Families want children to be well educated,
creative, and resilient. According to years of studies, age 2 through 8 is a
critical time to prepare children to read and write for a lifetime of success. Thanksgiving
is a perfect time for families to spend more discussion time together that
builds knowledge, vocabulary and binds the family together. Creating this book
together is a gift in itself!
Materials:
Several sheets of paper or large paper plates, pencils,
crayons, and stapler. Optional are paper punch and yarn.
What
To Do:
Start by having a
conversation with your children about things that both of you are thankful for.
Keep it simple! After a few suggestions, sit together and begin to print an “I
Am Thankful For… book. Depending on the age of the children, the book can
either be dictated or printed by the children. Children just beginning to print
can tell you the words. You can carefully print them on paper, and they can
copy the proper spelling and letter formation.
Keeping
with the Thanksgiving theme, help your child trace their handprint to make a
turkey outline on a few sheets of paper or plates. The thumb curves away from
the fingers to make a head. This is a good time to talk about the makeup of
turkeys with very young children. Turkeys have two wings and legs. They have a
flap of skin on their necks called a wattle. Since they have feathers they are
birds.
Young
children can print one word on each turkey that represents something to be
thankful for. Some children will attempt sounds they know, others can write the
whole word or short sentence while younger ones need to dictate the words to
you. Make the printing big. Staple
pages together and add duct tape over them to bind. Then children can
illustrate their book.
After
completing several pages, add a cover and assemble the book. Parents and
grandparents might want to make a cover for the booklet with a simple title and
child’s name on the front. Now you are ready to cuddle and share this book your
children can read and add it to your storybook collection.
How
Does This Help Your Child?
Writing involves
creative thinking. Forming letters correctly, tracing and coloring all help
develop fine motor skills. This also models the idea that writing has a
purpose.
What
Else Can I Do? A good book for a read aloud is “I’m Thankful
Each Day” by P.K. Hallinan. Use this idea to write books throughout the year. A
rainy day book might be a part of a discussion how plants grow.
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