School's out! What next?
By now, your kiddos are either already out of school for summer break or are just counting down the days. It's possible they may have even been looking forward to this break since school started in the fall. For a child, summer break means active days outside, ice cream, playdates, lemonade stands, swimming…and hopefully lots and lots of reading! On top of all the fun and activity, you want to also make sure they are continuing to learn and finding the joy books they love. (Hint: this is how little ones become lifetime readers!)
Whether your child is not yet in school, has just finished preschool, kindergarten, or the first grade, personalized books can make summer awesome. You'll surely keep your kids busy learning and having fun with our personalized books summer reading guide!
(Artwork from My Name Is Not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry and Mike Litwin)
With all the mounting possibilities and opportunities for women, what a wonderful time it is to be a young girl growing up! As mothers and fathers, we'll want to nurture our girls with love and encouragement, give them our time, and make them always feel supported and safe.
Lead the way by being their role model! Be transparent—let them see your strengths and even a few of your weaknesses. They'll most likely learn to follow your example at a young age, so make sure your setting a good one!
In honor of International Women's Day, we'd like to share a few tips to help your daughters grow up with positive self-esteem and a strong sense of self-worth. So they can, one day, go on to accomplish their biggest goals and make their dreams a reality.
1. Allow her to be curious and persistent—to voice her opinion, knowing that you're listening. In fact, require that she does! Demonstrate to her what it means to be true to herself: strong in her stance and confident in her own skin.
2. Urge her to dream big, play dress up, and be imaginative. Remind her that she can be anything she wants when she grows up: a dentist, a teacher, a scientist, a doctor, an author. Don't sugarcoat any of the work it takes to become one of these figures, of course. You'll still communicate to her that it takes hard work, but explain that this is what makes the experience so rewarding.
3. As she enters school, make sure she is forming meaningful relationships with female figures in school or outside of school. It's important for young women to have mentors outside of their home, too.
4. Help your daughter focus on who she is—defined by her heart, character, abilities, self-worth, those who love her—rather than her physical appearance.
5. Show your daughter how to set and track achievable short term and long term goals. You can show her how to start small and stay grounded in what she chooses to write down, but also make sure she doesn't limit herself. However, it is important that the goals are realistic to her abilities. Be sure to revisit these goals together as often as possible!
Your daughter's self-esteem and development is the most malleable and impressionable in the first three years of her life. Use this stage of her life to really teach her how to value herself, her thoughts, her mind, her heart.
Don't be hard on yourself though! Remember that some girls develop a sense of independence with more ease than others, and this is not a reflection on your parenting. It's never too late to start teaching your daughter self-worth, whether she's two or fifteen.
Every girl needs guidance, YOUR help with discovering her talents and abilities, and your support in the careers, goals, dreams, etc. she chooses to pursue. With your time, patience, and guidance, she will grow up to be an amazing woman!
We encourage you to share scientist Marie Curie's story with your little girl today to inspire her to plan a big future and chase after her dreams! Marie Curie was the first to learn how radiation works and the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. This blurb can be found, along with other amazing women who have changed history, in
Jennifer Fosberry's personalized book My Name Is Not Isabella.
|
|
My Name is Not Isabella Personalized BookMy Name is Not Isabella takes your child on a journey through time to learn about some of the amazing women who changed history. Your daughter will go on an adventure of discovery—and find out how imagining to be these extraordinary women can teach her the importance of being her extraordinary self.
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Dream Big, Little Pig! Personalized BookTurn Kristi Yamaguchi's New York Times bestselling picture book into a personalized hardcover keepsake that your child will always cherish! This customized book will make your story time an extraordinary experience you will both remember forever.
|
(Artwork from Marianne Richmond's Hooray for You!)
First and foremost, it's never too early to start reading aloud to your child, or even to the bump in your belly! Reading to your little one, or simply reading together, no matter your child's age, is one of the most organic ways to bond with your child.
Furthermore, reading aloud helps develop your child's literacy skills at a young age. From vocabulary to phonics to comprehension, storytelling, and interaction with the printed word, reading books to children is a powerful tool for any parent looking to instill an early love of reading and learning!
If your child is getting ready to enter preschool or kindergarten, reading aloud together is a great preparation for this big, exciting change in his or her life. By reading books and stories aloud as often as possible, you're already introducing them to the importance of reading and getting them ready to start on their amazing journey of education.
If you have a baby or children and you're still feeling a smidge nervous to read aloud to your child (yes, it's normal!), choose books with a natural rhythm or rhyme to them. Perhaps practice when you're alone if you think it would help, and make sure you put yourself in a comfortable situation. Despite any sort of nerves you may feel, your child will be delighted and enthralled by the sound of your voice, even if you stumble over words or mispronounce a character's name. Go for it! You'll get used to it and learn to love it, we promise!
• Babies love, love, love the sound of your voice! They also love to look at colorful pictures. Reading a book with your baby in your lap is one of the easiest, and most natural, ways to bond.
• Even if you think your child is too old to be read aloud to, think again! Reading aloud is great for older kids who are just starting to read aloud at school as well as voice their opinions in class. Take turns reading chapter books aloud, or let your child read the chapter book to you. Your child is never too old to enjoy a good book read aloud. Even though they may fight it at first, fight back and read aloud anyway!
