Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Summer activities, positive messages, and books!

Lazy days of summer are upon us...and our kids as well. If we can all just slow down enough to notice.

I'm always amazed how much faster summers go by as we get older. But I look back fondly at my summers as a kid with all that extra time on my hands. Extra time to actually DO things—whether outside or inside—with friends, or on my own. Time to pursue hobbies and read books that weren't assigned by a teacher. And time most definitely not spent sitting in front of a computer.

Today, things are vastly different for kids. With all the "screen time" (TV, video gaming, computer, i-pod, cell phone, etc.) that kids log on a daily basis and all the "virtual" relationships they have with friends via cyberspace (vs. real "face" time), we shouldn't be surprised when kids seem disengaged when we're around them and try to talk about anything.

But we can't let that sway us from enforcing down time for our kids so they can interact socially—in person (away from all the electronic gizmo's fighting for their attention)—and perform important tactile pursuits such as music, dance, sports, crafts, playing in the yard or at the park, and that ever-important mental exercise: reading.

Having books around for that down time can help ensure kids are absorbing all the information we know their young minds are SO capable of learning. And that we know is so important to their early childhood development.

Here at Maren Green, our books affirm important social, emotional, and life skills to give kids the positive self-talk they need to grow up healthy, happy, polite, and kind with positive self-esteem and healthy confidence. It's why they WORK for young children, why they've won awards, and why we think it's worth sharing.

We hope you think so too. Stop by for a visit and see for yourself.