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January 14th, 2008
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Welcome to the 4th edition of Carnival of Parenting Podcasts
It’s a place to share and find some new parenting podcasts from the podcaster and recommendations from those who listen to podcasts.
Listen
Andrea presents Frankincense and Mirth: Humphrey’s First Christmas posted at Just One More Book!!, saying, “Looking for an entertaining and effective spin on the story of Bethlehem? Drop by Just One More Book! and find out about a thoroughly entertaining and surprisingly original new Christmas book that will have your kids begging to hear the Christmas story again and again. Relayed with the pomp of an indignant camel and replete with starlit sandscapes, stunning, sometimes comical close-ups and loads of understated melodrama, this twist on the Christmas story is as hilarious as it is endearing..”
Top 9
Send in your favourite podcasts of the fortnight.
- International Dad: DIY father interviews educator Gill Connell
- Momtalkradio: SCREAMFREE Parenting, Can such a thing exist?
- Autism awareness special from John Burns: Wind dance a father’s poems
- PediaCast 98 * Dolphins, Coffee, Drug Reps *
That concludes this fourth edition.
- Send in your recommendations to be included in the top 10 favourite podcasts of the
week fortnight.
What’s your favourite parenting podcast?
Send in your favourite one. Podcasters submit your favourite shows.
For more information see the introductory post.
If you like what you hear don’t forget to tell them about it. Subscribe to their podcast.
Next edition: January 28
Technorati Tags: Parenting, podcasts
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January 11th, 2008
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Both children love books.
There are great heaps of them all over the house as they move them from one room to the other. I try to rotate the books monthly but the children always find their favourite ones and bring them out.
Naturally, as parents, we are very happy they love books as we read a lot ourselves. The way they treat the books though leaves us gasping all the time. Once read they are really happy to just throw them down or leave them on the couch/beanbag where they will always fall.
Hearing the spines hit the floor makes me cringe. We try to rescue the books and teach them to be gentle with them…but not very successfully. The youngest has found that he can ski across the kitchen floor with a hardback book if he gets a good run up. His eagle-eyed brother reminds him, ” Books are for reading!” So I know they hear my daily mantra.
Our newest problem is that we’re reading more library books and these books have to be returned. So we have a special place for them and special rules for them but ……….they are still books to my youngest and when they are in a pile of other books it just looks like fair game. (sigh) I’m happy to report no accidents…..so far.
The youngest, at two, pours over the books looking at the pictures and pointing out things. His brother will often read a version of the story to him. At moments like that your heart melts. They curl up on their beanbags or their other favourite place; on top of the bunk bed.
Our collection of children’s books have grown as family see the kids love books and give them all the time. Some get them from those book clubs at work with 70% off. But by far our favourite place is the local charity shop. My mum is really great a finding good reads there. Whenever we visit we need a separate suitcase to lug all the great books she’s found. Not that we complain… we love the new books to read and the fantastic prices. The books are in great condition.
Recently, both boys have gotten into Rebus books. Rebus books are words that are replaced by pictures. Here’s an example from the web.
We have a bible story book, Spot, Thomas and 3 other story books. Popular children’s activity magazines have a page or two as well. The Thomas and Spot books have words and sounds……….sigh. But they love them.
- The big guy can read to his brother and his brother presses the button.
- When I read and pause, the big guy can help with the story.
Usually, most group reading is me reading and the kids rolling around , fiddling, trying to turn the next page, headstands and occasionally sitting next to me to see what’s going on but when the rebus book is out I have two leaches next to me following the text, finger hovering for the sound or mouth open in anticipation to say the next picture.
“Rebus books have long been used by teachers and parents to help young children learn to read. Rebus books substitute pictures for the harder words that young students cannot yet identify or decode. Many children are also familiar with electronic interactive play-a-sound books that allow them to match and touch the rebus pictures and hear the characters speak, laugh, or make sounds. ”
Source: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=273
If you never really thought about Rebus books you should try a few. If you’re interested in Rebus books try these places for two lists booklist
booklist at your local library. Rebus books are a great way to read with your child interacting at a young age. Rebus books vary in skill level from very simple to quite elaborate. Once in school your child might start making their own rebus book.
The rebus books don’t get dropped and are put back on the shelf after they are used.
I guess there is some hope for the other books in our house.
****What Rebus books do you have? *******
Technorati Tags: books, hardback book, library books, charity shop, Rebus
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January 4th, 2008
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Play activities got a chance to play in Hawaii.
Kailani of An Island Life is a busy mum of two girls, Girlie Girl (5 years) and Baby Bug (21 months). She’s been happily married for the last 8 years. When she’s not at home in Hawaii, she’s flying the friendly skies as a flight attendant.
1.What’s your favourite activity?
- My daughter loves anything to do with arts & crafts. Our favorite thing to do is finger paint. I roll out a long sheet of paper and we have a blast decorating it.
2. What’s her favourite book?
3. What do your children like to doing?
- She loves to draw. She’ll take her notebook and pens with her when we go out and draw things that she sees. She says she’d like to be an Artist one day.
4. What was the last project you worked on together?
- For school she had to make a timeline of her life. We found pictures of her since she was born and put them in chronological order. She couldn’t believe how small she used to be!
5.Kailani , what were your favourite play-activities when you were little?
- When I was younger I wanted to grow up to be a teacher. I would have all the neighborhood kids come over and pretend they were my students. I even gave them homework to take home with them!
6. Where do you go locally for walks?
- Sad to say that I’m really not much of a walker. However, if I really need to get the kids out of the house, we walk to a nearby park.
7. What everyday play-activities did your parents do with you?
- My parents never really played with us. They both worked long hours. However, I do remember going to the beach sometimes on the weekends. That was a lot of fun!
8. What’s a typical day in your household?
- My older daughter is at the age where she loves to help around the house. I figure I should take advantage of it before she starts refusing. *wink* So, I let her do simple things like set the table for dinner, rinse the dishes, make the beds, etc.
- As for play time, we don’t have a set schedule, it’s whenever the mood strikes us!
9. What childhood games do you remember fondly?
- Growing up, most of our games were outdoor type like dodge ball, tag, or riding our bikes. We used to go outside after school and come home when it started getting dark.
10. Do you have play dates?
- My daughter’s last play date was at the home of one of her best friends. The Moms kept an eye out for the kids while the Dads watched football.
11. What open ended play ideas do you have in your home that your children can start and stop by herself?
- Pretty much everything in my home is unstructured. The kids have a lot of toys (a little too many) available to them whenever they want. They engage in a lot of imaginary play.
It can be a hard transition being at home with a little one or two, juggling everything. Being a parent is just so different to everything that came before.
12. What 3 things would you recommend to the parent at home and having a hard time?
- Get help. Sometimes you just can’t do it all by yourself and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you need help, ask for it. You’ll be surprised at how willing people can be.
- Have a life of your own. Once in a while, take some time to do something that you want to do without the kids in tow. We all need a little “me†time.
- Be flexible. Sometimes, even the best laid plans will fall apart. Be willing to just go with the flow.
Technorati Tags: An Island Life, play, childhood games, play dates, parent
. She will ask me to read it over and over again.
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