Raising a Book Lover

I love children's books and through my career I've collected a large library.

When I retired last year I sorted through them all and above is what I have left.

Behind each door is a cubby full of books waiting to be shared.

In another book shelf I've stored my baby board books.

Those are the ones we are using right now.

Every month I bring a new bunch of books to my daughter's place,

I am their baby book library - Nana's library.

My daughter and son in-law introduced books right from birth.

They made it a part of their bed time routine in the beginning.

My husband (Opa) and I shared books with her any time we could.

Starting with just reading one page, if that was all she was interested in.

I liked using flap books because we were into 'peek-a-boo".

Those books kept her attention a little longer.

Sharing books gave us that wonderful experience to bond,

for us to get to know each other,

to build trust, introduce new words, concepts, emotions, 

and to have fun.

And her love of books grew to more than just bedtime.

There were usually a couple of books available in her toy basket

to be seen as an everyday item not something special to be pulled out 

at certain times.

She was allowed to play with them, become familiar with how they felt

and learn how to open and flip the pages.

As she grew older the amount of books available to her at one time increased.

Her mom created a book shelf that is at her level and is in their main living area.

She has become more specific in which books she wants to look at.

She picks through the books until she finds the one she wants, carries it to one of us, climbs up on our laps, and turn the pages.

She now has her favourite books and her favourite pages.

Today she turns one and she loves books.

She loves to share them with us 

or enjoy them herself.

I think it's time to bring out the felt board and expand on the stories.

Saying Hello to Our Chicks

Day two and we arrived to find six more chicks, two of them freshly hatched. 
 
Once they were dry we moved them from the incubator to the brooding bin.
 
I wanted the children to have the opportunity to hold the chicks but I was nervous of how careful they would be so we established a few rules.
   
Only a parent or myself could take a chick out
and the children had to be sitting down.
 
It was a highlight of my day to introduce a chick to a child.  Then handing the responsibility over to them to gently care for it.
  
They were so careful as they checked it all over.  Gently pulling on it’s little wing,  counting it’s toes and snuggling it close.
    
      
It has been a wonderful time for grown up and child to share this special moment.
   
And for our youngest to reach and stretch and try to get their hands on them.
     
                  
Many parents used the opportunity to use our resources to reinforce how the chicks were made.  They also took the time to read a few stories about chicks as they sat together.
   
The children were shocked to see the chicks poop, and we saw a lot of it on day 2.  Does that mean they are eating?  Another Mother Hen worry.
 
We’ve named some of the chicks and will continue to think of some for the
others as we continue to watch them.