My love affair with children’s picture books began over fifty years ago as I helped my mother turn the pages of THE LITTLE HOUSE by Virginia Lee Burton. Even as a very young person, I knew that my life would be devoted to uplifting young children.
As a kindergarten and Head Start teacher in the New York City public schools, I implemented an innovative program, using daily picture book stories, simple craft projects and easy healthful cooking activities that helped build self-esteem and develop pre-literacy skills. But, when my husband and I decided to start a family, we made the decision that I would quit teaching and stay at home to raise our children.
However, our finances (or lack of them) required a second income. And that’s how my daycare operation for the children of local teachers began. Now I could stay home with my children, while earning money at the same time. For me, it was the ideal solution to a problem that many parents face.
I think that being a parent is the most challenging and difficult job in the world…whether you are a SAHM or SAHD, whether you work at home or work outside the home while raising your children, whether you volunteer part-time as a crossing guard or you work 50 plus hours a week in an executive level position. What works for one person, may not work for another. Each person’s family situation is unique. I guess my advice to parents is that they need to communicate with each other and decide together what works best. Talking really does help…our special place was in the car parked in the driveway after the kids were sleeping. We felt we were away from the situation…no phones, no interruptions…but close enough if we were needed. It worked for us (we will be celebrating our 44th anniversary this August) and hopefully our children (all grown with families of their own) have discovered their own ways of dealing with problems and situations that arise.
This past September, I was able to share the innovative and successful program that I developed while teaching and doing daycare when my new book for parents and teachers of preschoolers, SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING, was published. It pinpoints 100 picture books every young child should hear and provides a story summary, gentle parenting tip, eco-friendly craft project and child-friendly healthful cooking activity for each recommended title. This ultimate shortcut for busy parents builds self-esteem, develops pre-literacy skills and creates a life-long parent-child bond while giving parents a newfound sense of confidence in their own parenting abilities as well. It is an especially valuable resource for homeschooling families because it provides an entire unit of themed activities which revolve around the picture book story that is read each day.
Why do I emphasize the importance of reading to young children? Reading with young children engages them in the world between the pages, encourages them to observe what is happening to the characters in the story, and allows them to relate those events to their own experiences. Just 15 minutes a day spent reading with your child can make such a big difference! And, if you have time and add the easy eco-friendly craft project and the simple child-friendly healthful recipe, you are providing your child with fun-filled educational activities and creating a balanced and harmonious day.
I’m also excited because the SHOW ME HOW Story-time Program has been implemented in our local schools. The teachers are so excited about it that I am booked through the end of this semester and I’ve been told that the teachers are already making reservations for August and September of the new school year. Every Thursday morning, I read a picture book story and do a craft project with one or two kindergarten or Pre-K classes. I’m thrilled to be back in the classroom again, sharing my love of picture books with young children, and hopefully helping them to become lovers of books.
