85 Days of Summer: Writing Prompts for My Daughter

So, we're two weeks into summer, and my seven-year-old is already bored.  This, despite a fun summer agenda which includes various day camps, playdates, beach and city vacations, overnights at her grandparents, cooking and crafting, trips to the park, to the zoo, to the museums....you get the picture.  It's not boring 'round these parts, but you wouldn't know it based on her whining.

Fortunately, the girl loves to write; this may ultimately prove her gift.  She can journal all day long, providing she has some inspiration.  Thus, my remedy for her unsubstantiated allegations of boredom?  Eighty-five writing prompts, one for each day of our summer.  Each prompt is typed, printed on pink cardstock, individually cut and folded, and placed into a glass apothecary jar which sits on her bedroom desk.  So pretty, so inspirational, so curative of complaining.

Just in case your child is also stricken with "There's nothing to do!" I am sharing our writing topics here.  I devised them specifically for my curious seven-year-old girl and her interests, but most would apply to any elementary-aged child.  Some prompts are silly; some are serious; some require introspection; others require imagination. I hope you find some or all of them useful!

Happy Summer Parenting!


(Sharing with Serenity Now, Sun Scholars, and Real Family Fun)

Book Club...for Toddlers

Before I was a mother, I participated in a monthly book club.  As educated, professional women, we read serious works of literature which featured strong female protagonists. We intensely debated feminism and our roles as women.  We cultivated deep friendships.  We drank a lot of wine.  

That was pre-mamahood.  Now, between working full-time and rearing three young girls, my schedule doesn't allow for a regular book club commitment.  But I still love reading books.  I still love talking about books.  And most importantly, I want my children to love reading and talking about books.

So I was ecstatic when I read this blog post on book clubs for kids, and when my youngest's playgroup decided to spin off a "Toddler Book Club."  On a Friday morning once a month, our group of 12-15 toddlers and their mothers gathers to play, read, and participate in a hands-on activity related to the book selection.  We rotate houses to share hosting duties. We've been going for almost a year now, and both my toddler and I eagerly anticipate each meeting.

For example, one month we read Chris Raschka's A Ball for Daisy, and the kiddos made "paint ball" art by coating tennis balls with washable paint and throwing them against white paper canvases (outside of course).

In the fall, we read Joe Troiano's The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin and painted mini-pumpkins.

During the winter holidays, we read Ian Falconer's Olivia Helps with Christmas and constructed Christmas ornaments.

In the early spring, we read Kevin Henkes' My Garden and planted marigolds.  

In other months, we've read Blackout, I Want My Hat Back, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.

And when I hosted recently, we read Marjorie Priceman's How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World: 

The kids snacked on apple cheerios and Sprout's apple, cinnamon, and oatmeal pouches.  Each child used fabric markers to decorate her own apron and chef's hat (both purchased in bulk from Amazon), and then, after reading the book, we baked miniature apple pies!

We used this Pillsbury recipe, minus the nuts.  

Given that they were made by two-year-olds, the results weren't Martha-Stewart-pretty...

...but they sure were tasty!

The keys to a successful toddler book club: (1) Keep it simple.  Avoid over-planning or over-complicating the activity. For example, I prepared most of the pie filling in advance so that the children could focus on spooning the filling into their crust and then folding it into their pie shapes.  (2) Be patient with short attention spans, and don't expect much "discussion" of the book.  The point at this age is not to teach the art of literary criticism but instead to explore, in hands-on way, the themes of the book.  (3) Provide healthy snacks. (4) Allow for outdoor playtime whenever possible.  Toddlers have lots of energy to burn.  :)

Our toddler book club reflects its members' shared love of reading, culture, and hands-on learning.  I feel so lucky that my daughter and I can participate!

(Sharing with The Jenny Evolution, Sun Scholars, The Educator's Spin On It, and The Real Thing)

From Ann Arbor to Austin: Scouting for Fairies

My young daughters love fairies --- from woodland fairies to the Sugar Plum Fairy.  We even have fairies in our own backyard:

So wherever we go, we look for clues of other "real life" fairies.  Such quests force us to slow down a bit, appreciate our surroundings, and look for magic in the everyday.

