Archive for the ‘Read 'Em and Reap’ Category

by Mia Geiger

As a surprise, one day I brought home a bouquet of pink roses. I put them in the center of our kitchen table, and didn’t say anything to my daughter about them. When she walked in and saw the burst of color, she said, “Wow!” 

Together, we marveled at how some of the flowers were in full bloom and others were just starting to open. For days we enjoyed looking at them as we ate our meals. Then one day after school, the roses looked more crunchy than velvety. 

“What happened to the flowers?” she asked. (more…)

 by Mia Geiger

My daughter had the cutest bassinet. It boasted a brightly colored Noah’s Ark theme with giraffes, bears and tigers. Delicate ruffles bordered the edges. I couldn’t wait for my newborn baby girl to sleep in it.

She, however, didn’t seem to care about the adorable design; she wanted to party all night. Sleep, I would soon learn, was not high on her priority list. 

As a new mom, I had no idea how crucial an issue getting sleep — for both the baby and the parents — would be. For some reason, I thought I’d gently lay her down in the comfy bassinet and she’d drift off to dreamland. Turns out I was the one dreaming!

It was a long time before my precious girl learned that it wasn’t such a terrible thing to shut those little eyes for several hours. In the meantime, I began searching for books that would encourage her to sleep, or at least plant the seed of tiredness. 

“Goodnight Moon” quickly became a staple in my house and as my daughter got older it became even more fun to read together. I’d say, “Goodnight kittens. And goodnight … .” And she’d squeal, “mittens!” It became a sweet moment we both looked forward to, and I soon found that simply saying gentle, comforting verse or slowly telling a cheerful story helped lull her to sleep. 

I loved finding new books for us to read and even now, eight years later, she rarely slumbers off to sleep without first reading a few chapters of her favorite stories. Maybe all that reading early on has had something to with her nighttime routine, but no matter; for babies and toddlers, books have a way of magically easing the transition to bedtime. 

Here are perfect-for-snuggling stories to enjoy with your little one.

Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen & Sherry Scharschmidt
Ages 3 – 6. Candlewick.

Kids will love tucking whimsical animals into bed with lift-the-flap blankets. The book begins: ‘It’s time for bed. Who needs to be tucked in?” A piglet says “I do!” and a pink “blanket” can be placed over his body. A playful way to end the night.

Bedtime for Mommy, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Ages: 3 – 5. Bloomsbury

A little girl puts her mommy to bed in this twist on the usual bedtime routine. The mom asks for five more minutes, two stories, and a glass of water, while her daughter cheerfully obliges. A sweet story with realistic watercolor illustrations.

I’m not sleepy! by Jonathan Allen
Ages 2 – 5. Hyperion

Baby Owl is stretching his wings, yawning and closing his eyes. When his friends notice, they comment how sleepy he must be. But Baby Owl insists “I’m not sleepy!” Irresistible watercolor illustrations and pitch-perfect toddler banter make for a fun read.

One Drowsy Dragon, by Ethan Long
Ages: 3 – 5. Orchard

A tired dragon wants to sleep, but his dragon pals make a ruckus in this colorful counting book. One dragon clangs a cup, two dragons battle, three dragons tap dance, and so on, until he finally falls asleep. 

Time for Bed, Baby Ted, by Debra Sartell; illustrated by Kay Chorao
Ages: 1 -3 . Holiday House

Baby Ted says he can’t go to bed because he’s not a baby. He pretends to be a crocodile, duck, frog, and other creatures, and his dad uses the opportunities to get him ready for bed. A cute story showing the love between a father and son.

Mia Geiger is a freelance writer in the Philadelphia area. Visit her at miageiger.com.

by Mia Geiger

Just before the end of my daughter’s sixth birthday party, came the best part, at least for her. Presents!

One by one, she tore open the wrappings. Earlier, I had reminded her to say thank you to each gift-giver. Things were going fine; then came the last gift. She held the big, brightly colored package, as excited as any kid who just ate a cupcake with heaps of frosting. All 12 kid-eyes and 12 parent-eyes were upon her. She ripped off the paper, looked at the gift and said, “I already have this.”

 The room went quiet.

What’s a mom to do? Obviously, to an adult the correct response is always “thank you.” But kids don’t filter their words. They tell it like it is, and that’s part of their charm. Just like when my daughter tells me my chin is pointy (how charming of her to say!) or that there’s gray in my hair (how cute!).

