Books: knowledge, choice, power-a refuge that exercises the imagination, an invention that changed the world and put it in our hands. Actor Michael Caine said that the greatest thing he'd ever done was learn to read. Would your child agree? Does he curl up with a book every chance he gets-and always at bedtime? Does he ask you to buy books when out shopping, regularly visit the library, and sprinkle conversations with newly discovered words? If so, he'd say, like Stephen King, that books are portable magic.
If, however, your child's a reluctant reader, don't force the issue but definitely continue to share stories, along with interesting news and magazine articles--and be seen reading often. All the while, know your child's interests and keep looking for the right book, the perfect fit. Besides good fiction, expose your child to non-fiction, biographies, newspapers, magazines, even comics, which are usually loaded with high-level vocabulary. And remember: free reading books should be pleasurable and written below your child's grade level. To check suitability, first check the back cover or copyright page for the reading level (R.L.), and then give it the five-finger test. As a randomly chosen page is read silently, she raises a finger for each unfamiliar word encountered. Five unknowns suggest setting it aside for another day. And, if she's complaining about a book after about fifteen or so pages, it's time to choose another.
Meanwhile, create a cozy, well-lit reading corner, stock the house with books, and give them as gifts. From your own readings, share great leads, interesting, well-written passages, strong characterization and/or dialogue. At the same time, be curious about your child's choices, and occasionally read the same novel, sharing predictions, insights, questions, and explanations. After finishing that book, hold a mini-booktalk, and during meals, tell stories, reminisce, and hold discussions. Conversation bolsters vocabulary, one of the best predictors of reading ability. Also visit the library together at least twice a month and encourage your child to always carry a book with him-even to the doctor's waiting room. Favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Jerry Spinelli, Richard Peck, Brian Jacques, Katherine Patterson, and Gary Paulsen. Don't let your child miss out on any of them or the countless other writers waiting to tell their tales.
And when a novel is required reading, either purchase it so it can be written in and highlighted or load up on small sticky notes for recording questions, important details, plot developments, vocabulary, etc. With textbooks, sticky notes can again come to the rescue. Another possibility, though, is to photocopy a chapter, so your child can highlight important ideas, facts, and terms as he reads, noting any confusing information for asking about the next day. Even better, consider purchasing the textbook either from the school or Follett Education Services.
So, turn off the TV, the computer, video games, whatever and settle down together and read. Help your child discover the truth behind the Chinese proverb: "A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." Don't delay.
Help Children To Read
Puppets really engage and delight children. Watching them is in itself a form of art therapy for the audience. In some parts of the world performances contain a moral message and are watched with deep reverence. A wonderful illustration of this is Indonesia.There puppets continue to be used to re-enact scenes from sacred Hindu scriptures. Prayers always proceed the start of the performance.
The Wayang Musuem in Jakarta, Indonesia perhaps surprisingly has a complete set of British Punch and Judy puppets. They were apparently donated to the museum by a British Ambassador who used to personally give performances to invited guests in the embassy.
The Cadiz area in Andalucia, Spain also still has a lively marionette tradition. In Munich, Germany puppets perform classical opera.
Puppets are always moved by human and not mechanical means.These movable figures come in many shapes and sizes. There are marionettes, glove, rod, finger and shadow puppets to mention a few. They are all operated differently.
If you have not already done so how about exploring using puppets at home with the kids. The aim of my suggestion is not first and foremost educational but therapeutic. The aim is to work at achieving greater harmony between Mind-Body-and-Spirit. Of course, the activity does also have an educational aspect.
Children are often fascinated by puppets and interact strongly with them which can lead to an overcoming of shyness and fear and greater use of speech. The interaction also encourages concentration and use of the imagination. Psychologists use puppets to help traumatized and abused children to express their feelings.
Parents, I hope, will try to use this activity to reach deeper, unspoken levels in their relationships with their offspring. Sessions can become a form of deeply loving and healing communication,. Parents need to let their child play a dominant role if they want to. Both have to deepen their understanding of leading and following, giving and taking.
