Carmela Dutra's Blog

You’ve started reading this article meaning something in the above heading attracted you to it. You have weighed up the potential relevance of the time you have and decided that it sounded interesting enough to at least, start reading it. For that, I thank you!

 

To Read or Not to Read… That is the Question…. Is it? Is it really a question??

The definition of reading according to one dictionary is The action or skill of reading written or printed matter silently or aloud. Another translation renders it as such: To look at and comprehend the meaning of (written or printed matter) by mentally interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed. 

Okay, we have the “technical” definition of the word reading, but can one truly put a meaning to the term reading? Can you describe reading to someone any more than you can describe the color blue to someone who has never seen it? In some ways, the answer is yes you can. Or at least I would say so.

For example, to me, reading is opening the door to new ideas, thoughts, and learning about new things. While taking you into the mind of the author, being able to see things from their perspective. Reading is something that for me is a way of life, like mental oxygen in a way.

Some feel even asking the question to read or not to read, is the silliest thing you could ask a person. For me, reading isn’t an option. The real challenge is finding a home for all of my books. Or, holding off on buying new books before I’ve made even a fraction of my way through the ones I already have waiting their turn.

At the same time for someone who doesn’t read, trying to explain why you enjoy it so much can be a task. If you were to ask them that same question To Read or not to Read can also be a no-brainer answer as it is for someone who does read.

Without question, the American bookworm is a rarer species than two or three decades ago, when we didn’t enjoy today’s abundance of today’s (somewhat distracting) gadgets. Let’s just say what if, what if you are not a reader but want to be? See, that—what you’re doing right now—that’s actually doing your body and mind a world of good. You’re welcome! HA-HA

Okay, in all seriousness it’s up to you if you want to be a reader or not. There are things that you can do about it, just as there are things you can do to prevent it. It’s up to what you chose. For me, reading isn’t a struggle I read all of the time. All of us do, but I choose to read for entertainment not just because daily life requires it.

Babies gravitate naturally towards books, but as they grow older, without proper encouragement and reinforcement, some kids will drift away. My resolution has always been for this not to happen.

So for me, and my house I say To Read or Not to Read… That is a Silly question! 

Sometimes, we need to have something to be accountable to, setting a reading challenging can be an excellent way to do this. I set one for myself every year on Goodreads. If you are on Goodreads, I invite you to join me, let’s read together!

Are you a reader? Did you set any reading goals for 2019? Do you have a particular place you enjoy reading? Perhaps, nestled into a cozy armchair, or under a big shade tree?

Please share some of the books you plan to devel into this year, or ones you have already enjoyed by leaving a comment below.

Toodles!

It’s summertime! That means sunscreen, kids playing in the pool, enjoying your favorite frozen treats and maybe some quality family time. With the long warm lazy days ahead of us, my fellow writer pals and I sharing a breezy summer dreams blog hop with all of you. What are we looking forward to this summer? Do we have any plans or books we are eager to enjoy over these next couple of months? Join us will you, for our annual Jumping into Summer Blog Hop. Please, have a read and discover how I’m finding my summer bliss. Then visit the #Gr8Blogs at the end of this post for even more summer inspiration and smiles.

Reading

 

I’m always an avid reader, but there is something about the warm summer evenings that make me want to read even more. Relaxing in a lounge chair in the backyard with a good book is a great way for me to unwind. I recently finished Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce. 

Set in London during WWII, Emmeline Lake and her best friend Bunty are doing their bit for the war effort and trying to stay cheerful, despite the German planes making their nightly raids. Emmy dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent, and when she spots a job advertisement in the newspaper she seizes her chance; but after a rather unfortunate misunderstanding, she finds herself typing letters for the formidable Henrietta Bird, renowned advice columnist of Woman’s Friend magazine.

Mrs. Bird is very clear: letters containing any Unpleasantness must go straight into the bin. But as Emmy reads the desperate pleas from women who may have gone too far with the wrong man, or can’t bear to let their children be evacuated, she begins to secretly write back to the readers who have poured out their troubles.

What I really enjoyed most of this novel was how clean it was. It has been some time since I’ve read a book that used zero profanity and no discussion involving sexual scenes. This was something I found to be truly refreshing as it is not needed to tell a good story. Clearly, based on the praise this book has received AJ Pearce did not need any that to make an impact with readers. The story is light-hearted, but with a warmth and compassion that can be missing from today’s stories. I will most definitely be checking out future books by Pearce. Highly recommended.

