March for Babies 2011

We braved three inches of SNOW and walked for babies-- my baby, my cousin, my friends' babies... all babies! This cute diagram explains how donations to March of Dimes benefit babies and their families.

photo of the souvenir photo and beads we got

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(purple for all families, blue for babies served by the mission of March of Dimes, and white for angel babies)

the awesome photo Spouse got on his phone

I was inspired to hear and see photos of families who endured so much and survived, whether their babies are still fighting happily for health today, or who now have healthy babies, or who are remembering their babies who are now in Heaven.

If you'd still like to donate any amount, click here. And I hope you join us next year, or find a walk near you!

How to Lead Story Time

Baby A, sleepy at the library

I'm lucky I live in an area with six story times available through the week. But somehow, naps, errands and compatibility with development level do not always line up between story time, Baby A, and me. That's when we have our own! Could I read, sing, and finger play with Baby A anytime? Yes, and I do, but it's more fun with friends. And the real point of going to a story time is to practice listening, dancing, music, and social skills with friends. Am I right?

So, if you can't or don't want to schlep over to a library's or book store's story time, invite babies/kids around the same age/development over for a story time play date. 

Here's a little formula:

1. Choose a book. Generally, it is best to choose a book appropriate to the level of you audience, which is fairly brief and easy-to-see illustrations. Pull a theme out of that book and choose one or two additional books based on that theme.

2. Choose a song or finger-play that relates to the theme, and two or three more songs and/or finger-plays. Not all of the songs need to relate to theme, but it is fun to have them relate to each other, if possible. Choose songs you know well, and that your audience is likely to know, too. One song can be new, to learn together.

3. Choose an welcome and goodbye song.

4. Map out the order of your stories and songs. 

And when it's go time, follow the the temperament of your audience. If they get fidgety, throw in a wiggly song. If they're losing focus during a book, ask questions to help them relate to the story.

I put together this example with three-year-old children in mind, but I adapted a similar plan to a 6-12 month-old group when I hosted a story time. It has a vague theme of big and little / opposites, plus almost everything is water-related. The energy level goes up and down to keep everyone interested.

Welcome Song: Here We Are Together

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

So Big! (How big is baby/[name]? So big! Stretch baby's arms open.)

The Shark Song (With babies, have the parents/caregivers nibble them with the shark motions, older kids can mimic. There are many renditions of this song, I like to include the verses "saw a shark" and "swimmin faster" after grandma(pa) shark, but no shark attacks or lost limbs.)

What's Up, Duck? by Tad Hills (a book about opposites)

 

Five Little Ducks Song (Any children's librarian or preschool teacher can teach you this one.)

Motorboat, Motorboat Song (Kick legs slow and fast. Be cautious searching for "motorboat" videos... who would've thought?)

Goodbye Song: "Goodbye, [name]. (Repeat) We're glad you came today" to the tune of Goodnight, Ladies [source]. If you're having a playgroup story time, you're probably not leaving yet, so you can just clap and praise everyone.

Tip: Between activities, use transition talk. For example, between Shark Song and What's Up Duck?, say "The octopus was big, but the plankton were little. The baby shark is little, but the daddy shark is big. Big and little are opposites. Let's see if we can find more opposites in this book."

And if you want more examples, you could steal the story time re-caps posted on this Maine library's awesome blog.

Tell me your favorite story time ideas.

P.S. Mother Goose from Orem Library's story time is coming to the Utah County March for Babies on Saturday! Come see us there! And please, double the change for March of Dimes babies by donating double the change in your pockets, and inviting a friend to do the same!

Why Read Picture Books?

The blog of Stories for Children (online magazine) posted Children and Picture Books: What Parents Might Be Missing.

I agree with them that picture books are essential and delightful for children (actually, anyone) and that children should be encouraged to read them. This isn't the first time that I've heard that children are tossing aside picture books at an earlier age because of encouragement to read chapter books, and it's definitely not the first time I've heard that the picture book market is really competitive and on the decline in popularity. But other than the one study, I don't see evidence of a decline in the belovedness of picture books. Am I in the dark on this? Just in case you know someone who needs reasons to encourage and enjoy picture books, I'll add my two cents. 