The making and operating of puppets can be a form of serious, carefully thought-out or joyfully spontaneous activity. Spontaneity can be very important as it avoids the planned lesson-like feeling that is often associated with school.
It is possible to buy beautiful puppets in every form imaginable. If your child really enjoys this activity it might be worth buying a few of the sort that you cannot make yourself. A lot of fun can be had just using things that are to hand. Paper bags, paper cups and plates, plastic bottles, a sock, a pillow case with a ball tied into one end as a head, ice lolly sticks with small pictures portraying whatever you like attached at one end, a block of foam, a scrubbing brush, a scarf with threads tied to the corners to produce an ethereal, ghost-like figure can all be put to practical use. Even attaching a piece of cloth to a can makes an effective puppet. Transform a computer mouse into a snake.
The figures do not necessarily need hands, feet or a body. If you attach weights for example button, beads to a piece of cloth it creates the impression of a body. Take the stuffing out of a toy, add a rod and hey presto it becomes a puppet!
Much fun can be had through the imaginative use of decorative materials such as ribbons, cloth, sequins and other sparkling bits and pieces. Shadow puppets can be created just by using your two hands in front of a plain wall. They can also easily be made by cutting shapes out of plastic, acetate or cellophane and decorating them with such things as sweet wrappers, sequins etc. Drawings can easily and cheaply be photo-copied onto acetate. Attach these cut out shapes to rods. Keep everything bold and simple.
When animating a puppet concentrated focus is called for. When operating a glove puppet the first finger goes into the puppet's head, the second and third fingers are held down as arms. You need to work with your arms stretched out. Make the figure come alive by moving your shoulders and elbows not by turning your wrists.
Operating marionettes requires long practise and great skill and may be beyond most of us.
Thinking up your own stories, perhaps incorporating the child's own ideas or using favourite stories or happenings in their own life is a great way to create a play for the puppet performance. Fairy stories work well. The underlying mood of the story can be dramatic, comic or sad and must be very visual and tactile. The play could even be based around a song. You do not always need a story. Your child may happily ad-lib and you can make up the text as you go along.
Music and sound will add atmosphere to the presentation. You can make sound with all kinds of objects. Saucepans, spoons, cups, dried seeds can all be used and are easy to find. Effective shakers can be made by filling plastic bottles with seeds, ridged surfaces on plastic bottles can produce scraped sounds. Large tins function as drums. The human voice is capable of humming, whistling, chanting as well as singing actual words.
Random clapping produces a very effective rain storm. First using one finger, then two, then three, then finally the whole hand. Remember that sound can become louder, quieter, slower, faster all adding a different atmosphere.
A theatre or stage is not strictly speaking necessary. There are many ways of creating a theatre. For glove puppets working above a sheet suspended between two chairs is probably the simplest.
An overhead projector allows the shadow puppets to appear larger than they actually are. Anything written on an overhead projector presents writing in readable form and does away with the need to write backwards. A white sheet lit from behind forms a screen for shadow puppets.
Explore and Experiment with Puppets with Your Child. It Will be an Adventure for Both of You.
Both Carol & Dzagbe Cudjoe are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Carol has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting. Carol Josel is a teacher and learning specialist. Her books offer expert advice, activities, and lessons to Vis. Carol's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.
Dzagbe Cudjoe has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dancing, Kids and Teens and Recreation and Sports. Dzagbe Cudjoe is a Dance Movement Therapist and ethnologist with wide experience of Dance in Africa and Europe. As an ethnologist her main field of research was into West African traditional religion. As a Dance Movement Therapist her area of specializa. Dzagbe Cudjoe's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Access Credit Report Online The statute also provides that the person who improperly pulled your credit report must pay for your attorneys fees, so these cases are frequently affordable even to consumers who cannot otherwise a...
