Storytime - How to Enourage THEM to read.

Do you remember starting to read in kindergarten? Nope, me neither...and I'm sure my mom did not come from kindergarten round-up with a list of "site" words. We also received in our packets some info from the National Institute for Literacy with some tips on encouraging your new reader to read.

Help them understand what they're reading with questions like:
"tell me about the story"
"who did what? why?"
"how did it end"
"what did you think of the book"
"is this story real or made up?'

Get them excited about reading.
Take turns reading their favorite book.
Let your children see you reading.
Go to the library together.
Let them write notes to grandma or cousins & send them in the mail.

Wordless Wednesday

Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Royal Oak This Sunday!

Save the date - this sunday the 25th is downtown Royal Oak's 26th annual Spootactular event! Bring your little goblins downtown for trick-or-treating at local retailtors...plus pumpkin bowling & face painting. Come visit with us from 2-4:00! For more info check out downtown Royal Oak online.

Bad Dreams? Catch them!

It amazes me that little ones should even have bad dreams...I just think its cruel & unfair. And I always wonder with my 5 year old, what are they about? I'm always afraid to ask as not to remind her of them. Our Mimi (or grandma) has a dreamcatchers in her bedroom...now your kids can make thier own!

Dreamcatchers are an authentic American Indian tradition, from the Ojibway tribe. Ojibway people would tie sinew strands in a web around a small round or tear-shaped frame and hang this "dream-catcher" as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares. The legend is that the bad dreams will get caught in the web.

Make your own Dreamcatcher

materials

4" embroidery hoop
tacky lue

4 yards yarn

jingle blees, feathers, beads

craft foam

how to

1. tie a loop of yarn at the top of the hoop at a hanger

2. knot one end of yarn at the top of the hoop & glue to secure

3. stretch the yarn across the hoop to the opposite side and wrap twice around the rim. Continue until you form a "web" leaving about 5" of yarn; knot and secure with glue.

4. cut yarn to approx. 18"; fold in half unevenly and tie to the bottom of the hoop.

5. decorate with bells, feathers and beads.

6. with craft foam, create a name plate; with a hole punch, punch holes in the corner and attach to the center of the web.

First Juice. Have You Seen This?

Another great find that I can't take credit for, it all goes to a girlfriend.

Half the sugar. Organic. Nothing artificial. Purple carrots. Yummy flavors like banana, peach, blueberry & apple.

The girls love it (personally its not so yummy, but I'm not the one drinking it!). I've found it at Whole Foods & some of the Krogers too! You gotta try it!

Wordless Wednesday

another great photo from Purple Tree Photography