Writing

I seem to always have ideas or illustrations swimming around in my head if I don’t do something about them they nag at me. That is where I currently am. I have two maybe three ideas I’m working on to create some new kid lit books. I am still completely enamored with my newest series Exploring STEAM with Little Katie (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). I love focusing on educating children in a fun and imaginative way. I’ve been working closely with a few school districts these past three years for author workshops and I’ve come to see what the teachers are in need of. Books to encourage all of their students to look at the fun side of science and the surrounding fields. Many children feel these subjects are boring, with little interest in science and math. Using imagination and little creativity, I’ve been able to reach multiple students and have helped them to see learning can be both educational and fun. With the help of these dedicated educators and administrators, I’ve been able to find the topics that are of most interest to the children and their teachers. Until further inspiration strikes, Little Katie

Thinking about

This year is going to open a whole new chapter for my family as we will soon be growing by TWO FEET! Yep, we are expecting our second child, a beautiful boy to join our family. I cannot wait to become a “boy mom.” I love my first son beyond words (as I assume most parents do) from the moment I learned I would be having another boy, I cannot envision myself having anything other than two beautiful blue-eyed boys.  It’s such a surreal feeling knowing that soon I will have two small children and my little Hammy will become a big brother! A role he is already very excited about and eager to step into. Until our newest little bundle of joy arrives, I am soaking up as much time as I can with us as a family of three, and me, a momma of one. I cannot wait for the end of summer/start of fall to arrive and embark on this new journey.

 

 

Activities

Summer is usually the time for road trips or family vacations. Seeing as how this summer will put me starting and finishing my third trimester all in one, we decided on stay-cations this year. I imagine a number of days just hanging out kiddie poolside with my main boy.

We did manage to squeeze in one last family of three only weekend getaway trip to our favorite animal park, but otherwise, we’ll be sticking close to home. Visiting some family that is within driving distance and a few day trips to local attractions sprinkled throughout is on our horizon. I’m planning a pretty chill and relaxed summer, lots of early morning park trips and evening family walks, with the occasional ice cream cone thrown in for good measure. 

Thanks for stopping by! How are you CURRENTLY jumping into this summer? Making big plans? Keeping it low with stay-cations? Ticking off books on your to-read list? Please share in the comment section.
Hey, Bloggers! Join us on our C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y Jumping into Summer Blog Hop. Just add your PG-13 post link below in the comment section. We’ll visit your blog and give you some blog love. And if you use #Gr8Blogs, we’ll support your family-friendly summer-themed post. Be sure to check out these other great summer themed blogs listed below, click the link to learn more about how my fellow authors plan to spend their summers.

Cat Michaels on Cat’s Corner
KidLit Blog by Rosie
Rebecca Lyndsey
Julie Gorges
James Milson “Writing & Things”
Sandra Bennett
Auden Johnson

 

It’s no secret that summer is the most relaxing time of the year. The weather is warm, days are long and vacations are planned. But relaxation doesn’t have to mean sitting around and doing nothing. In fact, summer is the perfect time to make a list of things you want to do but wouldn’t have time for throughout the rest of the year – the ultimate summer bucket list if you will.

Rather than the traditional bucket list items – visit someplace new or run a marathon – get creative with your list. Bucket lists don’t need to be global or expensive. Think of things that would be important to you and then cross them off one by one. Maybe keep things simple and low key? That’s what I plan to do, what’s important to me is family time, and not dying from the heat. Being pregnant in summer isn’t my idea of fun and relaxing but that doesn’t mean I still can’t be apart of the memories to be had and enjoy the family time.

 

Take a photo every day

We are attached to cameras these days. Most people spend 24/7 within an arm’s reach of their mobile phone. Make it a goal to take one photo every day that documents what you’ve done. Maybe it’s the landscape from a hike you took or the ice cream cone that you got with friends. At the end of the summer, put the photos into a slideshow or print them for an album and relive the best moments of your summer.

Explore your own neighborhood

Bucket lists are usually about traveling somewhere new. But it’s surprising how many people have never even explored their hometown. Visit a museum or take a tour and learn something new about the place you call home.

Unplug for a day

It’s hard to disconnect from technology in today’s times, but if there’s ever a time it can be done, it’s the summer. Forget about technology – cell phones, television, podcasts, etc. – and commit an entire day to going into “ghost mode.” Read a book, take a hike or have lunch with some friends. You can catch up on everything you missed on Facebook the next day.

