Have you ever wondered how and when children learn to write? What do scribbles mean and what purpose do they serve?
Learning to draw and write, much like learning to talk, is a process that evolves over time. The following article from Zero to Three (National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families) describes some of the steps in this process. In addition, some tips on how to encourage drawing and writing are included.
A Scribble or a Masterpiece? How Your Child's Writing and Art Changes Over Time
The following is an interesting and practical article for parents about play from zerotothree.org. Play is an important part of early childhood and is much more than simply a way to pass time. Discover some of the facts and myths about play with a short true/false quiz, and learn about developmentally appropriate play for young children and why children repeat the same type of play, and more!
The Truth About Play by Rebecca Parlakian and Claire Lerner (Zero to Three)
For more information about the importance of play and to answer other questions related to this topic, check out the following Lucy Daniels Center articles:
Are Toy Guns Ever OK?
Taming Monsters with Imagination
This post has been submitted by Debbie Mugno.
How delightful to snuggle up with a baby and share a book! The soothing rhythm of your voice and the warmth of your body make reading together a positive and pleasurable experience. In the early months of life, babies may seem most interested in touching and mouthing books. At this stage, it is wise to have a few cloth or vinyl books available. Board books with bright, clear images and well defined pictures or photographs are most attractive to very young children. Keep in mind that particularly in this first year, children relate to their world in a very concrete manner, so choose simple stories and picture books with familiar objects. Children will often want to “read” the same book or even the same page repeatedly. Follow their lead. Help young children begin to understand that reading books can generate a wide variety of experiences. Be expressive - even dramatic, and act out the emotions in a story. Exaggerate sounds, imitate characters, and encourage children to join you. Above all, make this a time to share and enjoy – be relaxed, flexible, and focus on the experience!
For more information on reading to and with your children, take a look at our reading tips and recommendations.
Jan 11, 2010 by Jenn Reid |
Filed in: Book Club
Our third booklist is called Imagine that! We have selected books that encourage and inspire imaginative thinking and pretend play, important parts of early childhood development. Take a look at the books we have chosen here:
http://lucysbookclub.org/page/download-booklists
You may also print a bookmark from our website. Or, go to your local Wake County public library (or any other of our project partners) to pick up a free bookmark. A complete list of our project partners can be found here:
http://lucysbookclub.org/page/meet-our-project-partners
Jan 5, 2010 by Jenn Reid |
Filed in: Book Club
Today's post is written by kindergarten teacher and panel member, Christa Love.
Have you read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn to your child yet? If not, I would highly suggest you head to the library or to your local bookstore such as Quail Ridge Books and get a copy! It’s a book that appeals to all young children, but especially ones who are going through a tough time of letting Mommy or Daddy go. Chester the raccoon is such a cute and friendly character with whom children can easily identify. It might be fun for you and your child to act out the story using a homemade or store bought raccoon. Take turns with your child, you be the Mommy and your child be Chester and switch roles if you like. Many children feel most comfortable talking about their worries through a prop such as a puppet because it allows them a safe distance to express themselves. It’s a book that you can come back to time and time again with your young child.
Dec 21, 2009 by Jenn Reid |
Filed in: Book Club
This post is written by teacher and panel member, Jennifer Murphy. For more information about the Lucy's Book Club panel members, please visit the Review Panel page.
Reading a book with your child can open up doors of communication, communication that is often difficult to make time for with the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Carve some quality time out of your week for your child, especially with the stress that often comes with the end of the year, and read a book together from our current book list, Feeling strong on my own. See what conversations come up between you and your child about how they feel on their own or apart from you. You can show your interest in your child’s thoughts and feelings by pausing and asking them questions about the story and characters as you read. For example, while reading Owl Babies, ask your child which owl he or she identifies with most. This might open up a conversation about being apart or missing you that may not have come up otherwise.
For more information about communicating with your child(ren), take a look at the article Building Strong Parent-Child Communication.
Separation at Nighttime
Not everyone thinks about nighttime being a time of separation for children. Even though you are all still together in the same house after bedtime, a “good night” to a child is a bit like a “good bye” until the morning (or until he or she seeks you out for comfort!). Being alone during the night is a particularly difficult task for many children, and feeling strong on your own (autonomous) during the night poses extra challenges. For our current topic on separation and autonomy, Feeling strong on my own, we have included a few books specifically about feeling more comfortable with saying good night.
For books related to nighttime, take a look at Kiss Good Night, Goodnight Me, and My Own Big Bed.
For questions or concerns about nighttime, take a look at the following articles on the Lucy Daniels Center’s main website:
Building mental muscles to overcome childhood anxieties
Helping children with monster fears
Taming nightmares
Nov 24, 2009 by Jenn Reid |
Filed in: General
Welcome to the Lucy’s Book Club blog! Here you will find information related to the Lucy’s Book Club, details about upcoming book club events, reading tips and suggestions, and general information about early childhood literature and literacy.
Take a look at our reading tips and recommendations by following the link below. We welcome your feedback and questions:
http://lucysbookclub.org/page/reading-tips-and-recommendations
Have you picked up a free bookmark with our current list of recommended books? Follow this link for a list of places to find our bookmarks:
http://lucysbookclub.org/page/meet-our-project-partners
Check back again soon, subscribe to our blog, or sign up for membership now to keep up to date on all things Lucy’s Book Club.
