One thing you can count on during the first days of school is the
inevitable question of "What did you do over the summer?" Here are a few
creative ways to describe your summer experiences for the first edition
of Show and Tell.
1. Flip Books
Create a moving picture of your summer fun with a flip book. Start out
with a Post-It pad or a pocket-sized spiral notebook. Draw the first
picture on the last sheet of paper and work your way to the first page
by changing the picture little by little. For instance, if you learned
how to surf over the summer, you might start with a picture of you lying
on a surfboard in calm waters. The next picture could show the waters
growing a little choppier. The following drawings could be of you slowly
turning, then standing on the board as the wave grows larger, and so on.
2. Summer Collage
Illustrate your summer happenings with one of my favorite forms:
collages. Simply use glue to cover a poster board or even several small
postcard-sized papers with magazine cutouts, sections of road maps,
photographs, movie and concert ticket stubs, restaurant menus, train
schedules, and any other mementos from your summer.
3. Map It
Instead of just telling the class where you went and what you did,
pinpoint our summer destinations and activities on a map. If you stayed
close to home, use a local road map. If you were able to travel to
several cities and states, use a countrywide map. Glue magazine cutouts
of activities, or actual photos of your fun onto the map. For example,
if you went to a dude ranch in Dallas, glue a picture of a horse onto
the map in Dallas. If you visited Mount Rushmore, glue a photo of your
family onto the map in South Dakota. The same goes for rock climbing,
swimming, snorkeling, and anything else you had a chance to enjoy over
the summer months.
4. Seashell Memories
Capture every fun moment of summer vacation on seashells. If you didn't
get a chance to go to the beach, don't worry-most craft and hobby stores
sell bags of seashells. Use acrylic paint and a clean paintbrush to
paint pictures inside the shells. My son's summer shells feature an
octopus in the ocean (from snorkeling-we didn't actually see an octopus,
but he wishes he had), a colorful clown from a friend's birthday party,
an airplane in the clouds, and the night sky filled with stars and a
bright crescent moon.
Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of "The Five
Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones."
Visit Deborah's website for more family-friendly ideas:
http://www.fiveminuteparent.com
Inside The Minds Of
School-age Kids
How do we help our kids through tough times in school? I think the
biggest road block is finding out what is going on at school. Oh sure,
they will tell us about the comings and goings of kids and who got in
trouble during casual conversations in the car or at the dinner table.
But how often do they share the things that are worrying them most?
Aren't They All Our Children?
There may be no greater question for our generation. And how we answer that
question will determine the shape of our world for years to come...
Advantages Of Raising A Bilingual
Child
There is no doubt that raising a bilingual child takes a great deal of effort
and commitment from the parents. Is it worth it?
Motivating Your Children To Get Things
Done
If you have children, you know how hard it can be to get them to do the
things they should, and how frustrating. When the kids are distracted, convincing
them to take care of their household chores and other
responsibilities can be a real challenge.
Delightful Musical Activities and
Imaginative Play You Can Enjoy With Your Child
Today's parents are learning more about their child's unique developmental
process, and the shared learning experience that creates a unique bond as the
child associates learning with fun, musical play. Here are some delightful
activities you can do with your child.
How Old is Too Old to
Become a Mother? Britain's Oldest Mum-To-Be is 66.
The papers are full of the news about Elizabeth Munro, due to become the oldest
Mum in Britain at 66. As you might expect, there are opinions left, right and
sideways about whether this is "right." But on what grounds should this woman
and her pregnancy be judged, if at all?
Think You Know How to Handle These 10
Parenting Emergencies? Think Again!
There have been times over the years when I've seriously thought the words
"parenting" and "emergency" were one and the same. You probably have, too, as
kids tend to get into things when you turn your head for just a second. So,
let's look at some common emergency situations and see the wrong and right way
to handle them... Editor's note: I thought I was well-up on emergency
procedures and first aid, but this article has made me think again. Well worth
reading!
