Posts Tagged ‘Children’s Books’
I do not believe there can be enough said in favor of reading to your child from the time that it is born. Beginning at a very early age will ensure their interest in books and reading and help them to pay attention and listen when they become more active toddlers.
Children seem to enjoy hearing the same books over and over and even get to the point that they have memorized a good portion or all of the story. They will need to remember what happened on previous pages in order to understand the story to the end.
Words contained in books are sometimes not used in the vocabulary of the parents as they speak around their home. Reading books to the child will enable him to hear sounds and words he would not be exposed to in normal conversation.
Almost everywhere you read about activating your child’s imagination begins with reading to the child. Being an active reader myself, it is easy to resort to reading stories to children. I enjoy them and appreciate the active imaginations of the authors. You can take your children off on sideroads during the reading of the book to try to imagine things hinted at by the author.
Great flights of fancy can be encouraged with statements such as, “If I had a horse, what would I do?” Open ended questions can bring new thoughts to mind in yourself and in the child. When I sometimes need to wait for a doctor appointment, for the show to start, for a ride to come, I find it makes the time much more interesting if I can think of a wonderful story I have read, or a beautiful place I have been. Picturing these images in my mind can make a rather dreary time or place turn into something beautiful, or exciting, or educational. Children’s books are a great tool for the imagination.
When you show pictures to you child it is the beginning of the formation of his imagination. Children always notice pictures first and words later. If you try to explain to a child the look of a horse, it is not nearly as interesting or formative as a picture of a horse. Some Christmas cards have pictures of a snowy landscape with a house covered with snow and lights glowing from the windows. Some will show a sleigh being pulled up to the house by a team of horses.
Telling your children a story of the snow, the cold, the home and the sleigh will be remembered and you may be asked to repeat the story from time to time. If you show the child the Christmas card and ask him to tell a story about it, you are helping him develop an imagination.
Pictures of beautiful things placed inside the mind of a child will challenge the baser things of life. The form and color of the picture as well as the detail and harmony are used to open the senses of the child.
Should I start my Christmas shopping in October.
Here in Alaska we are still enjoying the Autumn leaves. There is snow on the mountaintop I am looking at out of my window, but I am not ready to think about Christmas, snow, freezing temperatures. The snow will gradually come down the mountain and the days will get shorter and shorter. Then is time to think about Christmas.
Some people I know do their shopping all through the year, but I find if I purchase a present for somebody, I give it to them because I can’t wait until Christmas. I believe it is better though to have a plan for each of my children and really think about what they would like. Toys, Books, Clothing, Bedding it is hard to decide. They like them all.
Especially if we are planning to shop online, it may be better to start soon.
What do you think?
We have added a bunch of children’s books to our store inventory. This will give a lot more choices. Do you read to your children? One suggestion is 20 minutes per day should be spent reading to your child. It is also suggested that you read to your child from birth and continue to read to them. It is important to discuss the story with the child and get his opinions.
This is an inexpensive form of entertainment for the child and the parents. It is time spent together and getting to know each other a little better.