Gayle H. Swift's Blog, page 9
July 18, 2016
Taking Root in America
Unless we are Native American all of our family lines began elsewhere. We are grafted into the dream of this country. Each of us yearns for the fruits of education, opportunity, upward mobility, and religious freedom. "In spite of where we come from...We are all Americans."
July 11, 2016
The Essential Life Lessons We Must Teach Children
Some essential life lessons we must teach kids:
Treat others with respect, compassion, empathy.
Disagree without hate
Advocate without demonizing other points of view.
As adults, we must work to ensure our country lives up to its promise to provide "liberty and justice for all." We must ensure our kids understand they are part of the solution and then we show them how to stand up for themselves without stepping on others. We must encourage them to be a force for good and to speak up for others instead of sitting in silence,or even worse--bullying or intimidating others.
Treat others with respect, compassion, empathy.
Disagree without hate
Advocate without demonizing other points of view.
As adults, we must work to ensure our country lives up to its promise to provide "liberty and justice for all." We must ensure our kids understand they are part of the solution and then we show them how to stand up for themselves without stepping on others. We must encourage them to be a force for good and to speak up for others instead of sitting in silence,or even worse--bullying or intimidating others.
July 4, 2016
Thinking, Feeling & Persisting
Thoughts and feelings entwine to shape our experiences. These entertaining picture books help kids think about thinking (!) and emotions and shows how both influence persistence. Fun and strategic!
July 2, 2016
Dreaming UP: Dazzling Blend of Fantasy with Reality Celebrates Diversity
A Celebration of Building serves as an excellent metaphor for building community, creativity and relationships. The illustrations feature a diverse characters who create universal kid creations: sofa forts, sand castles, blocks, etc. The accompanying arhitectural photographs bring those imaginary designs to life in real buildings from all around the world. The similarities between fantasy and reality are stunning. Some of them are so unusual it is difficult to believe that they are real. Such fun to see them!
The post Dreaming UP: Dazzling Blend of Fantasy with Reality Celebrates Diversity appeared first on Gayle Swift Adoption & Family Coach.
Dazzling Blend of Fantasy with Reality Celebrates Diversity
A Celebration of Building serves as an excellent metaphor for building community, creativity and relationships. The illustrations feature a diverse characters who create universal kid creations: sofa forts, sand castles, blocks, etc. The accompanying arhitectural photographs bring those imaginary designs to life in real buildings from all around the world. The similarities between fantasy and reality are stunning. Some of them are so unusual it is difficult to believe that they are real. Such fun to see them!
June 27, 2016
Summer: Time for Dreaming, Exploring Boundaries, Nurturing Awareness
Like the other books in reviewed in this post, readers will see the value of friendship, the benefit of being open instead of limited by bias and the willingness to dare--to be stronger, braver and more open-minded. These are great lessons for all kids but especially for adopted children who throughout their lives will frequently experience being "othered" simply because they were adopted.
The conversations which this book might open can include topics like defeating fear, trying new things, and walking in the "shoes" of others.
The conversations which this book might open can include topics like defeating fear, trying new things, and walking in the "shoes" of others.
June 20, 2016
Making Room for All: Diversity in Action
Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki and illustrated by Dom Lee is especially relevant in today’s climate of intolerance and anti-immigration. Baseball is considered by many to be our national past time. In 1942, the United States gathered Japanese Americans, stripped them of their property, forcibly...
June 13, 2016
Wisdom for Life’s Journey: Be Brave. Be You.
Adopted children have real life experience with loss and grief. Yet the overarching message which the narrator (parent) conveys is that it is possible to have "more ups than downs...more tippy-toes than deep." The message validates reality for our kids: they have had "downs" and they have struggled in "the deep."
June 6, 2016
The Richness of the Melting Pot: Adding an Asian Flavor to the Bookshelf
The social climate today is increasingly nativistic so this is an important time to expose children to literature that affirms diverse cultures and expands limited horizons. This group of books includes newer titles as well as some classics and reflects both Chinese...
May 30, 2016
Daddy, Papi, Gramps–Whatever the Name, He’s Important
Gator Dad by author/illustrator Brian Lies. This delightful book depicts an extraordinary dad engaging with his children. The exuberant illustrations wonderfully fulfill the text. The story opens with dad's shadow looming over his sleeping children. This iconic image usually evokes fear in kids but these baby gators are EXCITED not afraid. Clearly they associate dad with fun and when he invites them to "squeeze the day," they are willing conspirators.
