R is for Reading

To watch a little person enjoy a book is so satisfying. Our dear little grandson just loves to be read to.
He loves interactive books. I love to bring out books I've saved, purchased, or found at thrift stores. Some of my favorite moments with him are when we're reading bedtime stories.

One book that my children have enjoyed when they were babies and now C has enjoyed it too, is Pat the Bunny, a children's classic. The drawings and text are simple and so appealing and relevant to children.

Sally Lloyd Jones has some beautifully illustrated and written children's books.  I'm waiting till C is a little older before I read from the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is one all ages will enjoy.

What would life be without books? I may be a bit biased here. I know not everyone loves to read, but.. I think they are missing out if they NEVER read anything for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Thursday 13 - How do I love thee?

I spent the morning child minding my little 20 month old grandson, the light of my life! So, I thought, why not list the ways to show love to my little sweet pea?

1. give him a home baked oatmeal scone
2. read a book, especially one where he has to lift the flaps or find objects!
3. chase him around
4. teach him how to play hide and seek
5. twirl him around in a swivel chair, first one way, then the other
6. turn on the music and dance with him
7. snuggle with him
8. have a sleepover
9. smother him with kisses
10. carry him around and  let him touch the trinkets and decor around your home
11. let your hand puppet talk to him
12. let him throw doggie toys for Enzo the chi to retrieve
13. tickle him

Book Review: Growing Up Social

The average American child and teenager spends at least 53 hours a week with technology, directly in front of screens. That's a lot more time than they spend interacting with parents and other people. This world of constant digital distraction and attention (screens are everywhere!) means that children aren't growing up the way we did. Memories of playing in back yards, bushes, and other 'wild places' might be absent from today's childhood. Curling up with a good book, being read to, and participating in family discussions are not part of many of today's children's experiences.

Gary Chapman. and Arlene Pellicane have written Growing Up Social to empower parents to make positive changes, away from an over-dependence on screens. They include how to teach skills that every healthy person needs to master: affection, appreciation, anger management, apology, and attention. Love languages are also covered. This book helps parents set a healthy balance so that their family can live with screen time, not for it. This will not happen unless there is intentionality and this book is the ticket to practical help.

In many ways, this is much more than a book about living with technology today. It's about how to have a healthy family in a world where varied distractions take us away from the relationships we value the most. I'm sure we have all experienced times when we haven't felt valued by those we love. This book includes practical ideas, quizzes, and discussion questions to help families focus on  and show respect to each other.

This book is relevant to anyone who values their relationships with those closest to them and is willing to take steps to improve communication, resulting in a healthy balance between digital and face to face communications.

This would be a great gift for those with young children. In this ever changing, challenging world, parents need all the help they can get in raising healthy, well adjusted, happy children.

I received this book free from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Jesus Calling - My First Bible Storybook

I decided to change things up and review a children's book this time around. There seems to be a lot of babies in my extended family at this time, so I figured this book will make a great gift for the next little one who arrives!

 Jesus Calling- My First Bible Storybook  is a board book, meaning each page is hard,  won't bend or rip (important for little hands), and is wipeable. It's about 5x7", which makes it pretty easy to hold, and the book easily lays flat and stays open. Each of the 20 stories covers a 2 page spread and includes a very brief story, a "Jesus Calling" reflection speaking directly to the child, and a related Bible verse. The stories begin with Creation and move through to the promise that Jesus will be returning again.The colored pictures are engaging for little ones.

The stories in this book don't include a lot of details, so I think it's great for a review of stories a preschooler may have already heard. Some content may be a little above the understanding a toddler might have. I'm not sure it would hold the child's attention or interest, unless the reader was very intentional about pointing out pictures, asking questions about them, and adding relevant details.

This book will be of interest mainly to preschoolers as they look at pictures or if it's used as part of a bedtime devotional.

Thanks to BookLookBloggers for this free copy sent to me in exchange for an honest review.