The article said reading picture books are:

• "[an] important first step toward the experience of learning to read"
  
• "[an] introduction of art appreciation in the illustrations and hearing the beauty in spoken language and well crafted words and "an act of a physical nature by holding an object and turning pages"
• a perfect way for an early reader to make "‘self-to-text’ connections [...] not just in the literal comprehension of the book, but in the area of social development by helping a young child become more aware of other people’s thoughts, feelings and actions".

Cent 1: Picture books are especially useful to teach a reader to recognize patterns, which is a skill used in every pursuit, including mathematics, art, science, language, music, athletics, self-awareness, and socialization. Patterns in picture books include literary devices, such as the flow of the story, the problem-solving techniques, the repetition and predictability or disruption of expectations. The illustrations open up a world of artistic patterns to discover. Speech patterns are often easiest to detect, analyze, and mimic when a brief book (loaded with intention and extremely careful word choice) is emotively read.

Cent 2: Picture books allow for imaginative interpretation in a dynamic format. In other words, the pictures will often do as much (or more) telling as the words in a picture book, and the reader will pick up unspoken cues to form comprehension, but also react individually to the visual part of the story. 

And a hay-penny: You might be thinking, all books, or all books with some illustrations could claim these traits. But as Robert Southey wrote, “It is with words as with sunbeams - the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.” And in this case we'll take the burn in a good way--that it will make a deep, meaningful impact. Picture books are interactive, relatable, delightful--and we can enjoy them over and over again because they're brief.

Happy Easter Monday!

http://www.divinechocolate.net/easter.html

In Finland, everyone is still lounging around enjoying yesterday's delivery of eggs and candy. I'm not teaching Baby A about the Easter bunny, nor the Easter rooster, but if I had to choose, I've gotta say the rooster makes more sense. At least he'd be more likely to have a connection in the egg world.

In celebration of Easter, we visited family, feasted and feasted and feasted, decorated chicken eggs, visited horses, played with plastic eggs, and churched. In Sunday School, I learned all about the history of Passover, which is pretty interesting.

Most of my gospel teaching at home is through lullaby and perhaps example, prayer, and on the rare occasion I remember, a children's scripture book. I almost bought a story of Easter board book with a handle good for teething, similar to this:

but I didn't. I guess I'm just weird about religious picture books. The one I almost bought (which I now can't find) was accurate and focused on Jesus' love. But I guess I don't like cartoon depictions of Jesus. When I was a kid, the only movie depicting Jesus I was allowed to watch was the story of the Nativity, because my mom didn't want us to think of Jesus as a fictional character. Maybe that's why I'm geeked out by religious board books?

I did get Baby A a painting print of Jesus with a girl that looks like her, and a photo of  Logan LDS temple.

For her Easter basket book, though, I got her Eric Carle's  

The Tiny Seed

which came with seed packets and a tiny shovel! I'll tell you more about it after we've planted the seed.

And my mom got her Happy Easter, Mouse!, 

a cute story practicing colors and counting with Mouse of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

I'll let the barrage of pictures tell the rest.

Of course, there were other people and activities, but they didn't say I could declare their loveliness to Internet, and I had enough trouble keeping it to a dozen pictures.

What did you read/play/eat for Easter?

Good Earth Friday

Here is a song I sing to Baby A every day because it was one of my childhood favorites; it seems especially appropriate for today:

It already is Earth Day and Easter weekend, and I have not pulled together my picture book-related thoughts yet! I'll be sure to tell you all about what happens after it happens, though, and with gorgeous pictures!

To honor the Earth God has made for us, I've pledged to have an all-natural homemade cleaning products party with my friends, and to buy only organic produce the entire month of May.

And I'll tell you that the Easter traditions I'm starting include giving her a book, but I'm biting my nails (not really, that's gross) because I just can't decide which one!

If you want some ideas for Easter reads right now, check out the picks on The Childrens' Corner.

And The Curious Garden, like I told you before, is an awesome book for Earth Day.

In an ongoing effort to celebrate the present, I may post randomly throughout the weekend, so pop in, will you?

Please, tell me your favorite traditions and reads for the glory that is a global awareness and hope weekend!

