Activities For Children
Taking the boys to the North Coast
Thu, 06/12/2008 - 10:00 — GerardAfter I walked out of my parents' house on Saturday, I proceeded to do exactly what I'd promised the boys. I took them out and we had an excellent day together.
I had taken Daniel to a little harbour round the coast called Portbradden earlier in the week. While the weather wasn't wonderful, we managed quite a lengthy walk that revealed some interesting little places along the coast. It was then that I resolved to come back at the weekend for further adventures.
Jostein Gaarder - The Christmas Mystery
Sun, 12/10/2006 - 22:39 — GerardLast year I had an idea that I'd like to read Jostein Gaarder's The Christmas Mystery to the children. At the time, I read it myself, but decided to hold off reading it to the kids.
The Christmas Mystery is a charming little story, told through an advent calendar, of a girl (Elisabet) who chases a lamb through a department store and across country. On her travels, she meets various figures from the nativity scene and discovers that they are all travelling across time to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ.
The story is told via a little boy, who is given the Advent calendar by an old shopkeeper and told that it is a magic calendar. When Joachim opens the first door on the calendar, a piece of paper falls out and he discovers the story of Elisabet, and each day her journey unfolds and her meetings with new members of the Nativity.
Anyway, I've been reading The Christmas Mystery with Rachel for a couple of days now. Granted, we're a bit behind and need to catch up by a few days if we're to finish on the 24th December!
I think she's liking the story so far, as she's repeating the tale to Lisa and her aunts. In fact, when she was given an advent calendar as a gift, she was a bit disappointed that a piece of paper didn't fall out!
I've since found out that reading The Christmas Mystery has become a family tradition for some people - one review on Amazon.co.uk said:
Our family started reading The Christmas Mystery about 5 years ago and it is now a very special Advent activity and a way to come together as a family in a busy season. While it is a bit confusing at first- the story moves backward through time and geography-it is so rich and has so many layers that it's absolutely worth reading.
There are bits that obviously confuse Rachel, but I try and skip these or simplify them as best I can. However, after we read the night's chapter, I ask her to tell me what happened in the story that night, and then we look at the picture on the next chapter to see what the next tale will be about.
If I remember correctly, the end of the tale moved me the last time I read it, so I'm looking forward to Rachel's reactions! Anyway, I'll maybe post a few updates here before Christmas!
How To Find The Time To Give Children Individual Attention
Mon, 06/19/2006 - 12:07 — LisaI'm a great believer in the school of thought that all children need regular, one to one, individual attention. I notice that if one of the kids is going through a spell of bad behaviour and we make sure they receive more individual time with us, it makes a big difference to their outlook and mood.
Dad and the Boys in Downpatrick
Sat, 06/17/2006 - 13:47 — GerardOn Thursday I took Jake and Dan to Downpatrick for a day out. Downpatrick is a bustling old town in County Down, and supposedly the burying place of Saint Patrick.
We started off up at the Cathedral, where we were greeted by an eldery gent who took us around the building and described a little bit of the history of the place with me.
A Visit To Brookhall Historical Farm, Lisburn
Wed, 06/14/2006 - 20:15 — LisaToday I had a real taste of what summer will be like this year, in a town where I actually know and socialise with other parents.
The Great Outdoors!
Sat, 05/13/2006 - 18:57 — LisaWhere have my children gone....I haven't seen them in days!
That is a bit of an exaggeration, but since the sun started shining earlier this week, I haven't been able to keep Rachel and Jake indoors for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Pie Pie Make A Pie....... How To Build A Sandcastle!
Fri, 05/12/2006 - 18:37 — LisaWhen we were younger, my mum always sang a silly tune each time we were building sandcastles. When we got to the stage of tipping our buckets over and tapping the top, my mum always sang "pie pie make a pie, if you don't I'll beat your bum".
I know that in this day and age thats not very politically correct, but can I just say that my mum never in fact 'beat my bum'!
Since we have had fantastic weather this week and have spent more time in the garden, than in the house I took a quick trip to the toy store last night and bought Rachel and Jake a sandpit. Jake has hardly moved from it since I set it up. He just loves to get his hands dirty.
As I helped him build and then destroy the castles one by one, I found myself singing my mums rhyme "pie pie make a pie.......". Jake of course picked it up very quickly.
Gerard and I almost collapsed with laughter as we watched Jake from the garden bench tonight. Now every time he builds a castle, one hand is patting the bucket and the other is patting his wee bum as he sings his castle making ditty. Its definately one of those Kodak moments. I really must charge the battery one my video camera!
24 Hour TV For Babies....What Do You Think?
Fri, 05/12/2006 - 12:23 — LisaBabyfirst TV has announced its first 24 hour TV channel aimed at children aged 6 months to three years old.
When I first read this I couldn't believe my eyes. I have just about gotten used to 24 hour shopping, and 24 hours music channels, I can't imagine there would be a need, or even a want for 24 hour television for children. Apparently the American Academy of Pediatrics agree with me!
I'm not in any way saying that children should never be allowed to watch TV. My children love to watch their programmes and I am guilty of setting my eight month old boy in front of the screen every now and then, in the hope of buying myself enough time to use the toilet, without him realising I am gone.
However, my children are also stimulated in other ways, and get plenty of outdoors play. They mainly watch TV in the mornings before school and I specifically don't allow them to watch cartoons all day long.
At night children should be sleeping, or winding down for the day. Why would you want your baby to watch TV at 3am? I ask you!
Activities For Children: Library Visits
Wed, 05/10/2006 - 16:56 — LisaI love our local library. Its a fun, educational place to take the kids....and even better its free!
We got Jake his first library card when he was only two months old and Rachel was just turned two and ever since we have been regular visitors.
Our local library is very small, but the librarian knows everyone, and always has a smile and some kind words for the children.
On entering, Rachel and Jake make a beeline straight to the childrens tables and chairs at the back of the room, and always play first with the bead frames and jigsaw puzzles. While they are occupied Gerard and I can choose browse the shelves and choose our books, I laugh at his weird choices, and he admonishes me for picking yet another piece of 'chick lit'.
The we settle at the back and read a few stories before letting the children pick some books to take home.
Children model their reading behaviour on on their parents, and many studies have shown that children who don't have parents who read, often don't see any purpose in learning to read at school.
Cultivating a love of books in your children at an early age is vital to ensuring they develop good literacy skills. Visits to the library are a great and enjoyable way to enforce their love of reading.
I am especially grateful for the library in the winter time. The storytelling and craft sessions that they host for children are a great way to keep the family amused when the weather is too cold or wet to play outside.
Carnival of Homeschooling Week 19
Tue, 05/09/2006 - 05:23 — LisaFor anyone interested in homeschooling, why not jump over and have a look at the Carnival of Homeschooling.
Its really informative and contains some very high quality links (including one to us of course).
A great one for any current homeschoolers or anyone interested in starting.
