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Parent Tapes for a Spirited Child
My Mom calls them “Parent Tapes”. These are the things that we say over and over again to our kids. The things they will remember.
I look forward to the adventures that my spirited son will set out on. But, I want to make sure that he has the right messages in his head when he has to make a decision or encounters a problem.
Below are some of the messages that I hope he remembers. Some of them I got from my Mom and Dad’s parent tapes. Some of them I picked up from other people in my life who inspired me.
- Be good to people.
- Take responsibility.
- Ask questions.
- Being positive makes the world a better place.
- Learn everything anyone will teach you.
- Fail fast. Fail forward.
- Nothing is free, but working for it can be rewarding.
- There is real and there is pretend. Either one is fine as long as you know which one it is.
- You can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing.
- Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.
- Home really is where you hang your hat.
- Sometimes you just have to click on it to see what happens. (From my cousin.
)
What would you say?
What should I add? What messages do you want your kids to remember?
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Quotes and Anecdotes from a Spirited 3 Year-Old
05/14/2012 – Dr Frankenstein?
After explaining why cockleburs stick to you, I told Edison that we would find some cockleburs and make butterflies out of them. They would be pretend butterflies, I explained. Edison asked why we couldn’t make real butterflies, and I said we couldn’t because people can’t make life.
“I can…” he said.
Then, he whispered in my ear, “I use magic and light and power.”
Sounds like we have the next Dr. Frankenstein on our hands…
05/14/2012 – My Not-Real Name…
Edison: My real name is Edison, but my not-real name is Tron.
05/14/2012 – If I was a dog…
Me: When we get home, we need to walk the dog.
Edison: Why do we need to walk the dog?
Me: Because he can’t use a bathroom like you and me. He has to go potty outside.
Edison: Oh…Well, if I was a dog, I would have a jet pack.
05/07/2012 – Oh the Questions!
Young man was full of questions tonight! Some of them are what I like to call “seed questions”. These are the questions whose answers bring more questions (and more questions and more questions). Below are some of the evening’s most fertile seed questions…
- What is a gutter?
- How does a train work?
- Where does the windshield wiper fluid come from?
- How do spiders make webs?
- Where does the stuff go when you flush?
- How do they get the milk into the cow?
- Where do baby cows come from? (Yes…He opened that door.)
04/20/2012 – Can My Son Read the Word “Radish”?
Tonight, we were watching the learning-to-read cartoon, Super Why?. (Love it!) At one point in the episode, The Super Readers need to get some horses to stop blocking the road. They decide to coax them away with snacks from 3 fruit and vegetable stands. Each stand is piled high with fruits or vegetables, and each one has a sign. Alpha Pig asks which one starts with the letter “R”, and Edison yells “Radishes!”
OK…I would get it if it was an apple or broccoli or something he saw on a regular basis, but radishes? I think I was in my 20′s before I learned what a radish looked like.
04/something/2012 – Waiting in line in the women’s restroom
EDISON: “Mommy? Where do you pee?”
MOMMY: “We pee in the toilets in the bathroom stalls, but someone is in there, so we have to wait.”
EDISON: “No. If girls don’t have wankies, where do you pee?”
MOMMY: [pauses thoughtfully] “What do you think you want for dinner?”
03/21/2012 – The most awkward question in the world
”Mom? How do they get the bacon out of the pig?”
02/29/2012 – Things you say when…
“Huh…I don’t know what that was.”
- Things you say when…You are driving with a 3 year-old and a bird hits your car, exploding in a cloud of feathers.
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Galway to Graceland, Ukulele Style
So, I know this post doesn’t look like it involves activities for preschoolers, but I swear it does. The ukulele is the perfect starter instrument for a 3 year-old. It is the right size, teaches music appreciation, fine motor skills, and you name it. Edison is already starting to get the hang of strumming, and I just got it today.
My friend, River, turned me on to the baritone ukulele which has 4 strings that are tuned just like the highest strings on the guitar. So, if Little Man can get the hang of the ukulele, guitar would be a natural transition.
The best part is…I get to play too! This is my rendition of Richard Thompson’s Galway to Graceland…Ukulele style.
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Maybe it is time to save the children…
I have to admit, I struggled with this post. I have wanted to write something about this for several days now, but everything I wrote sounded like some lame, save-the-children commercial. You know what though? Maybe it is time to save the children…At least one.
Yes, I know. There are children all over that need help. Children who were unlucky enough to be born in war torn nations. Children down the street whose parents don’t have enough money to put healthy food on the table. Children who are neglected. Children with serious health issues. So many children who need so much help. So, why am I interested in one particular child in need who lives half-way around the world?
There are two reasons. First, he is just a few years older than Edison and he has experienced more pain and brutality than many adults will ever see in their lifetime. Second, there is actually something I can do to help.
You see, my friend Aram heard about this boy on CNN about 6 months ago. The story touched him, as it would any parent. But, rather than sitting by and wishing he could do something, he contacted CNN and found out how he could help. He started a non-profit, contacted surgeons who will do the necessary surgeries, and used his own resources to create a site to build awareness. If my friend can do all that, the least I can do is donate a little and help spread the word.
So, I am.
Before you think that this is just some plea for donations, I want to make it clear that you don’t have to give a dime in order to help. Just let others know. You can make a FaceBook post, +1 the site, ask for prayers at church, or just tell a neighbor. With only 6 degrees of separation, chances are you know someone who can help.
Just take a few minutes and visit this site. If you are moved like I was, please spread the word.
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Preschool Cooking Activities: Healthy, Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies
For some reason, I frequently find myself with 3 overripe bananas. I know I am not the only one. Even though they are still OK to eat, I don’t want to pack them in Edison’s lunch because I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for the kid that has to eat black bananas.
I am also sick and tired of banana bread. Typically, we get all excited right when it comes out of the oven, and then we can hardly stand to choke it down over the next week.
So…This time, I wised up and searched for “things to do with ripe bananas aside from banana bread”. I found a great recipe for banana cookies that actually had half the sugar of our normal banana bread recipe. Yay!
The first batch turned out kind of bland, so we added fresh blueberries to the second batch and they were to die for. The best part was, my preschooler and I baked them together, so it was tons of fun and he got to work on his cooking skills.
Practice these Preschool Cooking Skills
- Cutting: I gave him a butter knife and he had a great time cutting the bananas into small chunks
- Cracking Eggs: Messy, but you never learn unless you practice
- Measuring: Edison got to practice using measuring cups and measuring spoons.
- Stirring: I haven’t let him use the mixer yet, but he got to stir and learned how to scrape the bottom.
- Folding-in Blueberries: This is a little different than stirring. With folding-in, you have to be very gentle, a skill that seems to be extra hard for a preschool boy.
The Recipe for this Preschool Cooking Activity
Banana Blueberry Cookies
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 large ripe bananas, in chunks
1½ cups rolled oats
1¼ cups flour
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon soda
Fresh blueberries (Use your judgement on the amount.)
Beat butter with sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in bananas. Stir in remaining ingredients until well combined. Drop by level tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart. Bake at 375º for 15-18 minutes. Makes 40.
Resources for Preschool Cooking Activities
- Look at your local library for preschool cookbooks
Amazon.com has loads of excellent preschool cookbooks
- Read more posts about Preschool Cooking Activities at WildEdisons.com
Incoming search terms:
- banana activity preschool
- banana blueberry cookies
- blueberry preschool activities
- preschool oatmeal cookies