Deer Visitor at Utah Children's Writers

Utah Children's Writers has continued their tradition of 30 Days, 30 Stories--a story or poem all through the month of April. And guess what? They gave me a spot! (Thursday the 21st) I'm so excited to have my story mingling with so many great stories. You'll want to read them all. I was nervous, but decided to post a little picture book manuscript. After attending a picture book workshop by Rick Walton, I've been working on Deer Visitor:

A deer came to my school today.
The big cafeteria window was open, and she hopped right inside.
She strutted down the lunch line, and all the cafeteria workers howled.
The deer just stared at them all while they wildly waved their ladles and spoons.

Read the rest!

And please, leave honest opinions and new title suggestions in the comments!

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You

artistcs28's Indie Public blog

My next bajillion weekends are booked with special events, and I'm thrilled. Some of them may interest you, so I thought I'd give you the run-down:

Thursday, 4/21      my first guest post, at Utah Children's Writers blog

Friday, 4/22            Earth Day

4/22                           Utah Valley Women's Expo with a friend

Sunday, 4/24         Easter

Thursday, 4/28      Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Friday, 4/29            Arbor Day

Saturday, 4/30      March for Babies walk

Sunday, 5/1             May Day / Vappu

Friday, 5/6               celebration of 6 May family birthdays

5/6 and 5/7              Provo Library Children's Book Festival 

Sunday, 5/8            Mother's Day

Friday, 5/13             the only Friday the 13th in 2011

Saturday, 5/14       future sister-in-law marries my bro (not the one that just turned seventeen)

Saturday, 5/21      my baby's first birthday party, and oh, yes, there will be pictures

Saturday, 5/28      pools open

Monday, 5/30        Memorial Day

I am pretty jazzed to talk about most of these happenings, and to give lots of bossy tips on what picture books to pair with the holidays!

Anything coming up you'd like to share?

DO

Baby A visiting me at work last summer

I don't think I've told you what it is I do. I kept meaning to proclaim my bold (because that sounds better than rash) decision to quit my pleasant but not in my preferred field and not challenging administrative assistant job to edit and write from home. Prompted  by a desire to be with my daughter more and to give her a more consistent schedule, and to make room for my editing and journalism ambitions, I declared myself a work-from-home editor in February of this year. 

I do freelance writing, editing, and blogging from my comfy armchair.

I do think that of all the babies, mine is the most adorable.

I do research children's books, particularly picture books, and write recommendations and reviews for them. (Picture books have been my favorite genre for long before I was a mama. Most of Baby A's books are actually mine.)

I do go on dates sometimes, with my hubby (who hates to be called hubby/hub/hubster, heehee.)

I do sleep much better when it rains, probably  because it reminds me of growing up in Virginia.

I do lose my breath in excitement when the trees begin to bud.

I do crave structure.

I do slather on sunscreen and spend as much time as possible lounging/walking/sporting/cooking outside in the summer.

I do wish I wrote more, talked less, cleaned more, worried less, played more, and scolded less.

I do consider myself multicultural, and I find it to be strange when other people do not consider themselves to be multicultural, because we are all influenced by so many ways of living.

I do get a rush out of cutting, cutting, cutting when I edit. But rewording, correcting, praising, restructuring, and analyzing are also fun.

I do dream of working for a major publishing firm such as Time Inc. (Real Simple), Hearst (Redbook), or National Geographic Society.

I do go to church every Sunday because I like it, and I live my life in a rather religious way, which I had not realized until my mid-twenties.

I do participate in PC speech almost always, and one of my greatest annoyances is when people refer to other people as "ethnic", as if every person in the world does not have one or multipe ethnicities!

I do speak fluent Finnish and terrible Spanish. 

I do travel only a little more than I can afford to travel.

I do hope to translate some Finnish children's stories into English.

I do like to get to know people as much as I like to talk about myself, so please, tell me what it is you do.

a kiss after nap time (hers, not mine)

me and the spouse

The Baby and The Telly

How is it already Thursday? Have I ever told you I like Thursdays? Mostly, I'm happy because it means that Wednesday is over. Wednesday gets me down every week. Plus, Thursday is the night I watch my favorite television shows. So here's one subject everyone exaggerates and huffs about: TV for babies.

http://www.momsquawk.com/whats-wrong-with-baby-tv.html

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) states:

The first two years of your child’s life are especially important in the growth and development of her brain. During this time, children need positive interaction with other children and adults. This is especially true at younger ages, when learning to talk and play with others is so important.

