Adventures with Kids

on books and reading

2012-05-22T12:15:00.001+09:30

This is adapted from a couple of memes I did on my private blog in the past couple of years. I came across them and wanted to update it. I have just shared the questions that interested me. My apologies for not knowing the original source of the memes.

books or tablet? I have a Kindle and an ipad. I like the ipad for online reading and magazine subscriptions. The Kindle is lighter when you are reading for a long time. I love the instant availability of books on the Kindle, especially overseas books that I wouldn’t be able to get easily otherwise. But I still like to read real books, especially when I’m reading fiction. I think the sensations of holding a real book are linked to comfort and escape for me. So, it is relaxing to hold and read a real book.

Amazon or brick and mortar? I usually get books from the Book Depository or kindle books from Amazon. I don’t have any bookshops within a 30 minute drive. That’s too far away for me to just pop out and browse when I have some free time. When I have the kids, I can’t settle into focussed browsing. They keep distracting me with their favourite finds.

bookmark or dog ear? I’ve always folded the corners. I can never be bothered to try and find a bookmark. Or I just leave the book open and put it face down.

alphabetize by author, alphabetize by title or random? Random, or roughly organised by subject. But I can usually remember where I have put a book, so I don’t worry too much.

buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse? Usually some sort of recommendation. These days usually from a blog I like.

favourite series? A series featuring Agent Pendergast by Lincoln Preston.

favourite children’s book? It’s hard to choose, but at the moment I like Lynley Dodd. Her books are so much fun to read aloud because they contain the most fabulous words and onomatopeia. My favourite books by her are ‘Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy’ and ‘The Nickle Nackle Tree’.

the first book I remember loving? It was a fbook with pop-up mouths, Dinnertime, by Jan Peinkowski. And I have always remembered this rhyme I used to say as a kid (whenever it rained) ‘It’s Raining, said John Twaining’, but I never knew where it came from or met other people who knew it. Then, talking to my mum one day, I discovered it is from a favourite book of mine as a child, a book of Danish nursery rhymes, aptly titled ‘It’s Raining, said John Twaining’.

3 authors that feature strongly for me? Agatha Christie has been my long-time light reading love affair. Terry Pratchett who started my teenage obsession with scifi and fantasy. David Quammen who has a fabulous style of writing that makes science accessible. Apparently, the name of the genre is creative nonfiction.

on my wishlist? The kind of books on my wishlist at the moment are books on alternative education, for example, Guerilla Learning, mystery novels, and writing books like Think Write Grow (since I’m trying to improve my writing).

what are your reading at the moment? The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins; A Study in Sherlock, edited by Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger

What are you reading at the moment? What’s on your wishlist?

Food for Thought: Parenting Edition

2012-05-07T08:23:00.001+09:30

I’ve read a lot of really excellent articles lately that have me thinking about …

disciplining my children,

Why French Parents are Superior?

making screen time for kids a creative activity,

We Need to Talk: Kids and Screen Time

the value of playing and free time (and keeping the importance of school in perspective),

If We Don’t Let Our Children Play, Who Will Be the Next Steve Jobs?

creativity, thinking tools and self-education, through this series of posts on thinking tools of the world’s most creative people and how you can encourage your children to use these tools (I have linked to the final post in the series as it contains links to all the other posts)

Sparks of Genius: The Thinking Tools

and finally, that it is time to get down (on the floor) and do some fort building.

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down Again: Lessons in the Art of Pillow Fort Construction

May’s Colour Me Happy Challenge: Create a colourful blanket fort

connecting to ANZAC day

2012-04-22T07:43:00.000+09:30

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
from For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon

In Australia, Sunday – 25 April - is ANZAC day. ANZAC day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC day is a national remembrance when Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war and the qualities of courage, mateship and sacrifice that were demonstrated at the Gallipoli landing.

How we can help our children to connect to the meaning of ANZAC day (especially if like my children you don’t know many people who serve in the army or have fought in a war)? Here are some thoughts …

attend a dawn service or ANZAC day memorial service. Or if this is not possible visit a war memorial on another day.
discuss how they use the values we honour on ANZAC day in their lives – for example, teaching and practising courage with your children.
talk about how, what and why we remember things. The story in this education resource from the Dept of Veteran’s Affairs, suitable for young children, might help open the discussion. Or I love the story My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day, by Catriona Hoy and Benjamin Johnson to open a discussion about rememberance and the meaning of Anzac Day.
work with your children to research your family history. Did any members of your family fight in a war for Australia or any other country? The Australian War Memorial has a page to help you research the military service of family members.
And for a little bit of crafty and cooking fun get this free download from Mooo (now TinyMe) and make some ANZAC poppies or ANZAC biscuits and discover the meaning of these ANZAC day symbols (I found this resource thanks to Colour Me There).

I do believe that without an understanding of war we cannot have peace. And for this reason I find ANZAC day an important commemoration. I also think that the ANZAC history has had an impact on the values that we cherish in Australian culture.

How do you help your children to understand the meaning of ANZAC day?

This post has been updated and republished from April 2010.