, is not a clinical term, but rather a way to describe the growing disconnection between children and nature. Recent studies have documented the importance of exposing young children to nature and the outdoors, finding that the development of social, emotional and physical health depends a great deal upon the amount of time children engage in outdoor free play. It has been determined that exploring nature improves children’s
Children who spend a greater amount of time outdoors than in are more... intelligent confident creative attentive responsible curious And those who spend more time outdoors experience less mental and physical health issues, such as... anxiety stress fatigue obesity vitamin D deficiency These benefits are not only exclusive to young children but to adults as well as documented in this article from Business Insider: 11 Scientific reasons you should be spending more time outside. Studies and human observation tell us that increased classroom time, increased screen time and decreased free time are all detrimental to children’s development. Therefore, look for opportunities that allow for time spent in nature this summer. You could…
The only thing better than getting kids outside more is reading to them! We suggest sharing the following titles with your child to further showcase the joys and wonders of the natural world: Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peak Over on a Mountain: Somewhere in the World Over in a River: Flowing Out to Sea by Marianne Berkes Each book in this extensive series follows the same rhyming rhythm and counting pattern as it introduces the different types of animals that live in various habitats, from forests to oceans to the grasslands of Africa. Read the stories about habitats that reflect the area you live in first, so children can make a connection between the book and the world around them and then branch out to explore the different types of environments found across the Earth. North Woods Girl by Aimee Bissonette "When Grandma tucks her pants into her oversized boots and grabs her walking stick, I run to catch up," a little girl tells readers as we see her head out with her grandmother to explore the forest surrounding her grandmother’s north woods home. Their jaunts take place in all seasons, offering readers a glimpse of life in the north woods at various times of the year and what wonders can be found out in the woods. Fun With Nature: Take Along Guides by Mel Boring, Diane Burns, and Leslie Dendy As the title says, this book is a great one to take along with you as you explore your own backyard or take a hike in the woods (although it is a bit bulky for younger children). Comprised of six different titles from the Take Along Guides series, this is a great resource for all types of information about the natural world found right outside your door. Also included are activity ideas and blank scrapbook pages at the end of each section for your child to make notes or drawings, press in leaves/bark/flowers they have found or place photos from their outings. I Took A Walk On Meadowview Street On the Way to the Beach by Henry Cole For children who enjoy seek-and-find books and playing I Spy these titles are sure to be a hit. As the main character of each book walks through various natural environments they list the different plants and animals that they see along the way. Your child will enjoy poring over the illustrations with you to find the various flora and fauna mentioned and then probably want to head out and see what they find on their own walk outdoors. Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies You and your child will marvel at all of the beauties and wonders to be found right outside your window after reading this volume of poetry. The poems themselves are simple, yet present the reader with a wealth of factual information about a variety of plants and animals and the eye-catching, mixed-media illustrations bring the seasons to dramatic life. Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail: What Will You Find? by Editors of Storey Publishing Want to get your child excited about getting outside? Want them to take their time exploring all of the natural wonders around them? This is the book that will get them out the door and looking carefully about. As your child explores the outdoors with this book in hand, they are encouraged to take a closer look with the magnifying glass embedded in the cover, mark off the various flora and fauna they find with the sticker badges inside and are given all sorts of facts and information. Additionally, there are activity ideas throughout the book to increase the fun and connect your child with the nature. Rhoda’s Rock Hunt by Molly Beth Griffin Budding geologists and rock collectors will love this story! Rhoda is on a “long, long hike from their up-north cabin” with her aunt and uncle and is responsible for carrying her own pack of gear, but her pack becomes too heavy for her to lift after she fills it with all of the wonderful rocks she has found. What can she do? Should she leave her precious finds behind? Your child will enjoy Rhoda’s clever solution and be inspired to get outside and start a rock collection of their own. The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane The language used to describe the natural world is slowing disappearing from children’s vocabularies as they