Until more research is done about the effects of screen time on very young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages television viewing for children ages two years old or younger, and encourages interactive play.
For older children, the Academy advises no more than one to two hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs, which should be supervised by parents or other responsible adults in the home.

I decided I wanted to keep Baby A's exposure to television and movies minimal. She won't get to watch a full-length movie until she's closer to two. She watches no more than 140 minutes of DVD per week, and it is of 20 minute DVD episodes of Muumi cartoons, or, occasionally, the Baby Einstein World Music DVD. 

(I do move her back when she tries to watch it so close.)

 I started putting on a Muumi episode when she was about seven months old, justified by a desire to expose her to more Finnish. I speak exclusively Finnish with her, but my Finnish vocabulary and grammar are sometimes weak, and the Muumis are so conversational and pleasant...in any case, she dances in excitement to the opening song, then crawls around playing as usual until the closing song. I am hoping she grows up loving them like I did, (and when she is two next summer we can take her to the Muumi theme park in Finland!) So, why do I judge (secretly!) parents that choose other media for their kids?

1. I'm a hypocrite. But hey, I can admit it, so that makes it not as bad, right?

2. I think too much princess hype leads to early sexualization and distorted views on gender. This Redbook article explains it well. Also, I hope that my daughter makes it to at least age ten before she knows who the Osmond-Fonzie-JTT-Timberlake-Bieber of her time is. (Have you noticed how the target audience of teen idols has gradually shifted to a younger age?)

3. I'm annoyed that advertisers and some parents try to say that the show they put on for an infant is educational. Everybody knows it is to give the parents a much-deserved break. A baby would get more education from watching a fish aquarium (and even more from reading a book with their parent) than watching bright flashing (even slowly paced) images, whether or not they include the alphabet, numbers, vocabulary exercise, or watered-down lectures on sharing. This article explains it won't make your kid smarter, and this one admits baby shows are for the parents, not the babies.

4. Screen time adds up quickly (and technically includes the computer and video games). I theorize the longer you can put off parking in front of a screen, the easier it will be to keep screen time from encroaching on time for interactive, exploratory, and outdoor play.


On that last point, I must admit Baby A is exposed to a little more media than I intend. If she wakes up from an evening nap while the hub and I are watching something, we don't turn it off. If Baby and I come home and the hub has beat us there and is watching something, he usually finishes it. And I have to pitch a little passive-aggressive fit to keep video gaming strictly to times when Baby is away from home or sleeping.

The point is, the best expert opinion (in my opinion) says toddlers don't benefit from television/movies, and that it could be detrimental. But when I google first birthday themes, mommy message boards are filled with suggestions like Tinkerbell, Minnie Mouse, Pooh, and Baby Einstein. 
Exhibit A, a FIRST birthday cake: 

http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/the-little-mermaid.html#c6

How are these characters beloved already? Other people don't even own a TV. Obviously, there's a big range of what people think is good for their child in terms of the telly. So, let's chat. What do you think? Be nice.

 

Crayons

One of my goals for my 25th year has been to be more present. I improve, and then get set back when things get stressful. On Saturday, I made a conscious effort to get down on the floor and play with my baby, (who is so curious and pleasant, that it is all too easy to let the day slip by, just running commentary on her play.) 

I think in order to mature critical reading, writing, and other communication skills, a person needs to be expressive in a variety of ways, constantly introduced to both the familiar and the challenging.

I decided to see if crayons were still only a choking hazard to Baby A. And guess what? 

They are now also tools of artistry to her!

Admire:

(Psssst...That middle picture gave a sneak peek to the photo banner I'm making for her first birthday party!)

