THE IMPORTANCE OF READING from a very young age

This little boy is around 15-18 months. Just wanted to share the reality of such a young child who already knows what books are about, has already learnt about the name of a new book (3 days only) in the house, can choose that particular one from many, knows the front page, back page and where one starts and where it finishes. He understands that there is text on each page and 'Mum' reads it (quickly) because his anticipation and enjoyment is obvious, which is all part of the process. Although his language is not yet perfect, his beginning sounds can be expressed along with other intonations. This opportunity is priceless for all children - share stories and spend time reading.
https://youtu.be/mhI2EejF8W8

PLEASE read...

Today I was talking to someone about their 18 month old little boy, whose language was slow but coming along with lots of intonation and potential conversation. Although his language included lots of jibberish, it had intent and he knew how he could use it. I asked his mum if he enjoyed books? Her sad response was "No, I used to try reading to him and he used to just walk off so I don't do it anymore". This mother had already decided that her very young little boy wasn't going to have good exposure to reading time, sharing a story, hearing words and sounds and interpret the matching picture. 

I shared a story about a boy who used to do that as he wandered around the house while Mum kept reading the book. The difference with this child was that when Mum would stop reading to see if he was paying any attention, he would comment saying "keep reading mum, I want to find out what happens next". He amazingly, was quite engrossed in a lot of the stories but obviously felt quite comfortable walking around listening. Depending on a child's learning style, will have a lot to do with where they learn best, the most comfortable position or place to be in, to successfully absorb the information.

As a teacher and strong advocate when promoting books and reading, I encouraged the Mum to try again and make it part of the daily routine. She said she would give it another go. I hope she does for the little boy's benefit, and helps him to develop his love for books.

ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS, I USED TO ....

... engage in lots of fun activities with my brothers, sister, or friends. These included:

• Sketch-a-graph
• Spirograph
• Board Games
• Twister
• Monopoly
• Cluedo
• Ludo
• Chinese Checkers

.....my brother and I made our own Cluedo game

and used TV and Movie stars that we were familiar with from our favourite shows. We used house related magazines to choose the rooms for where the 'murder' occurred in the game.   

I always enjoyed going to other family friends' houses to play different games that the kids had made up themselves or they may have had board games that we didn't have. I often would put it on my list for Christmas but I knew 'Father Christmas' or 'Santa' could not deliver everything.

We play differently too, with different people. 
With my siblings - I had the opportunity to play with cars and train sets and blocks all of which my 2 brothers owned. 

Grandparents-at Nanna and Pa's I played with the toy from the cereal packet that walked mechanically with a string across her kitchen table. I played the piano (creating my own tunes), and did some singing at the 3-mirrored dresser in the bedroom. 

Aunties and Uncles (cousins) -I loved playing with my cousins' toys - the ones they brought back from their travels in America such as Mickey Mouse themed games, unusual stickers, and gadgets not yet sold in Australia. 

Peers-I would play with similar toys and games to what we had at home but perhaps a different color, size, or theme. Comparing toys was not uncommon and of course wanting what someone else had was certainly something we experienced back then too.

My website discusses more about play and toys and I even found some of the old toys online. Check it out at http://growplayread.com

What were your memories of play as a child? Do you still have any of your own toys? Are you keeping them to pass on or just for memory sake? 

WHEN GROWING UP, I REMEMBER WATCHING

I remember as a child watching the midday movies or on a weekend when we could stay up a little later I watched:

'Charlie & the Chocolate Factory'

'Lassie'

'Shirley Temple'

'A Girl Called Sooner'

'Little House on the Prairie'

'The Yearling'

'The Sound of Music'

After school, I would watch 'I Dream of Jeanie', 'Bewitched', 'The Brady Bunch'. My favourite TV series as a child was the wonderful Australian series of 'The Sullivans'. It gave me such an insight into World War 2 and family life in the 40s when fathers and brothers went to war.

I was so addicted to 'The Sullivans', that there was one holiday staying in a caravan park and my biggest worry was how I was going to be able to watch 'The Sullivans'.... 

My brother and I found a black and white tv in the recreational room alongside the table tennis and pool table. When we turned it on, it had sound but due to glare and a poor quality picture, it was so hard to see the screen clearly, we went in search for something to make it more 'watchable'! My brother returned with a chenille bed spread he had just found hanging around. We placed it over our heads and the tv, watching the episode under the chenille, attempting to also block out the noise from the  other children playing. We didn't want to miss 'The Sullivans'.

And just a comment on the word ‘television’, children in primary school may not necessarily know what this word represents. This generation may have always called it the ‘TV’, not realising that name was only an abbreviation.

It was a wonderful television series that has never been repeated on Free to Air channels but now, the entire series can be purchased at a really great price. 

SNORKELLING WITH FISH

An activity that I have always enjoyed doing but never think to mention it when one asks what I enjoy doing…is snorkelling. I have snorkelled in a few different places around Australia (first place ever was Rosebud, Victoria), Port Douglas – Cairns, Great Keppel Island (off Yepoon), Phi Phi Island-Thailand, the Whitsundays (Queensland), N’ukalofa-Tonga, and Fijian Islands. While on Mana Island, we snorkelled at Dream Beach and Ratu Kina. My 12 year old was enrolled in a Diving Course – an intense program of theory and practical with the final outcome – a licensed diver! Already he has seen a reef shark and a turtle and many, many other types of fish.

 

I wonder what the fish think when they see us coming along wearing the weird looking apparatus attached to our face and bodies with the possibility of also flashing a camera at them to capture the best shot.

It’s so quiet under the water and serene. Sometimes the fish appear to be looking at us and almost posing for the photo.

PLAY IN FIJI

All over the world children are playing. Those children who have little, play well. They sit together, talk together, look at each other and share sand together. They find sticks, coral, shells, plastic bottles and utilise them for all kinds of imaginary games. I could watch them for hours.

Children enjoy creating echoes (by screaming, talking loud) and can locate where it has a better sounding resonance than somewhere else. It also gets the attention of others!

On Mana Island, Fiji where we stayed for 4 nights, we were amongst the locals in the villages but separate accommodation with a view to the sea. Most people have views of the sea, or at least don’t have to walk far to capture it. Children swim morning and night in the sea, laughing and having fun. A young boy asked me, when walking by on the beach if I was going to ‘take a bath’. I had clothes on at the time and said I couldn’t because I would have to change my clothes.

The children swim naked without a worry. My son when encouraged to talk to the young children, didn’t know where to look and was concerned about that. They are free, relaxed, no inhibitions although sometimes their shyness is observed when they are challenged with the English language.

From observation, the Fijian children consider helping Mum and Dad to carry water, prepare for a meal, carry the potatoes all part of their daily routine. It consumes their day but they also have time to relax throughout the day on “Fiji time”. The Fijian children are HAPPY !

and if you are wanting to read more on play, go to my website www.growplayread.com

MY FIRST BLOG

Well, I've made it to the blog stage so here I am experimenting after I've just had a training session with the wonderful 'Corey' from GTS. She 'gets it' and has become quite focused on my niches.