Archive for August 2009
- Gather your materials. You will need a red, a black( scrap would be great to use) and a white piece of paper. A black marker, kid and adult scissors, and glue.
- Start by writing a large uppercase P on the red paper. * you could have kids color the P if you choose, I was not adding extra steps today knowing showing off for beloved grandparents would take precedent over “art time”.
- Next cut a strip of white paper to fit along the P
- Draw lines along it for keys, if your child is able to have them do this even if the lines aren’t straight or well spaced. My son held onto my hand as I was doing the lines, to “help” but wasn’t interested in going solo yet.
- Next cut off a strip of black paper and hand your child their scissors.
Have them cut off small black rectangles for the black keys. This took us a long time, My son was able to cut 4 with help without getting frustrated. Scissor skills are hard( as is taking pictures of a 2 year old with scissors), so this is an opportunity to learn and practice . As soon as it starts frustrating them , either put it down and come back to it or ask if you can help. - Add glue to the white keys, don’t fret about extra glue it can be wiped and will dry.
- Add your black keys.
- He returned for more glue, this time glue the keys down to the P. Let dry.
- Cut out and glue to a black piece of paper.
Books!
“Music Over Manhattan” by Mark Karlins was longer than I expected but when I read it to my very overtired , no nap today 2 year old he happily listened and pointed out the instruments, and sky scrappers. The story is about a little boy who is overshadowed by his high achieving and nauseating cousin. A musician uncle plants the love of music in him and he strives to become as good as his uncle who floats in the air when he plays. Something I loved about this book was that the little boy works very hard, he practices all the time and slowly gets better. He had talent to start with but still had to work hard to achieve his goal. A great lesson for all children.
“Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane” by Carol Boston Weatherford is a fascinating book for my son who discovered “Johnny Coltrane” on YouTube while asking me about saxophones a year ago. What I like about this book is that it allows young children to relate to someone so inaccessible, and untouchable like John Coltrane. My son immediately grabbed onto the idea that is explained in the book that all the sounds and music Coltrane heard as a child turned into music he played later on. Later that day we got into a deep and very long winded “Is that music Mama?” conversation and I wasn’t always sure what to say. I wasn’t expecting to get stumped by his questions so soon. Either way when a book sparks questions like that it’s a keeper!
Mom It Forward is all about moms making a difference . They achieve this by strengthening the bonds between women, acting locally and globally to make the world online and off better one mom at a time .
Are you on Twitter? If you are you are probably familiar with the hashtag #GNO which stands for Girls Night Out. If you aren’t on Twitter I am making no sense to you right now. Let me explain. Every Tuesday starting at 9pm EST a large group of women ( and some men too) gather on Twitter for Girls Night Out hosted by Jyl from MomItForward. Since first attending this online gathering of women months ago I have started looking forward to Tuesday nights and “meeting” up with the girls online. Every week there is a new topic that is discussed and like every book club and playgroup function I have ever been to sometimes the discussion wanders but you always learn something valuable, and make new friends. What’s awesome about #GNO’s is that Jyl keeps the discussion going with questions for the participants and has a panel of experts ready to give advice and share their experiences about that topic.
I am so excited to announce I will be a panelist this week! The topic is “Back To School” and you can check out www.momitforward.com to RSVP for the party ( there are always fun giveaways!) and for more information about the wonderful service and charity projects that Mom It Forward is all about.
The first relationship in a child’s life is with his parents and nothing will ever replace that. However, as a child grows and develops his own identity, he will build relationships outside of just his mom and dad. These friendships, whether with a favorite stuffy, a pet or a child in his playgroup, will be very important to him at enhancing who he is.
Lost and Found
written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
published by HarperCollins
boardbook (infants)
A boy discovers a penguin on his front step and assumes he’s lost. The boy takes it upon himself to return the penguin to the South Pole. As the boy and penguin journey together they share stories and learn about each other. It isn’t until the boy returns home, after dropping the penguin at the South Pole, that he realizes the penguin was just lonely and looking for a friend. Wonderful illustrations and text tell a story of finding an unexpected friend.
My Friend Rabbit
published by Roaring Brook Press
picture book (age 4-8)
awarded 2003 Caldecott Award
Mouse and Rabbit are friends. Rabbit sometimes does things before he thinks, but he means well. When Rabbit mistakenly flies mouse and his airplane into a tree, Rabbit works to get his friend out. Although there are minimal words on the pages, the story is told beautifully through the wonderful wood-cut images. Children will delight in how Rabbit rescues his friend mouse and the expressions of the animals who help.
Dog and Bear. Two Friends. Three Stories
published by Roaring Brook Press
picture book (age 4-8)
awarded Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book
Three charming tales about the adventures of two friends, an energetic and adventurous dachshund dog and a reserved multi-coloured teddy bear. The illustrations are warm and colourful, like the friendship between Dog and Bear. The three stories are simple but ones children can relate to: having a friend help and encourage you when you’re in a jam, balancing your need to spend time with a friend with your friend’s interests, and loving a friend for who they are.
Sam’s Pet
written and illustrated by Charnan Simon
published by Children’s Press
easy reader (age 4-8)
Rosie and her dog Sam have a new pet in the family, Mable the kitten. Mable has her own way of doing things, which doesn’t seem to include anything of Sam’s, like his food or toys or sleeping on his pillow with him. Sam doesn’t think he’ll ever be friends with Mabel. But an encounter with a bully of a dog changes everything. Mabel sticks up for herself and Sam and from then on they are the best of friends. A Rookie Reader level C book, it contains a word list of 54 words for practice.
_________________________________________________________________
Carrie Anne is a contributing writer for No Time For Flash Cards, mom of 3 , and blogs at
Another Day , Another Thought…Or Two