Friday Friend: Emily Frame Growing a Family in Style

I'd like to start introducing you to my friends who work, blog, and make beautiful online. First on Friday Friend: 

Emily Frame

I met Emily while we both wrapped up our BA in English Literature at Utah Valley University; we were both pregnant with our firsts. She kindly gave us a peek into her home with her husband + one-year-old son Hayes + baby on the way:

Introduce yourself and your work:
I made the decision to always be home with Hayes so any work or projects I take on, I make sure I can do them from home. I run Bijou Market - a handmade event - twice a year. Between organizing the event and filling up a table of my own handmade goods, we're pretty busy the months before, during and after the event.  In between I do freelance styling for the website Twenty First and Ivy. Then I write my own blog Ruffling Feathers, which is more fun than work.

What are 3 things you do with Hayes every day?

Hayes loves bath-time, reading books before bed, and when he wakes up from naps he loves to throw out all his stuffed animals, I throw them back in, he throws them out and so forth. He laughs hysterically.  
 What is Hayes' favorite book? favorite game/song?

Hayes loves his books. We have a stack of 10+ favorites that we read every night. He definitely loves The Eye Book by Theo LeSieg (Dr. Suess' real name). We love reading Sandra Boynton books to him, they're quirky and funny but not over his head. He loves singing songs and doing actions with them like "Patty-Cake", "Itsy Bitsy spider" and "The Wheels on the Bus."

What is your favorite book of Hayes'? 

My favorite kids book author is Mo Willems, he's so funny, maybe Hayes will get the jokes in a few years. There's a book called My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell, it's a really validating book to read as a mom, I tear up every time. 

Does he read with his dad, too?

Reading has always been something he does with his dad. They do it every night and as he's gotten older he likes to read during the day too, so I finally got in on that action.  

And what's your favorite book of your own?

I read Matilda by Roald Dahl for the first time when I was 8 or so. I distinctly remember the moment I read that the Trunchbull was Miss Honey's Aunt. I gasped out loud. That was the first book I really connected with and I've read it every year since. It's definitely a favorite.  
How are you preparing Hayes for the arrival of his little bro?

Hayes is so young, it's hard to know how to prepare him. We got him a newborn looking baby doll that he loves to hug and kiss on. We refer to my stomach as "little brother."

Thanks, Emily!
And everyone, if you're in Utah today or tomorrow (April 8th and 9th), you must stop by the Bijou Market! 

{Read more about introducing a new sibling and get more book suggestions from Barnes and Noble.}

Nature Walk

After reading this, I decided to document a walk around my neighborhood.

FACES:

HANDS:

YARDS:

 

Do you see the antlers??

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST:

I like flowers and trees and that inflated pink bunny. Baby A likes cars, kids on bikes, dogs, and that lamp post. We are a nice suburban pair, I'd say.

What does that have to do with picture books, you ask? I'll let you know when I think of it.

Ducks In A Row

One of these days, I will show you the glory that is the before and after shots of Baby A's nursery. (That's assuming that one of these days I finish her curtains and fill all the picture frames.)

But I finally organized her toys! They're on shelves by category--I love categories! There are more toys on shelves in her closet, so every week I rotate them to keep her interest fresh.

Before:

 

Everything was stuffed under the crib or spread around the floor.

After:

storage ottoman, Itso box bins, and Itso fabric bin: Target / wicker basket: Joann Fabrics.

Ta da! Storage shelves that I can stack however I want! (See the giant dragon ball pit under her crib? I thought the dragon would like to feel like she/he was in a nice cave.)

 

top shelf: rocking horse (vintage , her godmother's own) / lamp: Target / 20 week sonogram picture

Aren't her tiny stuffed animals cute? The storage ottoman holds travel gear: front carrier, sling, stroller zip blanket.

shelves top to bottom: miscellaneous (Ikea shape-sorting house, plush insects, Manhattan toy);  music (piano, rattles, rainmaker, puff container turned maraca); balls/bat

left bin: shark from my honeymoon visit to the Denver aquarium, Vikings bear, Shining Star Frog (her babysitter gave it to her--it comes with the opportunity to name a star!), my Anna doll, puppy / right bin: my special bunny Annanymous, bear, Alf, the owl my mom made Alexandra / on top: favorite puppy, bin of blankets

Soon, I'll have to start rotating the books on her bookshelf, too. I buy books for her, but we all know I enjoy them just as much as she does.

What are your favorite toys at any given age? And how do you corral them?