Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in cincinnati, OH

Teachable Moments and a Book List

by Amy Mumper

July 07, 2009

Tuesday are meant to be "list days".  And, try as I might, I find it soo hard to simply make up a list!  Today in particular, I have an interesting story to tell.  It was one of those "teachable moments" you hear so much about, but I don't know yet if I handled it right.

Anyhow, my five year old was going to be dropped off for a science camp today and it was a packed house, let me say.  In addition, he noticed many children who were of Middle Eastern and Asian descent.  But, of course he didn't say that.  He said, "Mom, I noticed lots of kids there that probably spoke Spanish, like they're from Mexico."  Totally harmless, but a real learning opportunity, I thought.  Some of them surely did speak Spanish as their first language.  But, I happen to also know that many of them are bilingual, speaking both  English and Arabic, or English and Chinese.

Now, here's a unique situation:  all of my children take Spanish at school (how cool is that?  Two of them are in preschool!)  So, they all think they can speak fluent Spanish.  Whew.  This parenting gig is rough. 

But, in the end, we talked about how English is our first language, but not everyone's.  And, learning a second language is fun, and also takes lots of time.  Some kids are lucky that they learn two languages at home, or one at school and one at home.  I was able to remind them of the kids at the pool who speak Arabic with their family, but turn around and immediately speak English to us when they ask to borrow a ball.  (I find bilingual people totally fascinating!)  They remembered those children because their mothers all wear particular headdresses and are covered head to toe, except for their faces and hands.  I made a real point to say that even though they have differences from us (ie the language they speak at home), they are still Americans, like us.  My oldest child then said, "Like Joe, for example.  He's from Korea, but he lives here and is American."  Joe is in her class and was adopted from Korea.  Good example I thought.  And, ALL my kids LOVE Joe. 

I hope for them it was a conversation that broadened their horizons a little bit. 

Now, my list:  Book that broaden horizons about family and others.  You remember The Family Book by Todd Parr I mentioned yesterday?  That tops my list:

• The Family Book, by Todd Parr
• On the Day that You were Born, by Debra Frasier
• God Gave Us You, by Lisa Tawn Bergren and Laura J. Bryant
• Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born, by Jamie Lee Curtis
• Families, by Susan Kuklin for a broad definition of family, including biracial and gay and lesbian families
• All Families are Special, by Norma Simon and Teresa Flavin

Genealogy for Preschoolers

by Amy Mumper

July 05, 2009

As you may know, I teach preschool.  Specifically, 2 ½ year olds.  It's amazing fun to teach this age level because absolutely everything is new to them:  the seasonal projects, various art supplies - everything.  And, you've got to be careful about them taking things too literally.  For instance, this year, we did a keepsake project that is a "family tree".  Whew!  They could NOT figure out why it was a tree of all things.  So, we went for a really concrete look for the project.  You might enjoy trying it at home; it's a great start for talking about the family relationships that are so precious to you and your child.

First, start with some green and brown tempera paint.  Then, ‘paint' you child's hand green (they LOVE this - we talk about how tickly it is).  Then, print their green hand on a piece of paper, toward the top.  Wash your hands - and your child's - and then one or both of you paint the trunk of the tree with a paintbrush and brown paint.  Once your tree dries, you're ready to add on the family.  Use a quarter sized circle for each person in the family - pink for girls and blue for boys.  Then, find a picture of each person and glue it in the circle.  Write the family member's name on it and voila!  Your child's family tree!

If you're really ambitious, I think a butcher paper-sized family tree would really be fun.  I say this because my husband is one of six children.  Needless to say, my children have MANY cousins on that side of the family.  They know we're all Mumpers, but visualizing each individual family takes a lot of explaining.  Seeing each nuclear family on a different branch on paper, sharing Grandma and Grandpa, would make SO much sense to them!

More genealogy for preschoolers can be simply talking about your surname.  For instance, find on a map where your ancestors came from.  Tell about what language your name was originally from and whether or not it has changed.  Try out the kids' first names with an O' or a ‘Mac' in front of your surname.

 If you're like me, you've named your children after elder people in your family.  My kids LOVE this connection.  We tell specific stories about the person whose name they have.  We've given them special keepsakes "from" their namesake, showed pictures of Mommy and Daddy with this special person.  It's a great connection and gives them great pride in not only their family name, but their first name as well.

Need a book as a starting point for knitting family yarns?  Try Todd Parr's The Family Book.  Or, for little ones, simply insert pictures in this cutie book!  And, for a fun look at family vacationing to one another's homes, check out The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.