Friday 03 September 2010
The sixth edition of the free publication Literacy Lava has just been released this week. It’s a fabulous resource for parents who want to be literacy-aware, and who want to encourage their children as readers and writers. This time I have an article included on Story Stones. Here’s a snippet:
Stones and rocks have been used in different cultures throughout the ages to tell stories to children and adults alike. Why not have a go at making some simple story stones of your own? Then head outside to enjoy some outdoor story telling. The article goes on to share ideas for using...
Monday 30 August 2010 -
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I wonder how many children will grow up without ever having climbed a tree? More and more in the city I am seeing tree-less backyards. Children aren’t allowed to climb trees in the vast majority of childcare centres or schools either, and kids today just don’t have the free outdoor time we did a generation or two ago. As a result I’m guessing some children will never know the triumph of conquering...
Friday 27 August 2010 -
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I can’t believe it’s the last day of Book Week and I’m only just getting up my Book Week post! The 2010 theme is Across The Story Bridge. Seeing as though we have an actual bridge in our backyard over the dry creek bed, I thought we would take reading outside this week. I spread a small rug on one side of the bridge with a selection of current favourites.
There’s something special about...
Wednesday 25 August 2010 -
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How To Un-Spoil A Family Holiday
Ever the optimist, I always go on holidays with high expectations. Before we go I imagine lazing around and enjoying sleep ins. In my head the kids are perfect, and SquiggleDad and I get to hang out together like we did BC. I expect that we’ll all have fun together, reconnect as a family, and return to the real world refreshed. As I said, I’m an optimist!
With expectations...
Tuesday 24 August 2010 -
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Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best, aren’t they? This week I put a piece of string up and over the branch of a tree, and tied a coloured bucked to each end. Genius. Mr Almost-Two has played with these buckets constantly.
Blue bucket down, yellow bucket up.
Yellow bucket down, blue bucket up, up, up!
And if you’re very, very clever – you can get both buckets to stop half way
and fill them...
Saturday 21 August 2010 -
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I love letters and sounds, and when it comes to alphabet-based resources I know exactly what I’m looking for. I want lowercase letters. I want clear fonts. I want letter-word relationships that demonstrate an understanding of phonics and awareness of the most common sounds. I’m not asking or much, am I?!
I was so pleased to find the Mm Is For Me wall stickers checked all my boxes. Ashleigh Hoyle...
Friday 20 August 2010 -
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What an exciting day! For the kids, I mean. Not only did we get brilliant seats at Justine Clarke’s Great Big World concert, but we got to go backstage before the show to meet Justine!! (Just one of the perks of being an Aussie mummy blogger, and it probably helped that I have reviewed and given away copies of the Great Big World CD and DVD as well as interviewing Justine online.)
Justine is an absolute delight...
Thursday 19 August 2010 -
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In reflecting on our lovely day at the local show, one thing has really stayed with me.
The highlight of the show this year for me was the woodchopping. Up there with the big blokes (and ladies!) was a little tyke the tender age of 5. He stood on his block like the others, one foot on either end of the wood, and chopped right through between his feet. I couldn’t help but notice how sharp and shiny his...
Tuesday 17 August 2010 -
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My little man watches his big sister construct all manner of creations with boxes, junk mail, scissors and glue. She can whip up anything from a bird to a robot in no time. The other day while watching her create some masterpiece, Mr-Almost-Two discovered glue. Glorious, magical glue.
I grabbed a junk mail catalogue and chopped out pictures of items he knows and can identify. Truck, shoe, camera, train, baby,...
Sunday 15 August 2010 -
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Mr Almost-Two is enjoying putting pairs of words together at the moment, often featuring the word ME.
Every time he falls over, which is quite often given that he is an almost two year old boy, he says “Alright me?“ Then he picks himself up and carries on with whatever he was doing.
It never fails to make me smile.
As a mum, I fall down sometimes too. It wouldn’t hurt to take a moment and ask “Alright...
