Peaceful Evenings

We babysit the second-grade girl who lives across the street each afternoon. She is with us from the time she gets off the school bus around 2:30 and her parents come home, before 6. Let's just say that the house is not at all peaceful during that time. She is a sweet girl, but having two girls who are very strong willed together is, well, interesting. I feel as if I can't leave the room for more than 10 minutes without hearing Jilly squeal because she's irritated that either the little girl is taunting her for some reason or because she's looking at her. It makes me wonder why anyone would want more than one child....It's not really that bad. The girls have had many more sweet moments together than not, it's just that those annoying times are amplified.

Either way I have employed a new rule: once Mattie is gone we turn on the Christmas CDs, flip on the fire, light candles and try to bring the day down to a peaceful tone by the time Daddy gets home from work. Yesterday was picture perfect.
I have a box that I wrapped with green foil paper a few years ago to hold our collection of Christmas books. It only comes out this time of year and is a virtual treasure chest for my child. She adores books and especially these. She was quite content browsing through and "reading" everything from Curious George's Christmas and Frosty the Snowman to the picture book of Christ's birth and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

It's quite entertaining listening to her. She has an amazing memory, especially when it comes to books, and either recites each page word for word or some version of it. She is so hungry to learn to read and we are working on it, though not as intense as I had planned, but that's OK. Her enthusiasm doesn't show any signs of diminishing.

Having these couple of hours each evening alone with the sounds of Josh Grobin belting out Christmas classics have made a big difference in the way our day ends. It is much more peaceful and joyful. In addition to bringing our home down to that level after a high-energy afternoon is important to me, but I hope that the act of reconnecting with the characters in these special books creates special memories for Jillian as well.

Love is...

Children's book author Susan Crites spoke at our MOPS meeting this week and introduced us to her wonderful little book, I Love You More Than Rainbows.

Her personal story is incredibly inspiring, including what led her to write this book. I naturally bought a copy for JillyBean and picked up another for a birthday gift. It's a sweet book that helps children grasp the concept of how much a parent can love them. As she said, saying I love you is one thing, but for a child to realize that means that you love them more than ice cream puts it on a whole other level.

It is important that we teach our children that loving someone is more than merely saying the words. If a love is true then you do all you can to make that person happy and help when they are in need without being asked. We have been teaching that lesson a bit these past few weeks. It also helps that Jilly's AWANA group is learning that God is Love. It's amazing how these themes come together. I have a hard time believing that it is coincidence.

Milk and Honey

A good friend recently brought an interesting book to my attention. Honey For A Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use For Books in Family Life is a look at how reading can not only enrich your child's life but also your family life.

I have been casually thumbing through the book for a couple of weeks now, but when JillyBean was feeling crummy on Saturday I used the time to dive into its pages. I will admit that nothing super surprising is revealed, but it does put a lot of thoughts and assumptions together with information I have learned over the years about the importance of introducing kids to books. Everything that you probably know about reading with your children gels together in this book.

Gladys Hunt approaches the subject from a Christian perspective, but I would not consider it a religious book. She doesn't guide parents away from particular subjects, rather challenges them to really think what lessons and images are important for them to pass along to their children. What sort of traits do you want your children to develop? Find characters and situations that will help them grow. Knowing her religious background, it was interesting to read her take on the Harry Potter series. The poor wizard got a bad rap from Christian church leaders for supposedly introducing children to witchcraft. She calls that bunk and discusses how children are quite able to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Besides, giving children a healthy dose of fantasy will not turn them into bad people.

She opened my eyes to quite a bit in regard to children's literature. For one, I realize that I cannot pass on my lack of enthusiasm for poetry to Jilly. I should use this time to rediscover the beauty of some poems and introduce it to her and help her grow an appreciation for the art. I also need to be on the look out for diluted versions of classic children's tales. I grew up loving the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie series. Apparently they have been rewritten into easier chapter-styled books and much of the beauty of Ms. Wilder's prose is lost. Also, Disney has done its share to dumb-down great children's stories so I should be weary of branding and marketing schemes. I have a specific concern for this in regard to A. A. Milne's beautiful Winnie the Pooh series, which sadly has been hijacked by Disney. Pooh was a childhood favorite of mine. I dreamed of living in the Hundred Acre Wood and going on adventures with Pooh, Piglet and Eyore. I fear that Jilly will never grasp the sweetness of the relationship between Christopher Robin and Pooh and instead will continue to ask about Darby and Buster who are part of the My Friends Tigger and Pooh series on TV. Daddy says I don't need to worry. As she grows older so will her appreciation for real stories.

