My Friday sitter is at a conference this week, so the toddler and I spent this morning hanging out. We did all right. We got groceries, checked out the froggies who are making all kinds of noise in the backyard, played with balls and learned the word flower, and that we sniff flowers, rather than eating flowers. Then it started to rain, so we played in the basement until it was time to get the 4-year-old from school. The toddler does this hilarious thing where he gets one of our toy cars to start making noise, but when it moves around, he jumps on to my lap, clinging, to watch it. Purposefully frightening himself for kicks, I guess.
I spent the first half of nap turning in assignments. Now, a few things:
I really like Babybug magazine. This is from Cricket, and is aimed at the 4-and-under set. It is not remotely cheap, but they pack a lot into a small magazine. I like the economy of language. Can you tell a whole story in 50 words or less? My daughter and I have been reading it together for two years, and she is always excited when it comes in the mail.
At Fast Company I wrote a piece called 7 Lessons In Persuasion From People Who Get Kids To Eat Veggies. This is about how FoodCorps convinces students to try kale and beets, and the lessons in winning people over that anyone can learn from that.
I also wrote a piece on What Is An Appropriate Response Time To Email? The bad news is that expected response times are accelerating. It is absolutely impossible to satisfy everyone while living a normal life. But if you acknowledge you will disappoint someone, then that can be liberating. You become free to respond when it works for you.
My 8-year-old has his book club tonight. They read Another Whole Nother Story. He tore through the end, so I think it is a winner. I welcome suggestions for other books for 8-year-old boys.
I am working on a piece on how one knows if a goal is achievable and realistic. Lots of people are into SMART goals, and the A and R in there are about the achievable and realistic part. But how can you determine that for yourself, and for the people who work for you?
This is our last weekend before spring sports start in earnest. I am hoping to enjoy some of the open space, and get a good long run in. I am training for the Broad Street 10-Miler in May, and May turns out to be closer than I thought.
Photo: Flowers are for smelling, not for eating.
My boys loved books by Dan Gutman (My Weird School series, The Homework Machine) and Gordon Korman (the Swindle series, Toilet Paper Tigers, The Chicken Doesn’t Skate).
I can also recommend Liesl Shurtliff’s Rump, Jack, and Red (the “true” stories behind the fairy tales) and Alison DeCamp’s My Near Death Adventures (99% True).
Look out for my Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine next spring!
@Caroline – we will look out for it! And anything with a name like Toilet Paper Tigers will probably do well around here… I am learning to appreciate boy humor. Some.
Books suggestions for 8-year old:
Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman,
Fantastic Family Whipple by Matthew Ward, All the Wrong Question series by Lemony Snicket, The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
@Holland – thank you for these!
Librarian chiming in here: if you don’t want to pay to subscribe to Babybug (or want to see it in person first), check if your library gets it–mine does, along with Ladybug, Spider, and Cricket, for older ages.
Also check to see if your library subscribes to Novelist K-8 for book recommendations. You can search for specific types of stories and get read-alike (If you liked this book, you might like this one). If your library has Novelist K-8 Plus you can even check off boxes for different aspects of the book your son liked, such as pace, tone, subject, etc. A quick search for A Whole Nother Story suggests The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, Cold Cereal by Adam Rex, and Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve.
@Caitlin- I think we need to start Lemony Snicket. I think he might like those!
Has your son read Stig of the Dump by Clive King? I don’t know what age it is recommended for but my Mum just gave it to my son and it’s reminded me how wonderful it is.
Have you read any of the Roald Dahl books with your son? My 6yo and I are reading Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, it’s so good! And if a little scarier stuff doesn’t bother him, The BFG and The Witches are awesome.