Wanda Luthman's Blog, page 40
January 2, 2017
Little birdie by Wanda Luthman
Thank you, David Snape, for posting my write up about my newest book, Little Birdie Grows Up.
David Snape and Friends - The place to show off your hidden talents
You know the feeling when you bring your new born baby home and you’re both terrified and incredibly happy at the same time? Then, within a day or two, while you’re basking in the sweetness of new life, you start thinking about the future? What will they look like, what will they enjoy doing? And then your thoughts turn a little darker, will they still like me when they’re a teenager? And then, you think about them leaving home. You get sad. You love this bundle of joy so much, you can’t imagine them leaving!And there you are, crying a puddle in your living room, holding your sweet baby, and thinking about the future that hasn’t happened yet. Your child hasn’t suddenly grown up and left you. You have just allowed your thoughts to get ahead of you and are weeping for the loss of what you’ve just been given…
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December 26, 2016
After Christmas Crunch
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AFTER CHRISTMAS CRUNCH
by
Dr. Valerie Allen
Not too far behind us are the holidays with all the trimmings, which for the most part, are packed away, safe until the next season of joy arrives. What to do with all the extra “stuff” that has accumulated? The children’s toys and knickknacks need to find a place in their already over crowded rooms. It’s often difficult for children to decide what to keep and what to part with.
This is an opportunity for parents to help children learn and practice organization skills and decision-making. One topic of discussion can be the difference between what we need vs what we want. Children can also learn to appreciate material things, which make our lives safe and enjoyable, as well as gratitude toward those who provide for us. It is timely to focus on sharing with others. Parents can also encourage reuse, repurpose, and recycle to contribute to maintaining our environment and safeguarding natural resources.
Helping children cooperate with the task of organizing their belongings can be made easier with these few strategic steps.
Get Started
Set aside a specific day and time to work with each child. When trying to decide what to keep, consider the child first and always allow him or her to select a few favorite toys for safe keeping. As a parent, you may also want to choose items that have sentimental value. These things should be set aside with assurances to the youngster that his or her “special” things will not be taken away.
Next, consider which toys are still usable. If broken or missing pieces render them useless, it’s time to get rid of them. Consider the “play value” in light of the child’s age. If the toy is still in working order, but too immature for your child, it’s time to pass it on. Take a look at your child’s “interest level”; has your child played with this toy recently? Is it too simple or too complex for their maturity level? Left over parts and pieces can be recycled into an arts and craft box for future rainy day activities.
Get organized with large trash bags, tape, storage boxes, and zip lock bags of all sizes. Use permanent markers to identify items inside of bags and boxes. Repair and tape broken game boxes and book bindings. Put small game pieces, puzzles, books with audio tapes/CDs, and miniature toys into individual zip lock bags. Larger games can be keep together in storage boxes. Use the trash bags and separate the usable toys from those that have seen better days.
What To Do With It
Toys should be kept in a safe place with easy access for your child. Low shelves with each item in view is a good option and safer than high shelves; a deep toy chest may work well for stuffed toys and dolls. Use clear plastic boxes to easily see the items inside and label each one.
You may decide to have a yard sale and allow your child to participate. Be sure to discuss ahead of time the etiquette of customer service – no tears when an item is sold! No taking it back. Have your youngster price and tag items. He or she can also collect money at the “check out” counter. This is a good opportunity to use the proceeds to open a savings account for the child or allow him or her to use the money for a special purchase.
Items in good condition can be donated to agencies working with children such as a homeless shelter, domestic violence program, day care center, library, community mental health center, health department, or Head Start Program. Try to recycle as many items as possible.
The process of parting with the old to make room for the new can be a learning opportunity and a positive experience for your youngster. Taking these steps will provide maximum use and fun with their new items and put reusable items into good hands.