Saying “please” and “thank you” goes a long way in life, and the sooner youngsters learn this, the more of a habit it’ll become. The trick is to teach them in terms they understand. So I’ve begun kid-friendly manners lessons. If my daughter chews with her mouth open, I say, “Ewww, I can see your Cheerios!” If she sneezes into the open air instead of into her elbow I say, “Oh no, your germs are all over me!” The key is to get their attention so they’ll take notice of what they’re doing.

If all goes well it won’t be long before your tyke becomes the official leader of the manners police, eager to catch you not practicing what you preach. So keep those elbows off the table.

These books encourage kids to be polite. 

Milo’s Special Words, by Charise Mericle Harper
Ages 3-6. Robin Corey Books  

This cute story becomes interactive as readers lift flaps and spin wheels. Milo asks for milk but his busy mom doesn’t move — not until he says the “special word.” Readers spin the wheel to reveal “”Flooppindoodle!” “Hocus-pocus!” and more as Milo tries different terms. Bright watercolors and lots of white space make this book appealing to look at and fun to read. 

Martha Doesn’t Say Sorry! by Samantha Berger; illustrated by Bruce Whatley
Ages 3-6. Little, Brown 

Martha is a mischievous otter who doesn’t want to apologize for doing not-so-nice things to her family. But when she discovers her family doesn’t want to be nice to her unless she apologizes, she rethinks her decision. The expressive eyes on the book’s characters and simple, gentle text send a good-manners lesson to kids in a playful way. 

Manners Time, by Elizabeth Verdick; illustrated by Marieka Heinlen
Ages 1-3. Free Spirit Publishing

Bold, cheerful artwork and vibrant text encourage good manners in this engaging board book: “Hello is how you greet someone. Do a little wave!” The last two pages include tips for caregivers.

Please Pass The Manners, by Lola Schaefer; illustrated by Kellie Lewis
Ages 4-6. Little Simon

Large lift-the-flaps and silly animals help teach mealtime manners. One page says, “Please don’t carry germs to your seat.” Under the flap on the facing page, three pigs play with suds and the text says,  “Wash your hands before you eat.” A chart for keeping track of manners appears at the back of the book.

Mia Geiger blogs about books and parenting at http://miageiger.blogspot.com/. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MiaGeiger.

by Mia Geiger

The countdown has finally ended. It’s spring! Winter was fun, with lots of snowman-building, hot-chocolate-drinking and sledding down the hill, but my daughter and I are ready for some springtime fun.

We’re looking forward to wearing just a light jacket instead of a bulky, heavy coat; driving to the local playground to swing on the swings; and having a catch in the cul-de-sac. Most of all, though, we’ll be riding two-wheelers together. Last summer my girl gave up the Strawberry Shortcake training wheels that adorned her pink bicycle and spent a few weeks practicing riding her two-wheeler. And I, someone who hasn’t ridden a bike in 20 years, recently took advantage of a bike sale. Wish me luck as I see if the old saying about learning to ride a bike is true!

With so many possibilities for outdoor activities, pull out your favorite blanket, spread it out on your lawn and settle in with these books and your favorite little person to celebrate the joys of spring. (more…)

by Mia Geiger

One of my favorite things about having a baby was telling her how much she meant to me. I’d whisper mushy sentiments to her over and over. How could I not, what with those tiny toes, button nose and scrumptious smile?

I also read books to her that expressed similar sentiments. Even if she didn’t understand the meaning of what I was saying, the gentle words of the stories were soothing, and the pictures of babies and toddlers were fun to explore.

Maybe it was all those new-mom hormones, but whenever I saw a book that talked about a mother’s love and the preciousness of a baby, I was helpless. I’d borrow several books at a time from the library, and when I spotted an especially lovey-dovey book at the bookstore, if I could, I’d splurge. Looking back, it wasn’t such a bad habit!

Share and enjoy these books that say “I love you” with your new little one: (more…)

by Mia Geiger

As the youngest of two siblings I became “the baby” of the family the second my parents brought me home from the hospital. But my sister got the grand prize: She instantly became the “big sister.”

I don’t know what my parents told my sister, then a toddler, just before they brought me home. I’m guessing they were probably so tired from taking care of a two-year-old that they just silently prayed things would go smoothly.

We got along well, without resentment at having to share toys or attention, although one time my mom found my sister upstairs trying to give me a haircut with a sharp object. Other than that, my sister has made my life richer in so many ways.

You never know what kids are thinking, though. A child might seem perfectly content at the prospect of a new little bundle, but inside they might be scared. They might wonder: Will my parents love me as much? Will I still get attention? Why do they need another baby?

Here are books to share with siblings and soon-to-be-siblings to make the transition to a bigger family a little more smoothly. (more…)