Any time we hit the road we always keep our eyes open for bookstores to wander through and child-friendly activities and events to partake of. Our recent family road trip to northern Michigan offered plenty of fun in the sun by the big lake and led to the discovery of a new and used bookstore, as well as a hands on children’s museum that fueled my three-year-old daughter’s imagination and made us wish we didn’t live three hours away! Sandcastles Children’s Museum in Ludington, Michigan is a bit of a misnomer. I was expecting a museum and, I suppose it is, but not in the typical way one would expect. Sandcastles is a place for children to create, discover and explore. It allows curious children to experience the landmarks of Ludington in a hands-on environment through interactive exhibits. Over its three floors children are able to...
The creative, imaginative fun simply goes on and on and on. Each area offers real life props for children to use that enhances the fun and learning. Additionally, sprinkled throughout the exhibits are informative articles and posters that explain the origins of the exhibits themselves, offer a bit of the history of Ludington and explain different topics related to the theme of the exhibit (such as information on keeping our pets safe and healthy in the Vet Center). As you move through the exhibits you will also find books relating to the different themes that you and your child can read together. It’s the perfect blending of imaginative play and reading aloud! Another gem we discovered in Ludington is The Windowsill, a downtown bookstore that offers both new and used books in a well-organized, friendly atmosphere. I found several titles for myself and quite a few children’s books, some of which I have been hoping to find in my used sale travels and was able to snag at a great price! The children's area offered titles for every age, from infant through teens. We especially appreciated the fact that the books were organized in such as a way as to be easily accessible to children. Nothing was up put on the top shelves, except special books for display, thus kids are able to browse at their leisure while parents look for books too. Stores like this one are our favorite because you just never know what you might find! What fun places have you discovered while on the road with your family? Tell us in the comments!
0 Comments
Every day when you leave your house, you are surrounded by hundreds of words. As a reader, you don’t make the conscious connection that you are reading. When you see a tree, you think tree. When you see a stop sign though, you know you have to stop but don’t even think about the fact that you read the word “Stop.” A stop sign is a part of the environmental print that we see and read every day and it is often the first print young children are exposed to. Environmental print is the print that we see as we go through our daily life that has become so ingrained in us that we don’t even notice it anymore nor realize that we are reading. It becomes so familiar to us that we know its meaning without reading the words. It’s the print that appears on street signs, labels, boxes and logos. The print we see on the street, in the store and on the goods that we buy. Sometimes, it is the first print that young children see and for young children learning to read, environmental print can help bridge the connection between letters and first efforts to read and therefore becomes an important influence that shouldn’t be taken for granted but used for its ready access. In the early 2000’s, studies found that those children who interacted with adults using environmental print were better able to transfer the acquired word and reading skills to conventional reading. Though print is all around, an adult must draw attention to the letters and sounds in order for young children to recognize environmental print as words rather than just pictures. This is not about recognizing logos, nor teaching children to be consumers, but rather it’s about showing children that letters make up words and that words are all around us and are a part of our everyday life giving us information or just making us smile. So what does this mean for a parent? With summer here and vacations and road trips underway, adults can take advantage of environmental print to help curb that all dreaded summer learning slide or give confidence to children who will begin attending school. Bring awareness to letters and words by pointing them out on cereal or waffle boxes during breakfast. Look throughout your house and point out that words and letters are on video cases, mail, food containers and even on appliances. Point out words that start with the same letter, end with the same letter or words that rhyme. Environmental print helps to show children how important reading is to life in making choices at the grocery store and restaurants, obeying traffic signs and finding your way using street signs. Environmental print can aid the beleaguered parent on a trip by creating a game of finding letters on billboards, license plates or hotel signs. Play a game of "I spy with my little eye..." while in the car pointing out letters, words, colors and shapes you see. This is a very popular game with my