# # #
Dr. Valerie Allen is a child psychologist in private practice. She has published two books for children ages 7 to 12, “Summer School for Smarties” and “Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends.” Oh yes, she has also raised six children! You may learn more about her at www.DrVAllen.com and purchase her books on Amazon at www.Amazon.com/author/ValerieAllen
December 19, 2016
3 Important Traits your child will learn from the Dragon Dreamer Books
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The Dragon Dreamer by J.S. Burke is Book I of this middle grades/young adult science fantasy adventure series. It won a 3rd place SIBA Award for Best Children’s Book. Dragon Lightning is the recently published Book II; it can be read as a stand-alone book.
It is extremely important to foster empathy and consideration in children. These traits enable true friendship, which lays the foundation for success and happiness in all areas of life. The Dragon Dreamer books foster these traits by displaying acceptance, understanding, and true friendship between characters.
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Summary:
Dragon Lightning by J.S. Burke is a science fantasy adventure with flying dragons, an undersea world, and unlikely friendships. It’s a fun, fast-paced adventure story that can entertain adults as well as kids. One reader noted that this book is a great family read.
Drakor seems like a normal young ice dragon with a talent for making lightning swords. But he alone feels the changing heart of his island Volcano. It destroyed his beloved sire. Now he foresees their doom, but none will listen. As he seeks proof, the Volcano shakes him off into the frozen sea.
Meanwhile, Arak sails north with golden dragons and undersea shape-shifters. Dorali joins the quest, searching for adventure and escape as she struggles to cope with her terrible scars. The crew seeks a beautiful legend but discovers a terrifying reality when they rescue Drakor. Ice dragons are not what Arak expected, and Drakor’s waking volcano threatens all three realms.
Author Bio:
J.S. Burke has worked as an author, artist, teacher, and marine biologist. She painted the book covers and drew the chapter pictures. Burke is certified to teach Middle Grades (all subjects), Gifted, High School Science, and High School Math. She loves the sea, and teaches her students for success.
From Amazon Reviews:
“The author incorporated life lessons on relationships, social responsibility, diplomacy, and learning to accept those who are different both physically and culturally.”
“Another amazing story by J. S. Burke. Her stories are about compassion, friendship, dreaming big and striving to accomplish the improbable.
After reading through this second Dragon Dreamer book I am convinced that her books would make a great addition to elementary school libraries and classrooms. There is so much education slipped into this fun, youthful, fantasy world. Science and exploration along with environmental issues, cultural diversity and acceptance, charity and generosity, political systems with different leadership structures engaging in cooperative trade agreement treaties, etc… all in an enjoyable entertaining package of dragons and octopi with a squid tossed in for good measure. The adventure is expertly penned and draws in even the mature reader. The older reader recognizes the educational value and the children are introduced to valuable life lessons in a fantasy world of intriguing adventure and interesting characters.”
Dragon Lightning Links:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dragon-Lightning-Dreamer-Book-ebook/dp/B01MA1ZOJ6/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32598789-dragon-lightning
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jenny-S-Burke-721518861218158/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/J.-S.-Burke/e/B00NVRVHWE/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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This snowflake was grown by dragons in the winter clouds to practice energy control and was drawn by J.S. Burke herself!
Quote from Dragon Arak: “Everything worth doing starts with a dream.”
December 12, 2016
Picture Books At The Library 92
Check out these cute books!
Lauri Fortino's Frog On A (B)log
I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.
A little boy pretending to be a dinosaur insists that dinosaurs do not have bedtimes.
Badger must wait and wait and wait for snow, but patience does not come easily for Badger.
The mice, hares, and deer settle down for the night, but Little Bear wants to stay awake a bit longer.
Picnicking penguins from the South Pole lose their way and find themselves at the wrong pole.
Bedtime is near, but from the end of dinner until lights are turned off, it is not time for sleeping, until a child receives a special good night…
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Finding Children’s Holiday Gifts That Are Fun and Educational
Photo provided by Pexels.com
By Leslie C. Halpern
With a little imagination, it’s easy to find gifts that challenge a child’s mind as well as occupy his or her time. Children enjoy playing with stuffed animals, dolls, and action figures, but sometimes they also need diversions that encourage their abilities and challenge their areas of weakness. This helps then develop particular areas of giftedness and improve on the underdeveloped areas to achieve a better balance.
The following list offers suggestions for nurturing particular forms of intelligence through play.
