Thursday, December 30, 2010

Lead By Example

I want to take a moment to focus on a subject matter for parents and children alike. More and more, I see a misrepresentation of values and principles among parents which eventually affects the behavioral choices of children. As parents, are we leading by example or are we caving in?

For instance, let’s tackle ownership. Ownership is popular when everything is favorable, but it is clearly a different story to be accountable when things are unfavorable. How often do we look within and reflect on our role in the situation? Are we fair in assessing the information? Let’s learn how to take ownership and be responsible for our actions.

Secondly, remove the excuses. In my adulthood and even in my childhood, I’ve never seen anything good come out of making excuses. Excuses exacerbate the problem of “nothing getting done”. Before fixing the mouth to say why something hasn’t occurred, think about the possibilities of what can. Find a way to be productive.

Next, be gracious and thankful for the journey. On this long and winding road, think about what you have gained or lost. Delve into the value of your experience. Did you grow? Did you develop new life skills? Get a view from every angle and be grateful.

Finally, finish appropriately! Don't place your feelings or thoughts into not finishing the task or job. Finishing is the most important part of the race. Don't quit! Endure and keep trying even when you don't like it or feel like it! Run the race till it’s finished!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Bringing Stories to Life!

As an author, one of my many privileges is bringing stories to life. My ultimate objective is to create a reading experience that kids will enjoy. Some elements that I have used and continue to use in creating and presenting stories include:

Music
Children love music! In their eyes, music is magical, wonderful, and captivating. They enjoy singing, dancing, and listening to the sounds and beats of music. Stories that offer a musical component are intriguing to kids because they are not expecting it. Children become instantly engaged and are truly enriched. Therefore, encourage children to sing, chant, or create music to a story. It is considered the universal language.

Beautiful Pictures
There is a saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For children, visualization and pictures are imperative for bringing stories to life. As the young mind develops, pictures express many words and phrases becoming its own language. So pick a book that will pull your child into the story visually.

Repetition
Stories that repeat words or phrases or themes over and over again help children to read and comprehend. They become so excited when they can figure a story out based on a consistent trait or recurring theme. You may hear them say, “I got it! I got!”

Acting
Acting out a story is exhilarating! Children get to become the characters and express feelings and sentiments throughout the story. Of course, they become really involved and want to be authentic in various roles. So let them!

Overall, we need more children in this society to enjoy reading so that they will want to read on a continual basis. Bringing stories to life will accomplish this and more! The only specific skill requirement is to have fun!!!