three-year-old. While she cannot read just yet, she is able to identify a stop sign and "read" it to me because she knows that it is red and an octagon. Look for new and creative opportunities to make reading a part of your child’s daily life instead of a chore or task they are required to master. Consider reading some of these fun titles with your child to bring awareness to the print all around them. Oh, How I Wished I Could Read! by John Gile Being able to read is a vital life skill, as the protagonist of this story learns when he has a nightmare in which he cannot read! He can't read the sign that says "Wet Paint" on a bench, "No Crossing" at the side of the road, "Wet Cement" at the sidewalk nor "Poison Ivy." Not being able to read these signs leads to some unfortunate happenings and makes the boy all that more grateful to be able to read when he wakes up. I Read Signs by Tana Hoban This photographic book contains images of the signs typically seen throughout the city. Take a walk or drive to see how many of the signs from the book you can find around your town. City Signs by Zoran Milich Similar to Hoban's I Read Signs, this book is a collection of photographs of words that can be seen in the city, including words seen on vehicles like "taxi" and "ambulance," as well as a variety of street signs. Signs in Our World by DK Publishing One more collection of signs that can be seen around town, but with more detail and explanation of what the signs mean. Collecting Words: Short Visual Stories by Brian Fouhy Blending photography with storytelling, this book is a collection of short stories told through the different words to be found out and around town. Intended for adults, this title is best shared as a family. The following activities can help extend the learning and bring even more awareness to the letters and words that surround us every day.
Words are all around us!
Happy reading and exploring! 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! Spring has sprung, which is evident in the colorful blooms all around us and the stores overflowing with various plants waiting for a home. Gardening has often been touted as a therapeutic experience relieving stress, increasing vitamin D and offering exercise. Planting a vegetable garden with your child offers the same benefits along with allowing children to see how their food grows and take pride in helping to feed their family. Research has shown that when children participate in growing edible plants, they are more apt to try not only the fruits and vegetables they grow but also other fruits and vegetables. Helping to plan, plant and tend a garden not only develops life skills, but also helps foster responsibility, independence, leadership, caring, teamwork and problem solving. Most children today, especially city dwellers, are unaware of where their food comes from or what it takes to grow food. Visiting your local farmer’s market is a start but actually growing the food you will serve will cultivate a relationship to the natural world, which in turn will help your child to wisely make future decisions that could impact nature. Before beginning a garden you and your child should:
After planting, while you are waiting for your garden to flourish, think about offering your child coloring pages of the vegetables you have planted to help with identification and improve fine motor skills. A few options are a Dover Children’s Coloring and Activity Book such as Color & Garden Vegetables by Monica Wellington or Fruits and Vegetables Coloring Book by Lynda E. Chandler or look for coloring pages online. Also, think about reading some of the following books with your children to increase the fun and anticipation. Consider sharing the stories while sitting outside in your garden so the plants can enjoy the books too! *Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided will go to help our literacy efforts! Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert Move through the alphabet and learn the different names of a variety of fruits and vegetables. The bold, colorful illustrations will help little ones learn to identify the fruits and veggies based on their shape and color. Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert This is a good choice for reading when you are getting ready to plant your vegetable garden and then to keep referring back to as the growing season progresses. It begins by depicting the tools needed to plant a garden and prepare the soil, then moves through the planting, tending and harvesting of the garden and ends with using the vegetables grown to make soup (a recipe is included). Your child will be able to identify with each phase as they help tend their own garden. Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell Three children are visiting their grandfather, which is always so much fun because he lets them play outside all day. The children are so excited, until they notice that it’s raining. Will their outdoor fun be put off for a sunnier, drier day? Not at all! Grandfather gets everyone into their rain gear and the group happily sets out to gather the vegetables needed from grandfather’s garden to make rainbow stew (the recipe can be found in the back of the book)! When read aloud, this story has an almost musical quality to it. The rhyming text flows beautifully and the occasional use of onomatopoeia makes the words come to life. Also, children will get an introduction to colors and different vegetables. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming Mr. McGreely has finally decided to plant a garden and cannot wait to enjoy the yummy veggies he grows, but three hungry bunnies keeps getting into Mr. McGreely’s garden and munching his veggies first! Mr. McGreely takes action, putting up a fence, building a wall, digging a trench…all to no avail. Those clever bunnies keep getting in, until Mr. McGreely builds the biggest something and locks up his garden tight. The repetitive language, unique vocabulary, fun sound effects and clever illustrations will make this one an instant hit for the whole family and the surprise ending will definitely incite some giggles. This story may also spark a discussion on protecting your own garden from the furry critters in your backyard. *(Reading this story makes us think of Aaron Reynolds’s Creepy Carrots. Share the stories together and then discuss their similarities and differences with your child.)* My Garden by Kevin Henkes An imaginative little girl talks about her dream garden, from simple things like continually blooming flowers to more outlandish features such as rabbits that don’t eat the lettuce because they are made of chocolate and the little girl eats them instead! This is the perfect book to read aloud when starting a discussion with your child about what to plant in your own garden. What would your child’s dream garden be like? The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss A little boy plants a carrot seed. Everyone keeps telling him, “I’m afraid it won’t come up.” Regardless, the little boy does not give up hope and tends to his little seed every day, until his hard work is finally rewarded, in a very big way. This is a beautiful, simple story about persistence, patience and the value of hard work. Share this one with your child to help them understand the need to tend to their garden every day. 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel Count along as ten hungry little rabbits go out to the garden to find scrumptious things to add to Mama’s soup pot. Simple text and charming illustrations introduce little ones to numbers from one to ten, a rainbow of colors and a smattering of vegetables too. How Does My Garden Grow? by Gerda Muller Sophie is a city girl and has always gotten her vegetables from the supermarket, but then she spends a summer at her grandparent’s home in the countryside. While there she learns all there is to know about gardening, from planting to weeding to composting and so on, which inspires her to start her own garden back home on her balcony the following year. Lush illustrations make this book a visual feast and the story is full of information on gardening that is sure to inspire readers young and old alike. The Giant Carrot by Jan Peck This story is a Western take on a traditional Russian folk tale, The Giant Turnip. Little Isabelle’s family plants a carrot seed and tall Papa Joe, wide Mama Bess and strong Brother Abel all help tend the little seed. But, when Little Isabelle wants to lend a hand too, Brother Abel just laughs and asks, “What can you do?” This does not deter Little Isabelle from doing what she can to help the little carrot seed grow. In the end, the family gets quite the surprise when that little carrot seed reaps one huge reward. This story highlights the importance of working to help a garden grow. Amp up the reading experience by using your best Texas accent with this one! Sylvia’s Spinach by Katherine Pryor Sylvia’s Spinach tells the story of young Sylvia, who hates spinach. When her teacher gives her a packet of spinach seeds to grow as part of a class project, Sylvia is less than thrilled, but dutifully plants and cares for the spinach seeds. Eventually, her spinach is ready to eat and she carefully tried a bite and comes to realize that spinach isn’t really so bad after all. The moral of this story: trying new things is good! Zora's Zucchini by Katherine Pryor Zora’s Zucchini begins with Zora receiving a free zucchini plant from her local hardware store, which she takes home and plants. As the summer progresses, Zora’s zucchini plants just keep growing and growing, producing more and more zucchini, far more than her family can eat. Zora then comes up with an idea for a Garden Swap and the whole neighborhood begins sharing the fruits and vegetables that they have grown. This story is a reminder to not waste food and, when able, share your bounty with others. Rah, Rah, Radishes!: A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre It’s time to cheer for vegetables! This boisterous, rhyming book is filled with colorful photographs of an array of vegetables. Full of actions words and lots of exclamation marks, this chant jumps right off of the pages and begs to be acted out and shouted out loud. “Rah, rah radishes! Red and white. Carrots are calling. Take a bite!" Happy gardening and reading!
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!
|
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
June 2022
Categories
All
|