Imagination...

Does imagination play a role in learning and success in life? In a word, yes.

"According to Dorothy Singer, professor of psychology at Yale University and co-author of The House of Make Believe: Children's Play and the Developing Imagination, children who actively use their imagination reap a host of benefits, such as playing cooperatively and being successful in school" Imagination can help a child solve problems, by role-playing in their head, they are able to go through different situations and outcomes, and decide on the best possible one. I remember as a little kid imagining that i was grown-up, taking on roles that grown ups had. From teacher, to nurse, to mom, to even florist I was able to practice real-life skills. Imagination can also help to encourage communication and a wide range of vocabulary for a child. They often make up stories or repeat stories they have heard imagining that it happened to them. And, lastly, a child's imagination will be a lifelong skill of thinking creatively or outside the box. Through children's books, a child can become any character in any story that they read. Imagination has endless possibility.

Land of Blue (cont.)

The celebratory events were about to start, and still Samantha was no where to be found! People in the Land of Blue searched far and wide to find Samantha, so she could celebrate too. Samantha knew that everyone was searching for her, but she had hidden out above the land on an overlooking cliff, watching below. She did not want to attend her birthday party, she felt very sad because of her green skin, and just could not take being different anymore. Samantha thought that putting herself in the center of attention would only make it worse. So she hid away. The festivities began again, without Samantha there. And the town was having so much fun, they almost forgot that she was missing! When the blue firemen rolled out the 6 tier cake, everyone was so excited. Cindy even forgot that her best friend had gone missing. But, when it was time to blow out the candles Cindy remembered the past five birthdays and how fun it was to blow about the candles with Samantha. As she inhaled and made a wish, Cindy thought real hard for what she wanted. Then, with an exhale, Cindy wished to be a different color than blue. As the candles went out Cindy's blue skin faded into orange, her hair suddenly went from blue to orange as well! Samantha was watching all of this from above, and to her excitement she ran down to be with her friend. The two girls were so happy to be together, and each unique in their own color. Soon everyone in the town was wishing to change colors, and the Land of Blue was officially renamed the Land of Color.

Land of Blue

A Short Story...

In the Land of Blue, everyone looks alike. Hair, skin, eyes are all shades of blue. Even the buildings and streets are different blue colors. The Land of Blue is a wonderful place to be, with happy neighbors and parades every weekend. Cindy Lou Blue is celebrating her 5th birthday, and the whole town has come to celebrate. There is the Mayor with his long blue mustache that curls in exactly three loops at the end. The firefighters, police squad, and pagaent queens have all begun to drive through the neighborhood for the parade. But where was Cindy's best friend Samantha? Samantha was born at right around the same time as Cindy, so they were to be sharing their birthday's together. Every child that had a birthday in the same month was given the same party. But, looking around, she was nowhere to be seen. The strange truth about Samantha, however, is that she was born a slightly different color than blue. Samantha was green! No one in the town acknowledged her different color, no one but Cindy. Cindy did not mind that Samantha was green, in fact, she wished that she could be different too! Truly if she had one wish, that is what she would wish for.

To Be Continued...

Rosie O'Donnell

Rosie O'Donnell has just started a movement, claiming that her family "has a no-media policy. The school they go to has a no-media policy. There's no television and no computer access. It has changed our lives." She has gone public to try and convince parents across America to jump on the bandwagon. Rosie has said that her kids have changed for the better since this. As television, media, and even children's literature becomes saturated with fewer moral teachings, it has become dangerous to allow our children to be subjected to this. But the question is where do you draw the line? Rosie has completely eliminated media exposure, while some parents allow too much exposure. I feel that parents should be responsible enough to censer what their children watch and read there truly should not be a problem. Monitoring their online activity is also an important part of being an aware parent.

Peter Rabbit.

A Poem for Peter Rabbit:

Peter was a mischievous young bunny,
His mother secretly found it quite funny.
Whatever she told him to do, he did the opposite,
She knew it was a phase, so she did not throw a fit.

One day though, she had had enough,
And trust me, mother never got into a tuff.
Peter had stolen from Mr.McGregor's farm,
But we all know he did not mean any harm.

He gathered the lettuce heads very quick,
Then to the carrots he went, and hastily he did pick.
Next was the eggs from the farm's chicken coop,
A bunny stealing their eggs sure threw them for a loop!

Then home he flew baskets full of treats,
Did I forget to mention, he even stole the beets!
Peter's mother was furious at the site of his return,
She spanked him through the night, and boy did it burn!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Since Summer is coming up I decided to begin the series of Harry Potter books. My roommate, sister and even mom love the books and have persuaded me to 'jump on the bandwagon'. Last week I began with the first of the Harry Potter series and I seriously could not put the book down. The writer, Rowling, has in incredible gift of creating imagery and adventure in the readers' head. Harry, the main character, is given an admission to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and from then on magic just seems to be released. What reader would not want to attend a school like this? Flying lessons on broomsticks, the game of Quidditch, trapdoors, three-headed dogs, troll adventures, invisibility cloaks, centaurs, and tons of mischief are all over the pages of this book. Harry is usually accompanied by his two new friends on these adventures Ron and Hermione. Together the three explore their new school, starting out as timid students, by the end they are powerful and unafraid, except for maybe Ron. This book ends with a banquet and then off to London to spend the summer with the family that raised Harry.

Book 9: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K Rowling
Picture Book?: No
Posting Date: April 15, 2008

Car-Jacked

Yesterday evening was an eventful one indeed. My family and I were driving through a poor community in a dangerous area of Dallas, TX. Approaching a stoplight I noticed a Cadillac pull up next to us, all of the sudden, out of nowhere a woman leaps from the car and begins banging furiously on the windows of our car yelling to let her inside. In a panic my mother pressed the gas pedal and we drove off quickly. Playing the scary moment back in my head I truly wonder what the woman had wanted from us, and why? We made it back home and sat down to eat dinner. Flipping through the channels on the television we came across a recording of Idol Gives Back. This episode was purely to raise awareness of the need for education in other countries as well as America. In America specifically the target was poorer ghetto neighborhoods where education is not as important as personal safety. There were many famous people pouring money and time into these communities to try and help rebuild an appreciation for children's education in hopes of starting a rebirth in the communities. After my families experience in the ghetto of Dallas I am more aware of the danger of those neighborhoods, as well as more concerned for the children living in those neighborhoods. Knowledge is the key to change, and change is what these children need!