Moms Inspire Learning

Planting the Seeds of Healthy Eating

The simple act of eating every day can open up many different conversations. Sometimes, children will be delighted with what's on their plate, but there will also be times when food is different and unaccepted.

Just as we need to help children understand that people may look different on the outside, but are very much alike on the inside, we can help them discover the magic, mystery, and gift of having a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to eat. By unlocking the grocery store of understanding, a whole new rainbow of eating comes into view.

Children's Books to Help You Learn, Cook, and Grow With Your Child

Some of us are too busy to cook, let alone think about tending a garden. Both of these activities can be time consuming, I admit. So, what if we build them into family time? It's a win-win situation all around. Don't you think?

Remembering Young Abe on Valentine's Day

If you could send a Valentine hug to a past or current President today, which one would it be? Since Abraham Lincoln's birthday was on February 12th, he would probably be a popular choice.

While Lincoln is viewed by many as one of the greatest American presidents, how many of us know much of anything about his early life as a child? I decided to hit the picture books, and I quickly realized that his inner genius certainly did not unleash itself overnight. Whispers of his greatness came in gentle waves, but eventually they would echo for all to hear.

So, what early experiences and character traits might have paved young Abe's path to greatness? You can ponder the possibilities by reading the guest post I wrote for Melissa Taylor, freelance writer and creator of Imagination Soup, entitled Abe Lincoln Sets the Stage.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oh, and you can connect the dots of picture books by continuing on with The Culture of Food and School.

Food for Life and Laughter

Can you think of a picture book that stayed with you long after you'd read it? Well, today's book is one of those for me.

It's not my typical book pick - although maybe it is. You see, it's a simple book with few words, but the photographs will make you laugh - and think - at the same time. Those two words are not ones that usually go together so well much of the time. It's not easy for an author - or a comedian - to pull off effectively. So, it's the book's uniqueness that sets it apart for me. An added plus is that it brings a smile to my face with every turn of the page.

Key Question: Where Does Food Come From?

And so, with a little help from her family and a friend, Frances got past her obsession with bread and jam. Sometimes, what we need most is for someone close to us to set a good example. Friends and family can be great influences, but they can be really bad ones too.

What kind of example are you setting for your children? How are you instilling a desire to eat healthfully in them? And what exactly constitutes healthy eating? There's so much conflicting research out there these days. It's almost impossible to keep up with, isn't it?

Well, no matter how much we may or may not know about food as preventive medicine, there are many reasons to learn more about the subject with our children by our sides! Family members of all ages can learn so much together, especially if they use the many extraordinary picture books which are available these days. And what could be more important than the subject of making healthy lifestyle choices?

A World of Water for Blog Action Day

Since today is Blog Action Day, when bloggers from around the world write about the same issue on the same day, I decided to write a very brief post concerning a topic I wrote a series about previously: water.

I wrote most of the posts in that series (find link below) before the Gulf oil spill occurred. If anything at all positive came out of that tragedy, it was the reminder that the water supply connects every living thing, and that we must do everything we can to protect the one resource which makes our planet oh so unique.

For most of us, it's the little things we do every day that can help preserve and protect water. We can turn off our faucets quickly, take shorter showers, and not put harmful chemicals on our lawns or down our drains. Our actions may not make waves, but they certainly will create ripples. And not just in our surrounding neighborhoods, but around the world.

While access to water is something so many of us take for granted, many others struggle every day with finding enough clean water to simply survive. The circle of life and nature is not always fair. It can be cruel for some. The more each of us plays our part, the better the outcome for every living thing.

Have you spoken with your children about this important topic? If you're having a hard time doing so, and could use a little help, some related picture books might just do the trick. You might even learn a thing or two yourself! You can find my A World of Water series here.

If we don't take water for granted, chances are, our children won't either. This weekend might be a perfect time to start a conversation at the dinner table, or while your child is brushing her teeth. How, when, or where will you approach the subject? A simple question, timed just right, could really spark an interest in the subject.

I hope your weekend is as refreshing as the sound of a waterfall!

 

Nonfiction Monday Roundup of Book Reviews

Since yesterday's Nonfiction Monday: Connecting the Patterns of Math, Literacy, Science and Art was a rather lengthy post, I decided to create this separate post with all of the great book review links for this week.

And here they are:

Spiders, Webs, and Literacy

What's the first picture book that comes to your mind? What was it that made it memorable? Was it the actual book, or the person you were reading it with? Was it the illustrations?

Why do some children's books draw us in right away, while others we struggle to get through?

The World According to Picture Books

What I love most about picture books is that they take the youngest of readers to places they otherwise might never visit. A library card really is like a passport to real and imaginary worlds; and some children's books stay with us forever, like memories of real trips usually do.

A World of Water, Part 5

"The water you drank today may have rained down on the Amazon rain forest five years ago."

What a great way to spark a conversation about water, huh? Picture books can be great conversation starters, and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth (CitizenKid), by Rochelle Strauss, certainly is no exception.

After writing a few posts relating to water last year, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this extremely informative children's book recently, and just had to tell you all about it! It's a great complement to the other books I had selected, since it's geared for children between the ages of 9 and 12.