• Start by turning off all distractions. This includes phones, televisions, laptops, etc.
• Find a comfortable place to read—a special rocking chair, find a seat on your favorite comfy couch or chair, or make a nest by the fireplace. Find somewhere that you can call your special reading spot.
• Commit to a routine time (morning or evening) and do your best to fit in reading aloud whenever possible. Reading aloud for at least 15 minutes each day will really make a positive difference in your child's development, as well as enhance their willingness to learn and read as they grow.
• Before you start reading the book you or your child has picked out, ask your child what they think the book is about. Show them the cover, read about the author, and look at some of the pictures together. Let them observe the book's details before you start. Compare your hypotheses once you've finished the story!
• Get into your reading character. Use the book's cues to dress up or dress down your voice as appropriate. It's important for your child to hear you reading with changes in your voice and at a varying pace.
• Remember to use the correct tone, volume, and animation as you see fit. Incorporate sounds if you feel so inclined! There's no reason to hold back! Read with confidence and expression! Reading in a funny, intense, or loud voice to accommodate the tone of the book will really help your child get into the story, and they'll love it!
• Make sure you read slowly enough so your child can still soak the story in and have enough time to process the pictures and artwork.
• Let your child hold the book and/or turn the pages. Urge your child to point out pictures they like or things they find interesting in the illustrations or words.
• Encourage your children to ask about the characters, pictures, or words. Or, if they're reluctant, ask them questions about the story. Take the time to discuss the story afterward by asking your child about certain parts of the books, especially if there is a prominent lesson or powerful message (in most cases there is!).
• If you have time, scan the book before you and your child get together to read and see if you can find connections to your family's personal experiences. You can then discuss them after you've finish the story!
• If you end up reading a story your child is particularly familiar with or it's already one of their favorites, challenge your child to tell you the story and praise them for their retelling!
Reading stories aloud is such a productive and happy way to enjoy books on a personal level together. Happy World Read Aloud Day!
|
|
Find Me If You Can Personalized BookFind Me If You Can is an interactive picture book designed to help your child develop observational skills in a fun search-and-find setting. Each spread introduces a new theme with vibrant eye-catching scenes. This book is especially great for both boys and girls with a lot of energy and who are eager to play and participate while reading.
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
More Bears! Personalized BookWarning: More Bears! is not a bedtime story—it was written to be read (and yelled!) out loud. This delightfully silly personalized book is sure to have your child calling out "More Bears!" within the first few pages!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Home Sweet Tree Personalized BookThe Berenstain Bears clan invites your child into their home to explore all the fun places they play and eat lots of cookies, all while sharing the importance of home. This customized version will allow you to add your child's name, photo, and a message, and the bears will personally invite your son or daughter to join in on the excitement inside their Home Sweet Tree.
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
What Makes You Giggle? Personalized BookCome along for a roaring ride of tummy tickles and giggles as Elmo, Abby, and your child delve into all kinds of fun things that make us laugh and smile. Join all of your Sesame Street friends for a laugh at the zoo, a chuckle at Oscar's birthday party, and a smile in Cookie Monster's kitchen.
|
Happy Read Across America Day from Put Me In The Story! Let's honor this nationwide reading celebration with unique, personalized books that will get your kids excited about reading and writing. Don't forget to read loud and proud with your little ones today…and every day, of course.
For fun reading tips to celebrate Read Across America Day, scroll down!
|
|
Isabella: Star of the Story Personalized Book
An ordinary trip to the library turns into an imaginative, literary adventure! As soon as you open the pages of this book, your little girl will be flying as Peter Pan to the children's section of the library, searching for the book that is juuust right as Goldilocks, setting off on a legendary dive as Captain Nemo, and more.
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
More Bears! Personalized Book
Warning: More Bears! is not a bedtime story—it was written to be read (and yelled!) out loud. This delightfully silly personalized book is sure to have your child calling out "More Bears!" within the first few pages!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Hooray for You! Personalized BookHooray for You! is a celebration of "you-ness"—the grand sum of body, mind and heart that makes every person truly unique!
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
I Believe in You Personalized BookThe title of this vibrantly illustrated children's book expresses everything that your child wants to hear. I Believe in You encourages your child to see their own strengths and talents as you do.
|
|
• Reading a book with rhyme or song! Books with rhymes are great to read out loud, and are especially helpful for those younger kids just starting to read.
• Reading as a family, reading often, and reading aloud! Helping your child develop into a lifelong reader starts at home.
• Reading books that will take you somewhere you've never been today. It can be a book set in a unique location or an imaginary place.
• Embracing imagination! Imagination is one of your child's most powerful tools. Nurture it. Play dress up with inspiration from your child's favorite story. This will make reading the book that much more fun!
• Creating a colorful reading chart and putting together a realistic plan for you and your children to read more. Commit to your reading plan by taking a pledge together.
• Choosing books to read that celebrate reading, imagination, and your child's unique traits.
| * Use coupon code USA33 to take advantage of this offer and receive 33% off our regular price shown on the website. Your discount will be applied to the following titles: I Believe in You, Hooray for You!, More Bears!, and Isabella:Star of the Story, and will be calculated at the time of checkout. Shipping and taxes are excluded from the discounted amount. Offer expires 3/05/14 at 11:59pm CST. |