Gifts For Verbal Thinkers
Give books that match the child’s intellectual and emotional level. Try books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction (especially about their own ethnic heritage or special interests), plays, crossword puzzles, and illustrated encyclopedias.
Board games focusing on words, such as Scrabble, force players to think in order to win. Computer games and other electronic games with word challenges also encourage simultaneous thinking and playing.
Consider annual subscriptions to children’s magazines such as Highlights, Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, or from a variety of Nickelodeon and Disney
Gifts For Verbally and/or Introspective Thinkers
Journals and diaries make nice gifts. Look for interesting covers and decorated pages to hold a child’s attention. Specialty pens and pencils (printed in colors, with a cartoon character, or with the child’s name) enhance the journal or diary.
Digital recorders allow children to record their thoughts, feelings, and dreams. Recorders also encourage imaginative games such as making music mixes, pretend radio shows, and reporter interviews.
Gifts For Visual/Spatial Relationship Thinkers
In addition to coloring books and watercolor paint sets for young children, buy scrap books, photo albums, picture puzzles, 3-D puzzles, Etch-A-Sketch, books on drawing and artists, movies on DVD, art posters, easel and paints, charcoals, sketch pad, other tools for creating art.
Older, more responsible children, will enjoy a video camera or still camera, plus a book on how to use their new equipment or perhaps art classes or private instruction.
Gifts For Musical Thinkers
Consider music lessons, a new instrument, sheet music to suit his or her taste, concert or orchestra tickets, or CDs/DVDs of favorite recording artists such as Weird Al Yankovich.
Gifts For Physical/Kinetic Thinkers
Buy sporting equipment (bicycle, skateboard, pool table, surf board, roller skates, ice skates, bowling ball, etc.) or electronic sports game, plus games of movement like Twister and Dance Dance Revolution.
Other gifts to consider: Lessons in a favorite sport or a jersey from a favorite team; personal training sessions, or tickets to live sporting events; DVD movies about sports teams involving children, e.g. (Pride [competitive swimming], Bad News Bears [baseball], Friday Night Lights [football]).
For the physical and/or naturalistic thinker: Purchase a gardening kit with gloves, tools, and seeds.
Gifts For Mathematical Thinkers
Children should enjoy anything that uses systems, strategies, and numbers, including intricate puzzles, books of puzzles, mysteries, and brainteasers, an abacus, art-by-numbers. Also consider board games such as chess, Life, Monopoly.
Buy toys that require construction including Legos, Lincoln Logs, other linking toys, and model building kits (cars, boats, planes, etc.).
Other fun ideas: Toy cash register, electronic games involving numbers, or computer games such as Zoo Tycoon.
Gifts For Interpersonal Thinkers
Buy them memberships in organizations, including Young Mensa (if they qualify), local sports teams, arts and entertainment organizations, or scouting.
Children might enjoy a specialty telephone in his or her favorite style or color for talking to friends. A decorative telephone and address book can complement the gift.
For older and more responsible children, give them a small pet to care for and love.
The most important aspect of gift giving is to consider what makes the recipient happy, rather than caving in to peer pressure from the media or other parents.
# # #
Award-winning poet Leslie C. Halpern is the author of Frogs, Hogs, Puppy Dogs (2014), Shakes, Cakes, Frosted Flakes (2013), and Rub, Scrub, Clean the Tub (2012), all early reader books from Cricket Cottage Publishing. Leslie also writes nonfiction books for adults about the entertainment industry, including her most recent publication: 200 Love Lessons from the Movies (2016). All her books are available on www.Amazon.com , www.barnesandnoble.com , and through her website at www.LeslieHalpern.com . Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/funnychildrenspoems .
December 10, 2016
Shared from WordPress
Check out what these kids did! Hour of Code + Caine’s Arcade Brings Creative Computer Science to Sudan – http://wp.me/p7M5Zz-vk
December 9, 2016
Where Dreams Matter
Check out my first article in Florida Now News!I feel blessed and honored to write for this up aND coming business magazine.