Artwork is just as important as language is in children's books. As Hunt discusses, small children will "read" the pictures before they learn to read the words. I have certainly seen this in JillyBean. The art of a book can draw a child deeper into the story and such images will remain with them forever.

Finally, Hunt made me rethink the importance of reading with your child. Sure it helps with language development, but more than anything it strengthens the parent/child relationship. Naturally we read to our children at this age, since they can't read on their own, but it's important to read aloud or continue to read books together as children grow older. As she writes, reading aloud brings the story and its characters to life. Plus, sharing a book together creates a bond. Characters in books become shared friends and plots become shared experiences.

Honey For A Child's Heart includes a great book list in the back with suggestions for toddlers to teens. It is a valuable tool and will now be a standard shower gift for everyone I know having a baby, so act surprised when you receive one.

By George

One of JillyBean's greatest loves is Curious George. She adores the little monkey and we read his stories every day. We have been reading George stories every day for a year. Yes, I get a bit bored with the same thing day after day after day, but it brings so much joy to Jilly.

George came to the local Barnes & Noble last month and Jilly was so excited to get the chance to see him. However, once confronted with a life-size George, she sort of shied away. She even followed him through the store but would not get more than five feet from him. She wasn't exactly scared, more like overcome with the idea of meeting someone who has become a best friend through the pages of a book. Talking to her, though, you would think that they sat down together and had tea. She still beams, nearly a month later, when she talks about seeing George at the bookstore. Every time we go to the store she says: "this is where I saw George."

One of the gifts JillyBean is receiving for Christmas is a Curious George book and CD gift set. I never thought of an audiobook as a good gift idea for a child, but it's actually pretty ingenious. Nana sent Jilly audio versions of Little Bear and Mouse Tales after she broke her arm. They have been wonderful alternatives to flipping on the TV or even music on many occasions. She enjoys listening to the stories while playing in her "toy room" or coloring. We haven't taken them with us in the car because, well, listening to audiobooks makes me sleepy and that's not a good thing when I'm driving.

I am so thankful that Jilly has developed a zest for books. She loves to read and actually told me to sit down on her floor while she sat in the rocking chair and read a book to me. The obvious benefit to a love of books is for the development of her language and reading skills. But for me, daily reading of stories has helped to develop her imagination, something that cannot be taught in school.

In other news, today was an OK day in regard to potty training. She had one accident and fussed a bit when she had potty breaks in the afternoon. Today was more of a struggle, but we got through it. This is the biggest change over the last time we attempted to potty train - my attitude. Previously I would get frustrated when she would "fight" me to go potty but now I make it into a game. I laugh at her antics but am still insistent. Then when she actually produces, I make an even bigger deal out her accomplishment. This has caused less stress for both of us and I think it's the key to our success.

today Jilly is thankful for her dog Sandy

Bedtime Stories

Like most parents, we have read to JillyBean since she was born. It has been part of our nightly routine since Day 1. And as she has grown and gained a greater interest in stories, we read to her throughout the day.

Now we have taken the next turn - sending her to bed WITH a book. Obviously she is not able to read at this point, but she has heard the stories so many times that she has either memorized the words (like The Digging-est Dog) or gets the gist of the story (like Duck in the Truck). Every nap time she requests to take a book, or two or three, to bed so that she can "read" it to Lilly, her frog, and to the rest of the half dozen or so babies that sleep with her. At first I was a bit hesitant, because I really wanted her to nap. My fear was that she would just sit up there and "play" and not rest. (The rule at nap time is that if she doesn't sleep, she has to stay there for 2 hours). But it was too cute to see her sitting at the side of her crib, with Lilly next to her, and listening in as she told the story.

In a way it has reinforced to us that she is actually developing reading comprehension. BeanieDaddy will change up a story every now and again and she'll pick up on what is different and correct him. She also asks Lilly the same questions that we ask her when we read - like how many candles are on Curious George's birthday cake?

And while in the beginning the reading in bed would lead to less sleep time, lately she has fallen asleep shortly after she finishes the story. I am unsure how so-called child experts would view this practice and what it means for toddler sleep requirements, but I think that the results are positive now and down the road. For one, it fosters a love of books and stories, which will help with her language and thinking skills. I also believe that it has helped to develop Jilly's incredible imagination.