Winter - It's Not Over YetWritten by Bonnie P. Carrier
While reading news on Internet this morning I came across an article on that furry little groundhog, better know as Punxsutawney Phil. As happens every year at this time, little fur-ball emerged from his burrow, as he’s done since 1886 - wow, he must be really old by now – to give us updated winter forecast. Yes sports fans it’s official, good old Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. Now your reaction to this news will vary depending on what part of country you live in. Here in Northeast, many of us – this author included – do not jump for joy. If you happen to be one of winter sports people you know ones who ski, ice skate, snowmobile etc. this was probably welcomed news. However, speaking strictly for myself – and anyone else that might agree - thought of having to continue going out into a cold morning and cleaning off my car or having to dress like I’m crossing tundra just to take my dog out for a walk doesn’t exactly excite me. Even my pets have had enough. Paths have had to be shoveled out in yard for Toby – our little Shetland Sheepdog – if we didn’t do this a red flag would need to be attached to his tail so he would not get lost in snow. Now cats, you’ve heard expression “Cat Fight”, well it’s happening a little more frequently here these days. Normally four of them get along fairly well, but I think they have had just about enough of these close quarters I can totally relate to how they feel, so I’ve come up with a plan to help make next six weeks – give or take – go by a little more smoothly.
| | The POWER of ReadingWritten by L.J. Davis
Reading to your child at a young age is one of most effective tools for expanding his mind and instilling a lifelong love of learning. Reading a good book allows your child to travel to places she has never been, to meet people she has never met, and to develop an understanding of how to deal with a variety of physical and emotional situations.Reading to your child also helps you develop an emotional connection. Whether you have her cuddle up in your lap, nestle with him while he is winding down for bed, or read to her while waiting for food in a restaurant, you are connecting. Reading to your child from an early age will also help him be successful in school. Reading out loud will help him learn language and become familiar with words. Reading is foundation for developing an understanding of conceptual information and it sparks imagination! Your child is never too young to be read to. Frankly, you should begin reading to your child while in womb. During this time, use reading as a way of familiarizing baby to your voice. If both parents take turns reading, it is even better. Imagine, before baby is even born, act of reading helps you connect and it can help parents reconnect with each other. When your child is born, adventure begins. During "easy" phase of infancy when your child is not physically able to explore his/her world, reading to your child helps him feel loved and comforted. Nestled in your arms with a favorite picture book, your baby will, at first, seem unaware of what is going on. But is she? When my daughters were infants, I would read a series of picture books called "Find The" board books by Stephen Cartwright. These books have lively illustrations, but no words. Guided by a series of images that included pictures of children and animals, each book asked children to find piglet, duck, teddy, puppy, bird, or kitten. When my daughters were very small, I would hold book in front of them and while their heads wobbled about, I would ask, "Ceiley, where's bird." Of course, there was no response, so I would point out where bird was and, in doing so, I would describe picture and put it into context. For several months, I would pull out book and ask, "Where's piglet!" One day, an interesting thing happened. When I asked magical question, my daughter lifted a chubby finger and pointed to piglet. Had she understood what I had been saying all along? I will probably never know but one thing is certain, before age of one, she knew what a piglet was, what word "find" meant, and she used her magnificent brain to tell her finger to point to picture of pig. All because I read a book. Her mind was indeed a blank slate upon which I could impress ideas and concepts.
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