My three year old is obsessed with all things animals and dinosaurs. I’m going to find new local things involving his love of these two area. Keeping things simple and focused more on quality over quantity is what I’m all about. After all, this is my last summer as a momma to one beautiful boy. I want to soak in every moment of it before we start the next chapter of our lives as a family of four.

Don’t let summer pass you by without making the most of it. Find some things that you’ve always wanted to do, or some things you never thought you could do, and make a plan to accomplish it this year.

 

Whenever you listen to the radio or see a commercial on television, I’m sure at least once a day you hear about the importance of reading to our children. We know how crucial it is that we read daily to the youngsters in our lives, but what about us adults?

When was the last time you read a book, or a substantial magazine article? Do your daily reading habits center around tweets, Facebook updates, or IG posts?

If you’re one of the countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly, you might be missing out.

Reading has a significant number of benefits, and here are some reasons to consider.

Mental Stimulation

Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia, since keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power.

Just like any other muscle in the body, the brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy, so the phrase “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to your mind. Not saying you need to read a novel once a month, but reading something daily can help to exercise that sexy muscle you have in that noggin of yours. What else could you do?  Doing puzzles and playing games such as chess have also been found to be helpful with cognitive stimulation.

Stress Reduction

No matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story. A well-written novel can transport you to other realms, while an engaging article will distract you and keep you in the present moment. Both allow tensions drain away enabling you to relax. I find this to be especially true at the end of the day before bed. Turning off all electronics and spending some quiet time reading helps ease me into a better night sleep.

Knowledge

It’s true what they say ”knowledge is power.” How do you get knowledge? Yes, personal experience is fantastic! However, more is needed than just life experiences. Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. The more knowledge you have, the better equipped you are to tackle challenges you’ll face.

A side point to consider, knowledge is the one thing in life that can never be taken from you. You can lose everything, but no one can take away your knowledge and understanding.

Vocabulary Expansion

This goes with the above topic:

The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and they’ll inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary.

Being articulate and well-spoken is of great help in any profession, and knowing that you can speak with self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. It could even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to get promotions more quickly (and more often) than those with smaller vocabularies and lack of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.

Tranquility

In addition to the relaxation that accompanies reading a good book, it’s possible that the subject you read about can bring about immense inner peace and tranquility.

Reading spiritual texts can help aid in lowering blood pressure and bring about an immense sense of calm. Some have said that self-help books assisted them in over covering personal struggles.

Bottom line, there are many reasons as to why reading is beneficial. From being a form of free entertainment, improving our writing, to helping us slow down and focus. Reading has wonderful benefits.

In our internet-crazed world, our attention is drawn in a million different directions at once as we multi-task through every day. Taking just 15 minutes a day to fuel our minds with something more than a screen with updates can do wonders for ourselves.

These are just a few benefits that I listed. What are some things you enjoy about reading? What are you currently reading? Share a comment below with your thoughts on this blog.

Would you agree with these words: Laughter is the best medicine. Or do you ever find yourself saying: I haven’t laughed like that in a long time! Or what if I told you that laughter is like a little miracle we all experience everyday.Would you agree with these statements?

It’s amazing what the power of a single laugh can accomplish. You can go from having just the worst, most lousy, no good, rotten, crummy day you’ve ever had! Then something makes you laugh. I don’t mean a throaty chuckle, I mean a good oldfashioned belly laugh! You know the kind I’m talking about, where you end up with more than just tears streaming down your face. The kind of laugh where you end up begging whoever caused the laugh to stop whatever it is they are doing. Where you find yourself gasping for air, all while trying not to pee. Or is that just me…..

When was the last time you experienced a laugh like that? Was it today? Yesterday? A week ago last Tuesday? Whenever it was, you would likely agree with me that you don’t laugh like that all the time. Why don’t we laugh the way we did when we were kids? Is it that we lost our sense of humor? Have we lost touch with our inner child? Or Is it the anxieties of life that fall upon us? Don’t you just wish we could go back to a simpler time, and just laugh? Why can’t we!?!

Oscar Wilde said it best: Life is too important to be taken seriously.  I couldn’t agree with this comment more! We live in a world full of serious, very important, critical adult things to do. We have enough to do in life, but we never can have too much laughter.

