Uh Oh!

Mistakes happen. 

As adults, we know this to be true because we have all made mistakes–small ones as well as large ones. And optimally we have learned from those mistakes and we don't repeat them.

For young children, however, we need to teach them about mistakes–how to process them, and to learn from them in a positive way.   

The important lesson is that we all make mistakes. And those mistakes are not the end of the world. Try framing them as learning opportunities. Give an example of a mistake you made. I forgot to check my calendar. So I missed my appointment. Next time I will check my schedule every day. Or I didn't bring my list to the store so I didn't buy the right ingredients I needed for dinner. Instead I ended up making something different, using the ingredients I had at home. Examples like these demonstrate how to admit a mistake and pivot to a way to "fix" it. 

If your child feels badly about a mistake they've made, be positive and supportive. Emphasize that there is no shame in making a mistake. Point out that the effects were minimal. The message is to use the event as an opportunity to learn and to avoid making that same mistake. A cheerful, supportive reaction will go a long way. 

And, of course, reaching for books about the topic is a wonderful way to reinforce  the message. Here are some books that can support you in showing your child how they can learn from a mistake and turn it into a good experience.

Ask the children's librarian at your public library or your school librarian to recommend books about the topic. Here are some books you might want to request:

Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzman (Workman Kids) 

It's OK to Make Mistakes by Patricia Murphy (Sesame Workshop)

Mistakes Help Me Grow by M.K Lucas (published independently)

Mistakes Make Me Stronger by Djedje Dial (published independently)

Toad On the Go by Jashar Awan (Tundra Books, Penguin Random House Canada)

Swing into Spring!

The changing of seasons is a wonderful time to talk with children about nature and its wonders. Here are some ideas for celebrating spring with your child: 

Take a walk outdoors–in the country, the city, or in-between. Buds appear on  tree branches. Green shoots pop up. Flowers emerge from the soil. Point out these signs of new life and explain that spring is the season of new beginnings. At home, draw pictures of what you saw on your walk. Try some creative writing! Together, write a poem about spring. Rhyming poems are especially fun to write and then read aloud. Luckily there are lots of great words that rhyme with the word "spring" that your child might include in a poem. Here are some: bring, cling, ding, king, ring, sing, sting, string, swing, thing, wing

Poems may be as simple as:

I am the king,

the king of spring!

or

Let's swing,

and then sing

about spring!  

Have fun celebrating spring with poetry!

WORLD READ ALOUD DAY: Join the Celebration

Parents, caregivers, teachers, librarians:

On February 5, LitWorld, a worldwide literacy organization, is celebrating the 15th birthday of World Read Aloud Day (WRAD). Reading aloud is a dynamic and fulfilling experience for all involved; it creates an inclusive and satisfying bond among participants. In the past, people from more than 170 countries have joined in to participate in this day, devoted to the practice of reading aloud. In fact, during past celebrations, the WRAD hashtag has been one of the highest trending on social media. Find out how you can participate–at home, in a classroom, a library, wherever!

#WorldReadAloudDay  @litworld.org

Never Too Young!

Babies and books? Even if your little one doesn't understand the content of what's on the page in front of her, simply introducing her to the conventions of holding, examining, handling a book is a learning opportunity. Most of your infant's world is three-dimensional–the people, toys, pets, furniture in her surroundings. She can touch them, even lick them (!),  and experience the real world around her. Looking at print, which is two-dimensional, is going to be an essential lifelong skill. So beyond the actual content of the pages, you are giving her early exposure to the realm of print and illustration. How wonderful is that?

We’re Back!

 It has been some time. But now it is time to get back to Mad for Reading! 

The reading education landscape has been changing. Think: AI, all kinds of screens, and a pivot to emphasizing the teaching of phonics in school. Big changes! 

However, Mad for Reading is still–and always will be–devoted to the idea that reading with children of all ages is so important for their emotional development and is also a predictor of a lifelong love of reading and learning.  

So stay tuned for new posts about reading with children!   

With love,

Mad for Reading 

 PS  Please share your photos of children (first names only) reading–with friends, babies, adults, dogs, stuffies …

 PPS   Guest posts are welcome. Let me know!

Become a Fan

If your child loves a particular book, do some research. Find out if the author has written other books that your child might enjoy. Then skip on over to your library to find those books. 

You can do some internet research to find biographical information and maybe even photographs of the author. This kind of background helps your child understand the idea of authorship–that real people write books. It might even be an inspiration for your child to write his or her own book! 

Cover Up Time!

You are settling into a read aloud with a new book. 

Even before you open the book to read aloud, do a "cover check." 

Read the title, and ask, "What do you think this book is going to be about?" 

Talk with your young child about her predictions. Then probe some more. Ask, "How can you tell? Tell me what you see on the cover." 

Questions like these are the perfect lead-in to reading a new book together. It will be fun to see how accurate her predictions were. And she is building her ability to make predictions based on evidence, an important critical thinking skill.