Last summer, on a vigilant walk through downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, we spied tiny fairy doors on the facades of homes, restaurants, retail stores, and office buildings.  The fairies apparently moved into town in 1993, thanks to the efforts of Jonathan Wright (whom you can follow on Pinterest here), and today, their presence delights even the most skeptical of visitors.  My girls were thrilled to spot these charming fairy doors, at the steps of which visitors leave tokens and gifts:  

The "Fairy Woods" at the University of Michigan's Nichols Arboretum was another must-see for our family.  Our children were enchanted with the earnestly designed fairy houses, all constructed from natural materials and found objects.  We spent hours under the tall, whispering pines, building and decorating our own fairy homes.

Back home in Austin, we have discovered fairy houses in our local botanical gardens:

And our favorite:

Any fairy sightings in your neck of the woods? :-)



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Once Upon a Time: Experiencing London with Kids

One of last spring’s highlights was a week-long trip to London with my husband and my five-year-old daughter.  I was traveling for work, but my daughter’s school recognized the educational opportunity in her tagging along, so we made a mini-vacation out of the trip as well.

I have been to London several times; I even lived and worked there for awhile.  London is one of my very favorite cities, and a place where I feel comfortable and know my way around.  But it was all new to me this time, as seen through the eyes of my child.  For a child who believes deeply in the magic of childhood --- fairies and castles, princesses and pirates --- London was better (and cheaper) than Disney World.  

We let our daughter's interests lead the way.  We didn't feel compelled to tour every museum, cathedral, or historical site on this visit; instead, we focused on those landmarks about which she had previously read or learned.  She loved, for example, recognizing the sites from "Madeline in London" and "Paddington Bear."   We also refrained from micro-managing her travel experience; we didn't object, for example, when she insisted on wearing her favorite tea party dress five days in a row "just in case" she happened to meet the queen.  :)

With those guidelines in place, and despite the chilly weather, we had a blast.  Here is my daughter's personal Top Ten List of Favorite London Experiences:

1.  The Princess Diana Memorial Playground at Kensington Gardens.  I can't imagine a more fitting tribute to the late princess, who loved children, than this fabulous playground on her palace grounds. With a pirate ship, mermaid grotto, and trees full of fairies, this is the perfect place to run off some energy and fully immerse your imagination.

2.  Tea at The Orangery.  After exhausting yourselves at the playground, stop in for afternoon tea at Kensington Palace.  We like The Orangery because it offers charming tea-time formalities (and yummy food) without the pretense or expense of places like the Ritz Carlton.

3.  Harrod's. We could have spent all day at this visual feast.  My daughter was fascinated by every hall.  She spent hours examining the beautiful flowers, the food delicacies, the gorgeous jewelry, and of course, the toys, toys, toys.  

4.  The Natural History Museum.  The animated T-Rex is alone worth the visit to this free museum.  But my daughter also loved the energy hall and its escalator ride through the core of the earth.

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5.  The British Museum.  Pack a year's worth of history, science, and art education into one afternoon.  With a young child, we hit the highlights: The Rosetta Stone, the Acropolis, and of course, the mummies! While there, we sent real-time video and picture updates to kindergarten classmates back home, so they could learn along with us.

6.  Covent Garden.  My daughter loved the street performers, vendors, and the art display of giant painted Easter eggs.

7.  The English National Ballet.  We originally contemplated a West End musical, but because our daughter loves ballet, we instead opted for a beautiful production of "My First Sleeping Beauty." Gorgeously costumed and choreographed, and age appropriate for a young audience, this was a hit.

8.  The London Eye. Yes, it's tourist-trappy.  But our child was wowed by the bird's eye view of London. Seeing all of the city's landmarks from above also helped orient her when we later walked the city.

9.  A cruise on the Thames.  London requires a lot of walking.  When those little legs get tired out, purchase inexpensive tickets for a leisurely cruise on the Thames.  Your young kids can see The Tower of London, London Bridge, Big Ben, and more in comfort.  Save the lengthy, historical, and sometimes expensive tours of those sites for when they are older and have longer attention spans.

10.  The transportation.  For a kid from Texas, London's transportation system was like an amusement park -- the tube, the double-decker buses, and the charming taxis were all novel and exciting.  She quickly became expert at reading the maps and determining the most efficient routes.  

And of course,  there were many more "favorites" beyond these ten: doing brass rubbings at St. Martin's, the Science Museum, Piccadilly Circus, Paddington Station, the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens, the fields of flowers in St. James' Park, Buckingham Palace, the Horse Guards, seeing her first-ever telephone booth, visiting some dear friends, and all of that good Indian food.

From start

to finish

taking my daughter to London was one of my most rewarding parenting experiences.  I'm already planning the next trip.  :)

(Also sharing with Sun Scholars and Memories by the Mile)