good reads: grammar

If you are a fan then you may already know I have a penchant for the old exclamation mark and also a wee love of doing things 'right'. Hmm more on that another day. Have you noticed how in text messaging people who don't over! punctuate! seem really down beat? How are you. Yes. I'll be there. You know what I mean right? If you do, or don't, you need to read this little gem. You'll either feel better about your addiction! Or maybe realise it is time to get on board.

Here is a great article talking about the ubiquitous nature of exclamation marks these days:  It's Too Late. Exclamation Marks Are Unstoppable Now.

where the wild things are

To recommend this book is rather obvious but I wasn't prepared for how much Ada would love it. We read it five times a day when it arrived in the house. Such a lovely tale balancing a real scenario and real feelings with mystery and whimsy. Maurice Sendak was indeed a great children's book author. 

"And Max the king if the wild things was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all."

an ambitious read

Last night I had no bookmark. I had to remember I'm up to page 19. I'm enjoying this so far, I'm almost one fortieth of the way through! It will be a miracle if I finish it! Wish me luck...

What are you reading? Any recommendations out there?

what we're reading: why kids fidget

This article from the blog Balanced and Barefoot has been doing the rounds on Facebook lately and is worth a read. It seems like modern kids are missing opportunities to move due to this are not having the necessary brain development to facilitate a good attention span. It made me think of the Herald's articles a few months back about the 'little schools' in NZ's big cities where 3 year old's learn to sit still and hold a pencil before they go to real school. This article from Sprouts Child Development points out that early academics aren't necessarily the ingredients that makes a child ready for school. We are involved at the local Playcentre so the debate about what makes good Early Childhood Education comes up and is definitely interesting to me.

 

 

The first time more went on the page than was eaten.

good reads: Olive joins the party!

In her gorgeous way Olive has been loving books for a while. Mostly just carrying them like a little puppy! Now she comes and sits in my lap and we have started having story time, adorable. Hard cover books that she can hold work best as she always wants to hold them. She gives kisses to the characters and especially loves if there is a mirror too! I am glad to be sharing reading time with Olive too now. We all enjoyed Friends, by Eric Carle this week. It is the cutest story about a boy whose friend moves away and he travels the earth to find her. I mean, so sweet!

We love Eric Carle around here!

good reads: relationships

One of this years goals was to spend time with Cameron. We are doing great at this! While we are on the topic I am kind of walking a couple of times a week, definitely still eating white carbs and no new hobbies yet. The table is much cleaner these days though...

Today's good read is easily digestible, I love a good infographic! Numbers and advice? Dreamy! Below is all about relationships from happify.com It looks like from this Cam and I should both get a hobby. Hmm! Something to think about!

reading wednesday - around the neighbourhood

So it's my blog and I'll change things on a whim if I want to! I am still fine tuning my schedule. What do you think of these topics?

Manic Monday
Tuesday's Tune
Reading Wednesday (cos that non alliterative assonance is so bittersweet!)
Thoughtful Thursday
Foodie Friday

Welcome to a new series of book recommendations! I always appreciate hearing what other kids have been enjoying so I thought I would share what works at our house. First up is Around the Neighbourhood adapted by Sarah L. Thomson, illustrated by Jana Christy.

This book is great as it imagines a babies world getting bigger and bigger from her room to the whole neighbourhood surrounding the house. I've been a grump lately and so singing about a happy laughing mama on page one is rather affirming even if it's more prophetic than accurate. I enjoy the active vocabulary in this book where animals pounce and sniff rather than meow and bark. Each page sees more animals added to the neighbourhood, providing many opportunities for counting! We love the style of illustration and that one animal seems to be doing their own thing in each group. Ada loves to point each one out every time we read it. The angry cat, the chatty duck, the distracted bunny, so many opportunities for a wee chatter.

What's that face?

The music is included at the end of the book. Ada always asks to learn the song. Oh but we know it now! You can learn too! Around the Neighbourhood is an adaptation of a classic folk tune 'Over in the Meadow', you can hear the tune here in this cute animation.

How about you guys? What is high on the reading rotation at your place? Do you have the same converaations each time you reread a book?

Previous recommendations.

to all the parents of young children

Steve Wiens writes a passionate article about the reality that we don't have to enjoy every minute of being a parent. You can read it on the Huff post blog here. It is a nice reminder that to be a good parent is not to be a perfect parent.

I eat chocolate in those moments too Steve.

i like this a lot, 6 words to say today

Sheesh I am running the risk of being preachy this week... Must be all that time gained by sending Ada to daycare... Anywho...

A new found blogger Joanna Goddard at Cup of Jo recently posted about a blog post they read at Hands Free Mama, (ahh it made me tear up) she had read that they couldn't get out of their heads. I read both posts and found the same thing. Read it read it!

The 6 words are so simple, "I love to watch you play. I've heard about and I try to give specific and descriptive praise to Ada rather than a generic 'good girl', the idea being that they build a big full picture of what is 'good'. But the phrase"I love to watch you play" lets the kids know they have your attention in a way that just doesn't matter how 'good' they are. It seems to me that kids won't always want to be good, or smart or talented or patient for you, but they desperately want your attention.

I love the freedom given by just enjoying someone. I tried to rephrase this thought, but this Joanna at Cup of Jo is a real writer so listen to her put it succinctly here:
"imagine if someone said it to you—for example, think of the difference between "You're a great karaoke singer" and "I love to watch you sing karaoke." Doesn't the latter make you feel much more confident and free to goof around and not be perfect? All you have to do is sing karaoke, you don't have to be a genius at it. It's remarkable how much those words take the pressure off. It's funny how even well-meaning praise can shut someone down and make them feel critiqued."