spend less and less time connecting with the great outdoors. Macfarlane, inspired by the Oxford Junior Dictionary’s deletion of a number of nature words in 2007, offers readers a chance to bring these lost words back and help children develop an appreciation of the wonders to be found throughout the natural world through his acrostic poems. His moving words paired with Jackie Morris’s breathtaking illustrations make this book nothing short of pure magic for nature enthusiasts of all ages. Mrs. Peanuckle’s ___ Alphabet series For babies and toddlers Mrs. Peanuckle’s various alphabet books offer a wonderful introduction to the natural world and the ABCs. The series has six different titles (Birds, Bugs, Flowers, Fruits, Trees and Vegetables), each with bright, vivid illustrations, a smorgasbord of unique vocabulary (for example nectar, fiddleheads, and delicious) and interesting bits of information about the various things featured in each book (did you know fairy wings grow in the woods and prefer to live near waterfalls? Me neither.). Jo MacDonald Hiked in the Woods Jo MacDonald Saw a Pond by Mary Quattlebaum Children familiar with the song Old McDonald Had a Farm will love singing these variations on the popular tune and will hopefully be inspired to take a hike through the woods and sit by a pond to see and listen for the different types of creatures to be found. In the back of each book you’ll find information on forest and pond ecosystems as well to enhance the learning. A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play by Marilyn Singer This collection of poetry is an ode to childhood and all the fun that can be had playing outside when you use a little creativity and imagination. Follow a group of children on a summer’s day as they get back to the basics of childhood play and engage in all sorts of activities, such as mixing up mud pies, playing jacks and catching fireflies. The illustrations give life to the simple poems, making this book also enjoyable just to flip through and talk about with your child, perhaps while sitting outside on a sunny summer’s day. Looking for more titles about the earth and trees specifically? Take a look back at our post Let’s Celebrate Earth Day & Arbor Day For further information on why it's important to get kids outside check out the following articles:
Happy reading and adventuring!
For most of us, this past winter had such a tenacious grip that didn’t seem to want to let go but now it seems that the warmer weather is finally here to stay and summer is just around the corner. For parents that means summer vacation and sometimes, countless hours of endless boredom to combat. But summer should ultimately be a time for children to gain independence, build memories and partake of new experiences. The best way to do this is by embracing nature, encouraging creative play, supplying them with good books and reading aloud to your child or having them read aloud to you. Over the next several months, we will be blogging about how to encourage your child to connect with nature, the joy of gardening and cooking, helping your child to become unplugged and offering ideas to help combat the summer learning slide and, of course, recommending books to share that follow these themes.
Stay tuned for our next summer blog offering ideas and suggestions for making this summer unforgetable! In the meantime, snuggle up and share one of these stories with your child to get in the summertime mood: Happy reading and outdoor adventuring!
Lights, beeps, dings, buzzes. That’s what the toy aisle seems to abound with these days though to be honest, that’s what grabs a child’s attention, isn’t it? But how long until the novelty wears off? Do these toys actually support child development or are they just a temporary diversion? Parents can go broke during this time of gift giving what with all of these electronic gadgets and gizmos, but for an inexpensive, time-honored gift that aids in development, consider the classic jigsaw puzzle. Puzzles are great for all ages and com in a variety of sizes and shapes, from floor puzzles with large pieces that are easy for little hands to manipulate to 18,000 piece goliaths with teeny tiny pieces that will take days to complete. For little ones puzzles:
My two year old daughter loves building puzzles together and even on her own. “I can do it all by myself,” is one of her favorite phrases when working on a puzzle that we have tackled together several times already and upon completion of one puzzle she is immediately onto the next, “How about my tower puzzle next?” Floor puzzles are always a winner with her and I consider the size, design and shape when choosing new puzzles, not the age on the box. Simple puzzles can be fun for her to accomplish on her own and puzzles with more or smaller pieces are a wonderful bonding time when we work on them together. Our favorite brand of floor puzzles has been Crocodile Creek. The pieces are thick, fit together smoothly and many of their puzzles come in unique shapes, like my daughter's favorite princess tower puzzle that is 48" tall! So gift your child this holiday with a captivating puzzle, open it up, cop a squat and exercise your brain with your little one! Happy puzzling! -Kate from BTBL |
AuthorWe are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children. Archives
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