Laughter comes easily for children. In fact, it’s said that children laugh 20 times more today than adults do. Children have a way of enjoying the little things in life, the simplest of things often bring them the most laughter. Something as silly as ’I’m gonna eat me a Levi sandwich!’ Send my little guy into a laughing spell! He is three and his laughter is contagious! The way he giggles as I giggle with him. Or the way he shrikes in excitement, when I make a silly face.  That’s why I say laughter is like a small miracle, it’s able to captivate us. Almost freezing time in a way, while we savor that moment through laughter.

A single laugh is all it takes. That one laugh can stop a fight, take our mind off pain, help us to overcome fear, it can even mend fences. The benefits are endless! A laugh can make all the difference both physically, mentally and emotionally. Just one laugh, a single laugh, is all it takes.

Those belly laughs I mentioned earlier, what causes them? For me, sometimes they are caused due to reading a book by my favorite author, Andrea Camilleri. He has a way of intertwining humor into the mystery of his writing. Often times, I’m caught off guard by it. When it happens, I laugh out loud so loudly, that I often get looks. Oh did I mention I’m usually reading in places where I should be quiet?

One of the benefits often said about laughter is the ability to reduce stress. Have you ever had one of those laughed where you can physically feel some of the tightness leaving your body? An overall feeling of well-being floods your body as you experience a tear jerking session of laughter. Have you experienced this? If so, you know exactly what I’m describing here.

No matter how you achieve laughter, indulge in it! There is even a day once a year dedicated to laughing. April 14th is

International Moment of Laughter Day. This is a day that aims to put a big smile on your face. The objective of this day is to get people to laugh, and to laugh more often. After all, “laughter is the best medicine”. So what better way to end this blog than with a cheesy joke to hopefully bring a smile to your face, and a laugh to your day!

What do you call the security guards who work at the Samsung store?

Guardians of the Galaxy!

I warned you that it was cheesy!

Happy laughing everyone!

I am not someone who enjoys math. I always found it to be a struggle in school, and honestly, at times in life, I still do. It was never taught to me in a fun way or even relaxing way. It was just a bunch of numbers staring back at me. At times, it felt like I was trying to decipher a foreign language that I had no grasp of.

I excelled in every other subject, I even loved most of them. Except for math. Being in homeschool did NOT help with my feelings toward math. My parents tried their best to assist, my dad worked a lot and my mom, well… she didn’t understand it any better than I did. It was a constant struggle for both of us. There was this local show in my area on PBS that came on Monday-Friday from 3-4:30 pm where students could call in and they would walk you through the problem over the air. Let’s just say, I called in so much they knew me by name haha!

I wish I could remember the name of the show because they helped me SO MUCH! I didn’t learn to love mathematics, but I came to understand it better. I did, however, enjoy word problems and geometry. Word problems felt like a mystery story to me. You know the word problems I mean, If train A leaves the station before train B but has to stop along the way when will they meet at such and such place? Yeah, those kind of problems were easier for me to work through.

I also enjoy geometry because it felt as though I was dabbling in the artistic side of math. Everything else, well let’s just say I’ve learned to accept it like I do Brussel sprouts. It’s not my favorite thing, but it doesn’t hurt me either.

It wasn’t until later on in my marriage that I discovered how much my husband enjoys math. I knew he was good at it, but sometimes it feels like I’m married to rain-man as he can work through problems mentally, and have an answer within moments for you. Whereas me, I need a pencil, paper and sometimes my fingers to get the answer (haha). David works in construction, math is more than just a daily part of his life. If measurements off by even just the slightest, then the entire project can suffer.

Before getting married I use to say ‘I’m an art person. Not a math person.’ David has helped me to see that they can be one and the same. After almost eleven years of marriage, I can see there is an art and beauty to the world of mathematics.

I’m a hands-on visual learner, just reading something won’t always do it for me. I can see that my son is the same way. When he is involved and it’s fun everything just clicks for him. I know at some point I will have to help him with math, I won’t always be able to pawn him off onto his father.

What am I to do?? First off, are you aware of how AWESOME Pinterest can be? I find all kinds of crazy fun stuff on there! I also found at the store these nifty geometric math toys for small children. I snagged as many as could and figured these would be a great addition to his preschool time during the day.

They were a hit! Not just for him, but for me too! It’s reminded me that math can be fun and easy especially if it’s kept relaxing and enjoyable. Something I wish I had been reminded of when I was in school. The key to learning anything is patience and keeping it relaxing. When you feel a sense of high stress of pressure to learn something, you either will or won’t.

