Sharing the Spotlight

If your vacation plans include an extended stay with relatives or friends or having company for awhile, you may be apprehensive about how your preschooler will adjust to giving up the spotlight. There is a perfect book to share for some laughs and lots of insight. Read The Taming of Lola: A Shrew Story by Ellen Weiss (published by Abrams Books for Young Readers). This book works on several levels and your young child will enjoy the message about getting along. (Full disclosure: This book is written by a dear friend of mine, who is the author of many books for children. If you haven’t discovered her books yet, here is your chance.) Read about how a stubborn little shrew who is used to having her own way meets her match--and has to live with him. The book has beautiful illustrations by Jerry Smath, and is a perfect vehicle for opening a discussion about getting along with your company or hosts.

Souvenirs of Summer

If you take a family trip, be sure to collect some souvenirs that your preschooler can use to make a memory book. Photos and postcards are easy to slip into a scrapbook or glue to card stock. Shells, leaves, and pebbles can be glued as well. Have your preschooler dictate to you her memories of days at the lake or the beach. You may want to pack your supplies. If you have a rainy day on vacation, making a book can be an enjoyable activity. Or, after you are home and unpacked, creating a memory book is a perfect way for you and your child to relive a special time. It may become her new favorite book!

Choices, Choices, Choices

With so many choices available, sometimes it is hard to know what to look for in a book for your preschooler. I just came across a list of criteria that can help guide your selections.

Check out this article: http://www.literacyconnections.com/blog/choosing-books-preschoolers-0

I Packed My Preschooler's Suitcase . . .

If your preschooler tends to be wary or reticent in new places or situations, or if he gets overstimulated easily, be sure to pack some of his favorite books to take on vacation. Whether you will be the one reading him a bedtime story, or it will be a relative or babysitter, a familiar storybook and a beloved toy may be just what he needs to feel at home.