Filed under: Holidays | Tags: Children, Christmas, Gifts, Giving, Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan Purse
With the holiday season just around the corner, my kids are already thinking about their Christmas lists. Every time Lily sees something she likes, she says “put it on my list, Mommy.” As cute as that might sound, I want them both to know the importance of a giving heart. One way to teach that during the holiday season is through Operation Christmas Child.
If you are familiar with this project, you know the world-wide impact that it makes on children’s lives. It’s the perfect way that kids can help other kids, and get excited about doing it.
If you aren’t familiar with Operation Christmas Child, I encourage you to visit their website and get involved. Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoe box gifts from Operation Christmas Child.
Participating is easy. Simply pack a shoe box with gifts for a boy or girl in an age group you select and drop off your shoe box at a collection center near you. Detailed instructions can be found on Operation Christmas Child’s website under How To Pack A Shoebox. You’ll also be able to download a label for your box, where you can indicate if your box is for a boy or girl, as well as the appropriate age group. What’s really cool about this project is that your child can track his or her box and find out its destination.
This year’s collection week is November 18-25, so you still have plenty of time to put a box together with your kids. Consider hosting a “Packing Party” and invite your family, neighbors and friends to pack boxes together. Operation Christmas Child makes it easy by allowing you to order a party pack, which includes everything you need for 20 guests.
From a shoe box recipient: “I learned through my shoe box gift that God loves me.”
Today’s post features a guest writer named Sarah McAlanis, who discusses the importance of literacy at an early age. Most of you know how much of a reader Lily has become at just three years old, so I couldn’t agree with Sarah more on how strong of an impact reading to infants can have on their development.
Meet Sarah.
My name is Sarah McAlanis. I am a 2000 graduate of Tri-Valley High School. I graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. I also earned certification to teach English in grades seven through twelve in Pennsylvania schools. Since 2004, I have been employed by Millersburg Area High School as a Special Education teacher. In December of 2008, I graduated from Bloomsburg University with my master’s degree in Reading. I graduated in December of 2012 from Walden University with my second master’s degree in Special Education.
I have always been an avid reader and a life long learner. My favorite genres are mysteries, thrillers, and twist novels. My favorite authors are Gregory Maguire, Mary Higgins Clark, and Phillipa Gregory. My favorite past times are spending time with my wonderful husband George, our six month old son, George III, and rescued Saint Bernard, Delilah.
The Importance of Literacy.
As Bridgit has stated in many of her previous blogs, reading is an essential skill for everyone. Even though reading is promoted consistently, many people do not realize how early reading should be introduced to children.
The day my husband and I found out that I was expecting, I began reading and talking to my child. In my graduate studies, I learned that children who are exposed to reading on a regular basis are less likely to have learning disabilities. My studies recommended that from day one of a baby being born, reading to him/her is essential to developing language and reading skills. The reason to begin reading to a child so early is so that the child will hear the tone and expression in your voice and the sounds that words make. This is also why rhyming books and repetitive books such as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” assist a child in hearing repetitive sounds and in word recognition as he or she gets older. So, I read aloud many nursery rhymes and fairy tales.
From the moment I gave birth, I have held my son on my lap as I read to him and I point to each word I read so that he sees each word. This will assist his language development later in life. I also talk to him about each of the pictures that he sees. For instance, if there is a dog in the picture, I talk to him about what a dog is and compare the dog in the book to our dog. I also talk to him about sounds a dog makes and behaviors that a dog exhibits.
Also, singing to a child is a wonderful way to promote language. As I sing to my son daily, I print the lyrics to the lullabies that I sing to him and point to each word. He also loves our bedtime routine of a story, a prayer, and lullabies after his bath and before bed. As a result of all of this, my son responded to my voice immediately when he was born.
Filed under: Things To Do/Places To See | Tags: Children, Childrens' Books, Library, Reading
Some days, I feel like all I do is read books. Lily is quite the little bookworm. The book basket in her bedroom is overflowing with all sorts of books, and there is an additional basket in the living room that holds even more of her favorites. I don’t think a day goes by where I don’t pick up books and put them away. All that being said, I am not complaining one bit. I love to read to Lily, and I love to listen to her read to me. I am always amazed at how quickly she learns the words to a new book, and is reciting them back to me or finishing a sentence before I do. At bedtime, there are times where I’ve reached book number twelve and she still says, “one more, Mommy.” And then I find myself reading two or three more. How can I refuse that sweet little voice?
So obviously, it’s no surprise at all that my little girl loves to go to the library. Every Thursday we visit Eagle Creek Library for 11am Story Time. Miss Lowena usually reads three books, and also sings a few songs with the children as well. It warms my heart to see Lily do the hand movements to each song and sing along. At the end there is always some sort of craft, which Lily very much looks forward to as well.
After story time, Lily picks out four books to take home. She is always determined to find a “horsie book,” and knows exactly where to look.
These are three of her favorite “horsie books.”
I chose to share this today for a simple reminder about all of the fun and all of the treasures that lie inside of your local library. Take advantage! Library cards are FREE! Borrowing books is FREE! Attending story time is FREE! It’s such a wonderful way to bond with your little one while showing them that there is fun to be had and things to learn when we step away from all of the screens that consume so much of our time on a daily basis.
My challenge to each and every one of you this week: if you don’t have a library card, get one. If you do, take a break from everything else and take your kids to the library.
Marshmallow Mondays 