What is the point of this rant? Even though I am not a math enthusiast, I will at some point in the future tackle this subject in a Little Katie book. The inspiration for that particular book will have come from personal experience and that of my son too. At three, he already knows basic addition and subtraction and loves it! As his father, I think he will grow up loving math. My job (as if parents don’t already wear enough hats am I right?) will be to help keep that momentum going. I’ll do it my way, through the artistic side of things.

Have you ever been asked if you are successful at what you do? How do you respond to this? It does seem to be a pretty broad question. Are you successful because you have a family? Or because you own your own home? What about following your dream? Do any of these equal success? It’s relative based on who you ask.

For the last five years, I have been running author visits in schools mostly local to my area. I have traveled as far as Arizona for one, but most of them are within a 30-mile radius. These past three years have kept me so busy with author visits, workshops and after-school events, that I decided last year to quit my day job as a photographer and focus solely on this author thing. It has been the best decision my husband and I ever made!

By no longer being divided mentally between two things (sometimes physically if events overlapped), I have been able to devote more time to experiencing my favorite aspects as a write, working with the students and visiting schools. Would I define this as success? Yes. Again, I stand by what I said earlier; success means different things to different people. Have I made it to a New York bestseller? No. Does that mean I am not successful as an author? Again, no.

Yes, I have had great success with author visits, but like all things, this didn’t happen overnight. It came with lots of hard work and motivation, two things that are vital to anyone achieving success. I have been writing for children since 2009, only within the last five years did I start author visits. Even then, I was literally cold calling schools begging them to take a chance on me. Fast forward to 2019, and I am no longer cold calling schools to speak with principals. Instead, school districts are calling me asking to work with them.

What have these visits taught me? It’s more than just a visit. These workshops help reach the children on a different level. Sparking something inside them that otherwise might not have been awoken. It’s also a great way to help parents have an active role with their kids.

One of the districts I frequently work with has a strong focus on parent and community involvement. I work closely with the lead for parent and community engagement representative from the district office. At the start of each school year, we spend countless hours customizing a specific educational plan to use at the schools that would help encourage parent involvement. I will say, I am unsure who enjoys the visits more. The children, or their parents!

What else have I learned from these workshops? This is where I define my success as an author. Yes, I have won four literary awards for my Little Katie books. Yes, I was once traditionally published, and I have attended an awards ceremony. All of these are fantastic opportunities that I have had and am eternally grateful. For me, they do not equate success. My success comes from working with the students, engaging and seeing a spark light within them. Not giving up on my desire to work with the teachers and their students in the classroom.

Do I feel I have a successful life? Yes, I am happily married and content with our lot in life. I am about to have a second child, and our family will grow by two feet this September. I love my job and have fun. For me, I feel I have a successful life, but that doesn’t mean because others don’t experience these same things means they are less than successful.

For some, success might be having written their first draft. Submitting their manuscript in spite of the fear of rejection they are feeling. Going after a job they are more than qualified for and taking a risk. Whatever an individual does that makes them happy, and they feel proud of, in my book is successful! I cannot tell you how proud I was of myself when I built three of our Ikea bookcases entirely on my on and without directions. That my friends, what a successful day in my book! Each day holds different forms of successful things both big and small. It’s a matter of how you look at them.

Share your thoughts on this topic in the comments below!

 

Last week was spent with the stupendous students of Blackford Elementary where we enjoyed Read Across America celebrated all week long! This week, I will share a few of the activities we engaged in, perhaps they are things you can incorporate at home or in your own classroom.

Each day was spent visiting a different grade. The first day, I spent working with all of the first graders. We read and discussed the story Yertle the turtle. Now, if you are unfamiliar with this story I will give you a very brief synopsis. There is a turtle named Yertle,  who wishes to be king over everything he sees. He commands all of his turtle subjects to stack on each other‘s back with poor Mack at the bottom of the stack to take the brunt of everything. Why?  So he can be higher than all of the rest. One of the morals of this story that I like to focus on is how we treat our friends and even those who are not our friends.

It always fascinates me how intuitive these first graders are with their answers on how we need to treat one another. We can easily spend 30 minutes or more just discussing lessons from this story. The really fun part is the turtle stacking activity. It’s a very simple game that incorporates math, art, and peer building skills.