Merritt Island, FL. – Merritt Island High School (MIHS) is taking students’ dreams of working in the business world and turning them into a reality through their Academy of Hospitality & Tourism. It’s known as the HEAT Academy which stands for Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism at MIHS which has been in place for about 8 years. However, under the astute leadership of Mrs. Lauren Little, Academy Director, HEAT has grown and is continuing to grow, bringing new business partners, industry credentials, and classes.
Two seniors, Skyla Murray and Timothy Compton, said, “We joined because we wanted the academy experience.” The Academy experience involves having three classes each year with the same like-minded students, having special speakers, taking business-related field trips, doing business-related internships, and visiting business college campuses. While Timothy prefers Science as a subject matter, he has enjoyed his experience in this Academy. Skyla has always been interested in Business…
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December 5, 2016
Whole School Approach towards Character Education
Blue Angel Picture free from Pexels.com
When I’ve written about Character Education in the past, I have mainly been talking about individual teachers teaching the specific characteristics in their classroom.
Today, though, I found an interesting website that explains a whole school approach in which everyone from the Principal on down to the Cafeteria personnel are in on the character education of the child. This approach creates a “culture” at the school which is very effective in encouraging positive character traits. It embraces the child and supports them in a very real community sense.
When I envision this being implemented, I think about how I would like to be at such a school. If everyone is on the same page, encouraging positive behavior and these behaviors are clearly stated, it makes it easy for the student to stand up for what is right because they know they will have support everywhere they are in the school and from everyone. Other students will be less likely to act outside of the encouraged behaviors because they will know they are not accepted there.
So, as long as it isn’t an oppressive atmosphere, but rather one of love and acceptance, which to me, are the building blocks of good character, then I think this could be a great way to infuse character education in our children. Just like the Blue Angels in the above picture, they work together towards one goal. In doing that, they build trust and respect and cohesiveness. When you see the Blue Angels fly, it takes your breath away. I believe in a similar fashion, if a whole school is operating as one, it would bring out the best in everyone and be something that when others behold, it would take their breaths away too.
Let me know your thoughts. Have you attended such a school? Have you taught at such a school? What do you imagine would be pros and cons of this approach?
For the full article, here’s the link to character.org
As always my books entertain children while subtly encouraging good character traits and are available on Amazon.
December 1, 2016
Christmas Wish List
It’s December 1st and that means the Holiday Spirit can officially begin! (None of that pre-turkey stuff happening here!)
And what a great surprise for me to wake up this morning and find my book on this Christmas List!!
A Turtle’s Magical Adventure made the top 10 Christmas List of books on Danny Brassell’s Lazy Reader Book Club list!!
Here’s the link Lazy Reader Book Club (you have to join the club, but it’s free and hey, you’ll find other books your child will love!)
I’m jumping up and down! It’s so exciting to see my book be on this Wish List! I want to extend a great big thank you to Mr. Brassell for taking the time to read and review my book and for this wonderful endorsement! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
And Happy Holidays everyone! Let the shopping begin!
As always, my books entertain children while encouraging good character (subtly, of course) and are available on Amazon. Specifically, A Turtle’s Magical Adventure is about a turtle who doesn’t like his shell because it makes him too slow. He goes to see the wizard to have it removed but there’s always a problem with magic.Will he learn to accept himself as he is or will he be turned into turtle soup?
November 28, 2016
It’s A Cracker Christmas
Child holding Ornament on Christmas Tree Picture free from Pexels.comThis Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th, I’ll be at the Cracker Christmas Fair in Historical Ft. Christmas, FL.
This event is huge! It’s been known to attract 30-40,000 holiday shoppers!
I’m sharing a booth with a fellow author, Jay Heavner, who writes in a different genre (think mystery, Appalachian mountains, Indians…)
So, come on out and get your holiday shopping done. Stop by our booth and you’ll find something for everyone on your list!
Here is my link to my “Upcoming Events” page (which is where this event is posted) so you can stay up to date with where I’m going to be.
As always, my books offer entertainment while encouraging good character (subtly) in children. They are available for purchase on Amazon every day. Purchase one (or all three) for that special child in your life and give them a gift that will continue giving throughout the year and their life.
