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.

 Take Action!

If a book sparks your child's interest--say, she is intrigued by something a character does--see if you can replicate the experience. Plant "magic" beans, dig a rabbit hole, set up a tent in the living room, visit a park to look at different kinds of leaves. Encourage your child's imagination to soar!

When you encourage your child to expand on that interest, it helps to strengthen the connection between books and her own life. Plus, you are demonstrating to your child that reading can open doors to new things to try.

Cook Those Books

With your child, design a meal that mimics what characters eat in a favorite book. Whether it is stone soup, green eggs and ham, or milk and cookies, have a real or pretend meal that involves your child helping you cook. 

By living out the pages of a book, you are helping to bring a story to life. Plus you are encouraging your child’s imagination. 

Let your child help you set the table and prepare the feast. Don’t worry too much about accuracy. Take a picture of your child enjoying the meal and keep it on your refrigerator. It will be a meal to remember!

 

Reading to Eradicate Racism

Yesterday my daughter asked me about books that I could recommend for my nearly four-year-old granddaughter that would be helpful for addressing racism. My response was that, for a very young child, the first thing to keep in mind is to offer books that normalize diversity.

Previous generations, including mine, had books that primarily featured white people— families, children, and friends. So that became the norm. Other people were just that ... other.

Thankfully, publishers, authors, educators have woken up to the need to populate children’s books with a range of characters. One significant effect is to help children who are members of minority groups to identify with the characters on the pages. Another effect is to “normalize” the presence of a range of people. When young children see the pages of their books populated with all kinds of people—Black, Brown, white, in a wheelchair, and so on—they internalize the notion that there is not one “type” of person that is the norm.

The following are some books that I am very familiar with because I have incorporated them into literacy programs that I have developed for Scholastic Inc.  These books are populated with diverse human characters.

All Kinds of Friends by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers

A Good Night Walk by Elisha Cooper

Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin

I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith

Lola Reads to Leo by Anna McQuinn

Ming Goes to School by Deirdre Sullivan

One Family by George Shannon

One Love by Cedelia Marley

One World, One Day, by Barbara Kerley

The Paper Crane by Molly Bang

Soup Day by Melissa Iwai

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith

Challenging Times

Things have changed. Everyone is adapting to a new normal. Parents and educators are trying to figure out how to best keep children engaged, calm, and open to learning. There are no easy answers.

Parents who normally try to limit "screen  time" for their young children are struggling. As they juggle child care, work from home, and all the new and intense emotions that accompany a pandemic, this is a time to be flexible.

These are extreme times.

Choose the best options you can for your child. There are no easy answers. We are all in this together.

Read From the Beginning

Read to your infant. It is never too early to start reading aloud. Will your baby understand the story you read? Likely not. But what you are doing is far more important. You are introducing your child to a lifetime filled with the joy and love of reading.

Reading aloud, while snuggling with your baby, provides a time to be engaged in a special experience, one of closeness and togetherness. When you read aloud, you are slowing down from the busyness of life, focusing your energy, creating a loving bond, and opening the door for your child to the pleasures and treasures that books provide.

Read for Support

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Targeted reading can help your preschooler deal with a new situation. For example, books about starting preschool can help you get your child prepared for that highly anticipated experience. Reading a book about a new baby can be a starting point for talking about how life will change when a sibling arrives.

Do an Internet search or ask a children’s librarian to help you find books that address a situation that might be impacting your child. Whether the book is fiction or nonfiction, use it to ask your child questions about how she is feeling about the upcoming situation. Likewise it may stimulate your child to ask questions of her own.

Letters, We Get Letters . . .

In this age of digital communication, isn't it kind of wonderful to receive a letter now and again–real mail? A piece that was intentionally written, stamped, and mailed to you is special. Don't let that  thought get away.

Even young children enjoy receiving a communication addressed specifically to them. So, think about writing to the young children you know, or asking people to write to your child. There is a thrill to getting a hand-addressed note; it says "I care."

All Hands on Book!

Some children are tactile learners—they learn by touching and feeling. This is your child if you are constantly wiping off finger prints from every surface in your home. Go with it. Let your child absorb the feel of a book, the pleasure of turning a page. 

Try not to be upset if your child’s eager fingers take their toll on a book. Tape the page. And then move on. (Invest in lots of invisible tape so you have it on hand.) A book is not a museum piece, but a favorite object and is meant to be used. If your child is a hands-on learner, let it be. However, if your child is intentionally acting in a destructive way toward a book, you will want to point out that books deserve respect.  

If a book is a little worse for wear at the hands of an enthusiastic reader, consider it a good thing. Nearly all books are replaceable, but your child’s enthusiasm is priceless.

Coming Soon: World Read Aloud Day!

World Read About Day is an exciting collaboration between LitWorld, the nonprofit organization devoted to promoting literacy worldwide, and the publisher, Scholastic. Read about this exciting upcoming event. Find out how you can participate on February 1.

Here is the link:
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/litworld-and-scholastic-announce-world-read-aloud-day-2018-and-a-special-collaboration-with-harry-potter-book-night-300587424.html?tc=eml_cleartime

Take a (Picture) Walk

The idea behind a picture walk is that you go through a book’s illustrations before reading it in order to get an idea of what is included in the book. 

Try it with your child. During this "walk," concentrate only on the pictures, without actually reading the words. You might start by describing what you see or let your child begin. 

Lose the words . . . for now. 

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the pictures of a book. Take your time. The discussing may be engaging enough that you don’t get around to actually reading the book—in that sitting. Have your child tell you what she sees. Ask her what is happening, and listen to what she see says. Once you actually read the book, you can compare what you both predicted the book to be about to what it actually turned out to be.

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At Home . . . Away

Keep a set of books at a grandparent’s house or other places where your child visits. 

“Same place, same books” can make reading an important part of the visit. It may be a set of books that are always read there—and nowhere else.  Those “away” books provide a sense of familiarity to your child,  and the books become part of that unique experience. It is a way for your child to experience new routines in a place besides home . .  . 

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Laughing Out Loud

For some children, humor is the key to hooking them into reading. A silly book allows them to let go and laugh.  

Keep in mind that humor for preschooler may not even seem so funny to you. But appreciate it for what it offers your child. (If you get in a silly mood, you might even have a good time . . .) Some writers for this age group can really zero in on what gets to a preschooler, and their writing strikes the right chord.

Humor is also a good way to engage you child in a discussion about a topic or issue. If your child is dealing with a sibling or school issue, or even a falling-down or food-aversion period, laughing at a character going through something similar can put it in perspective and give your child some release.

Author, Author!

Have your preschooler pen the next great American memoir. A favorite book for preschoolers to write is a record of an outing or excursion. It is a way to make a lasting memento and and be able to relive an event that is meaningful. Think family vacation this summer . . . 

Get fancy or keep it simple. You can staple together some pieces of paper or index cards, or buy a blank book, or use a commercial service. Encourage your child to write and illustrate her own books. You provide the raw materials, but let your preschooler dictate the contents—literally and figuratively.

The book can be wordless—let her tell her tale with pictures. She is getting a taste of what goes into planning what goes on the page of a book, recalling a sequence, and communicating something that is important and memorable for her.