Simply take a paper plate and tape a bowl upside down to the bottom of the paper plate and voilà, you have a turtle shell! I recommend using pure white paper plates and paper bowls, part of the activity is where the students decorate their own turtle shell. Then, we stack the turtles as high as we can before Mack (the bottom turtle) burps and the stack falls over. The children go insane over this simple game! Many teachers have told me they saved the turtle shells for a reward at the end of the day to play if the students were well behaved. 

My favorite story by Dr. Seuss is: Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Remember to step with great tact, as life is a great balancing act. The ups and downs one might face in life are very accurate. Sometimes you will be on top of the world. The next moment, you’re as lonely as can be. Activities for this book are very simple, students draw a picture of themselves in the hot air balloon of what they want to do when they grow up. I’ve seen everything from you tubers, professional video game players, to educators and even yes, a children’s author like yours truly. Teachers have expressed it’s helped them to gain a better insight into some of their more reserved students.

One last activity to share with all of you today accompanied the book, Ten Apples up on Top. It’s a very simple, almost minimal book if you will. It is a great way to teach children counting, it is a basic book with funny illustrations. I always feel a little concerned over how juvenile the writing is and if it will be too young for older elementary students. Those feelings of anxiety are quickly squashed once we start the hands-on engineering activity using apples. 

It’s apples, only apples that we use. Nothing fancy, just apples. You think these fourth graders have never seen nor played with apples before! They go gaga over apples! The goal with this activity is two-fold, a fun element to see if you can walk with apples stacked on your head (for the record, we have had two students walk with three apples stacked on top and one took five steps before they fell) and using creativity to engineer a structure using only apples.

The boys and girls love this game so much and really think outside the box with their ideas. Afterwards, we discuss what was learned about building with apples. What would the effects be if we used a variety of apples? I’m always begged by them to keep an apple after we are finished. The answer is yes. Everyone may keep an apple as long as they agree to wash it before eating.

These were just a few of the events that took place during Read Across America week. Each year, I visit a different school and perform the same activities for the students. Why the same activities? They are tried and true and that is what the district’s request when we sign our contract. I am learning a lot about how the students respond to the games and stories shared. It’s always so much fun, and I get to dress up each day. How awesome is that!?! 

Next stop, a similar program in another district in two weeks.  Only, instead of a Dr. Seuss theme, I will be sharing my stories and related activities with the students that accompany my books. 

How do you like to celebrate Read Across America? Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss book? Leave a comment below to share! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know, that today is write a letter to your friend day? It’s one of those “unusual holidays” like national French fry day. It’s not an actual holiday, rather, it’s designed to shed light on something or bring awareness if you will.

 

For me, there is nothing more special than finding a letter waiting for me. Just like there is nothing I enjoy more than surprising a friend with a letter in the mail

 

How long has it been since you last wrote a handwritten letter to someone, you love?

Perhaps you have an upcoming anniversary or a friend with a graduation on the horizon. The best gift you can give is the release of words, on paper, through a handwritten letter.

“Who writes letters anymore?”



That’s the point. Very few people take the time to put pen to paper and express their feelings. It’s time-consuming, requires vulnerability and in truth, well, seems a little old-fashioned. Yet, who doesn’t long to receive a handwritten letter in the mail? I bet, to this day, you still walk to the mailbox with anticipation, thinking that just maybe, there’s a letter for you. There’s no feeling like it when someone takes the time to share their feelings in a letter meant just for you. I imagine there’s someone on your mind right now.

 

 

To further encourage you; here are five reasons to write a handwritten letter now, not later. It will become a lifelong treasure to the person lucky enough to receive it:

1. A Lifetime Keepsake: Personal handwritten notes grow rarer by the day. According to my U.S. Postal Service Man Jessie, he only delivers a handwritten letter once a week. In a world where people seem to have everything, words on paper, sealed with a stamp, can be far more valuable than any material item purchased.

2. Your Heart on Paper: In a wired world — where emails, tweets and text messages are more accessible than handwritten notes — there is something magical about reading words written in longhand. Cursive even amps that feeling up!

3. The Ultimate Surprise: Let’s be honest: How do you feel when someone handwrites you a note? Imagine the person you write walking to their mailbox, opening it and finding a letter inscribed to them from you. I guarantee it will be the best part of their day!

4. A Feeling of Importance: What people want more than anything is to feel validated and to know they matter. Your handwritten letter will send a clear message: You are important and you do matter to me.

