Note: This column was published on November 13, 2013 in the Barrow Journal. I don’t remember going on “play dates” when I was a little kid. When we lived in Oklahoma, I ran across the street to play with a friend who lived there, and when we lived in Colorado, I had a friend down … Continue reading Play Dates
homeschool activities
Where to take kids on a rainy day in Athens, Georgia
My kids love 123 Jump, which is a place with toys and several inflatables. I like it because it's low key, quiet (that is, no music playing), and if we go during the week, there's usually not many other kids there.
The Benefits of Storytelling
I've been spending the last few weeks thinking and writing about storytelling because I value the importance of storytelling for my children and community. I thought I would wrap up this series on storytelling by brainstorming several reasons why storytelling is so valuable for children and adults. I hope you might contribute to my list by adding your reasons in the comments section.
Two Stories I Made Up For My Five-Year-Old — to Show That YOU Can Do It Too!
We are not telling these stories to sell them. It's a one-time love offering to our children. Get your ideas anywhere! It doesn't have to be original or told with perfect diction. If it's a bad story, don't worry. You'll forget it and tell another one the next day.
How I Use Storytelling to Enrich the Lives of My Children
Take away the pressure to create a good story and simply speak about what you love, where you would like to be, what you'd like to be doing and with the kind of people you love, and you create a beautiful fantasy that both you and your child can dream on and keep with you throughout your day. And then, of course, you might start to notice how your life parallels the lives of your characters...
Book Review: Tell Me a Story by Chase Collins
Stories do more than entertain. When I had children, I knew I wanted to use stories to enrich their lives with the wisdom that they could impart. Children listen to stories much more readily than they do to lectures.
Our Summer Vacation Part 4: The Kohl Children’s Museum in Greater Chicago
Our visit to the Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago.
Our Summer Vacation Part 3: The Brookfield Zoo
Our "field trip" to the Brookfield Zoo.
Our Summer Vacation Part 2: Chicago’s Field Museum
Our field trip to Chicago's Field Museum.
Picnic at the William Harris Homestead
A perfect place for a picnic and learning about history: The William Harris Homestead in Monroe, Georgia.