5. It’s Fun! Purchase quirky stationery that reflects your personality, buy interesting stamps (I have STEM stamps) and try out a sealing wax stamp to secure the envelope. I have yet to try the wax stamp idea, but it looks cool!

How many times have you missed the opportunity to say what needed to be said, only to find it was too late? Make a point of letting people you care about, who have influenced and shaped your life know how you feel. Don’t forget your children. I try to write Levi letters at least twice a year and while he may not understand their power now, I’m keeping them in a box and they are dated as to when they should be opened. He can have them to read when pivotal moments in life come up. I’m certain they will be treasured.

What are your feelings about handwritten letters? Do you get excited when you find one in your mailbox?

Every January, I start a new reading goal for myself. This year I’ve opted for quality over quantity, by only choosing to read 12 books for 2019. The goal I have set for my son is at least 1-2hrs of reading time a day. It may sound like a lot but really it’s not. At least for our family, it’s not. Our little guy is a bookworm. One of his favorite things to do is visit new bookstores (especially if they have a kids play area). We already read for 30min before bedtime, and usually 10-15 min at nap time. Mealtime is another avenue for story time. Especially right now, with the picky food stage. I have all the time in the world at the dinner table might as well read haha.

Why am I talking about reading to children? All of you know how much I love books and I’ve been reading to my little fellow since the womb. Not too long ago, a good friend of mine and fellow children’s author Rosie Russel, was sharing some insights from a book fair she was attending. She had a table up with a display of all of her books. Her books are all about engaging readers one book at a time. One of the things she mentioned was individuals stating their children were “too young for books.” It always stuns me when I hear people say this. How can a child be too young for books? 

One of the most important things parents can do, beyond keeping kids healthy and safe, is to read with them. That means starting when they are newborns and not even able to talk, and continuing well beyond the years that they can read by themselves. Study after study shows that early reading with children helps them learn to speak, interact, bond with parents and read early themselves, and reading with kids who already know how to read helps them feel close to caretakers, understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens of the world.

Read aloud early — and keep it going! The good news, according to the  Kids & Family Reading Report by Scholastic, is that more than three out of four parents who have children ages 5 and younger start reading aloud before their child reaches his first birthday. This practice increased to 40 percent in 2016 from 30 percent in 2014 among parents who read aloud before their baby is 3 months old. The research also showed that more parents of 3- to 5-year-olds are reading aloud frequently, with 62 percent of these parents reading aloud five to seven days a week, compared with 55 percent in 2014.

But it’s not all great news: There’s been a drop in parents continuing to read aloud after age 5.

Tip to keep it going: Have fun and be playful. Use this as an opportunity to ham it up and perhaps create different character voices to really engage the child. Don’t be shy about not perfecting the read aloud — especially with little ones. Don’t feel discouraged if a younger child gets distracted or interrupts story time with questions. That’s all part of the learning journey and reading process. 

Don’t forget adding books to your home library that showcase diverse storylines and characters. When looking for children’s books to read for fun, both kids (37 percent) and parents (42 percent) mostly agree they “just want a good story” and a similar percentage want books that make kids laugh. One in 10 kids ages 12 to 17 say they specifically look for books that have “culturally or ethnically diverse storylines, settings or characters.”

Tip: Look for stories that showcase different experiences, backgrounds, religions, identities and more to help your child find him or herself in books — as well as learn about other people’s lives. This will teach children the importance of empathy and kindness.  One of our favorites is How to Be a Lion by Ed Ver. 

Never forget — choice rules when kids read for fun. Eighty-nine percent of kids ages 6 to 17 agree that the favorite books “are the ones that I have picked out myself.” And book choice starts early, as 67 percent of parents with kids up to age 5 reported that their kids choose the books for read-aloud time. This goes up to 81 percent of parents with kids ages 3 to 5. 

Many of the books I want to read at bedtime never get chosen. Unless, I plant them in such a way where they are picked out by his truly! Yes, I have been known to trick him into picking the stories I want to read. 

Tip:  Make books accessible.  Make sure your bookshelves are low enough for kids to reach the book that they want to read. Keep books by your children’s bedside, in the playroom — all over the house. Bring books with you on car trips, to the grocery store, or even to the doctor’s office waiting room. Rather than handing them a device, hand them a book they love. The more accessible you make books, the more you’ll see their reading frequency grow.

Do you have any tips for encouraging reading with children? What are some things you enjoyed about books and storytime with your little ones? Share some of your favorite stories in the comments below to help spread the love of reading.