Preschoolers and Peace Blog

Penpals and Make a Wish

2012-02-21T08:00:32Z

My daughter Abby was given one of the greatest gifts of her life a few years ago. I was seeking a penpal for Caroline and one of my wonderful readers piped up and asked about a penpal from New Zealand for an older daughter (which I conveniently had!)

This is Abby:

And this is Emma:

These two girls have never met in real life, but they are thick as thieves. Their actual pen-to-paper relationship is sparse, but they Skype and email regularly. It isn't uncommon to hear Abby laughing heartily downstairs, and we all know it's Emma who's making her laugh.

Emma has "met" many of the people in Abby's life, from our French exchange student visiting again from Paris to Abby's teenage brothers' entourage of friends to professional musician Jon Troast. Abby has followed Emma's journeys in and out of the hospital and to the beach and back.

So Emma's mom Angela, who wrote a post here earlier this month, and I have had many talks about getting these two girls to meet someday. It has been a dream, and both girls have saved their pennies and been given monetary gifts to help the dream become reality. And then I received this message from Angela last week:

"Just heading out to get Em, but I thought I would let you know, that Make a Wish thinks Emma's wish to meet her penpal is a very cool wish. They are happy to consider her wish; it is all dependant on the insurance company. They decide on a case-by-case basis, as they usually only send kids as far as Australia.

They are willing to go further afield, if the insurance will agree to cover Em. The insurance company calls her specialists and reviews her last admission, to acertain if she would be ok or not to cover.

Would you pray with us, that if this is the way to go, the Lord will make a way? We have been told not to get our hopes up, as there have been two recent special cases, one approved, one declined. I am happy either way, as we will do it anyway.

We would never travel if we didn't think she was up to it, but the doctors are so happy to do all they can to get her there, so I know if and when it is time to travel, she will be in top shape. We sort of can't book tickets until the last minute though, that is the only stress we have, I need to know that she is good to go and then we will jump. on. that. plane!!"

SO exciting! A trip of a lifetime and a dream come true for two teen girls. Might I dare ask that you would pray with us, too?

Great Guest Month!- Early Learners (3 to 7)- Maggie Hogan- Part Two

2012-02-18T08:00:01Z

Maggie Hogan is easily distracted by all things book, geography, history, and grandchild related. She (mostly) lives in Dover, DE with her husband, Bob. They have transformed the Amish barn on their property into an office which houses Bright Ideas Press, their homeschool publishing company dedicated to bringing the best practical, fun, and affordable materials to the market. Products include: the new Illuminations curriculum as well as the award winning: The Mystery of History series, Christian Kids Explore series and WonderMaps geography software.

Maggie is co-author of Young Scholars Guide to Composers, The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide, and other homeschooling books. She has spoken across the country and in Canada, written numerous articles/books, and encouraged thousands of moms via conferences, FB, email, Twitter, Skype (and by talking to random strangers on the street).

Although her two (homeschooled) sons are grown, she's thinking about writing a "homeschooling baby" curriculum now that she is the grandma of 2 little girls with another baby on the way! (Can I get a whoot??!!)

She's passionate about Christ, her family, books, travel, homeschooling, and coffee—not necessarily in that order. Look for her online on FB and Twitter under @MaggieSHogan.

♥

Missed Part One? You can read it here.

Storage

Find a place for special boxes/trays so that they are ONLY pulled out at appropriate times. If left out, they lose their appeal too soon. The goal is for children to look forward to using their boxes and therefore look forward to their quiet time or “school” time.

Organization is a life-saver!

When you are sick (or unable to school for whatever reason) children should be able to be directed to their tasks because you and/or they know where things are kept and how to use them.

Practical Tips from Other Moms

Give them an exercise ball, pattern blocks, little figures or something to keep their interest while you read aloud.

My son lives on my exercise ball, even after homeschooling is done. This was a wonderful, inexpensive investment for my very wiggly little guy!
After lunch, when their attention flags, I do allow the computer to come on (although only for educational games). That usually buys me enough time to finish schooling the older ones.
Things that need focus happen when my toddler naps. My 3-year-old likes to do school work with the older kids, but sometimes he naps as well.
Water play is ALWAYS a hit: kitchen sink with painting bib, bowls, cups, spoons and sponges/bubbles. That keeps mine happy for 45 minutes!
Biggest factor for me is that while I have young ones, I am not trying to climb mountains. I don’t do projects very often and if I do, it is curiosity led. My oldest are only 8 and 6, so we have a lot of years ahead for cool projects.
My favorite method is to have my 3—7 year olds in the room or at the table with us when we’re doing history or science (even math), but occupied with something that is specifically “theirs” for during homeschool time. I’ve been amazed at the amount of information my younger ones have picked up while I was teaching the older ones!
Depending on the gender (my boys have to make noise while they work!), activities for my youngers have been: coloring, cutting paper dolls (older age), puzzles (a favorite), play dough (limited because of mess), memory games, doodling, and sorting.
My schedule includes “sacred” time with each child in which it is the (nearly) unpardonable sin to interrupt mom and “appointed” student unless there are copious amounts of blood or fire involved. These are small bits of time (always under an hour) with at least a 15 minute break in between for answering questions, etc. If a child gets “stuck” and absolutely needs my help, they have other things they can work on while they wait for me.
I have schedules where someone an older child or teen is always “assigned” to the youngest. In a house of many, it’s easy for everyone to take an hour shift and not have it impact their schooling. During that hour (and this is a training issue for both youngers and olders!) it is made clear who is in authority and what their responsibility entails.

Web Links for Early Learner Book Suggestions
As with any book lists – especially the secular lists – use discernment

Classical Christian Education Support Loop Book Lists

100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know from the New York Public Library

From Hoagies' Gifted Education Page

Illuminations: An awesome curriculum for 3rd – 8th grade (but useful for early learners as well). This program provides master schedules as well as fabulous, Biblically-based Literature Study Guides, Early Learner book lists & activities (and so much more!) specifically integrated with either The Mystery of History or All American History series.

Great Guest Month!- Early Learners (3 to 7)- Maggie Hogan- Part One

2012-02-16T08:00:34Z

♥

Mamas, are you tired? A little overwhelmed maybe? Stuck in a rut? I’m praying these words will encourage you today!

First, with little ones, it’s all about being prepared, yet flexible! Why? Preparation allows for peace of mind and a plan while flexibility allows you to take advantage of teachable moments and life’s unexpected twists.

Second, what are your goals for them? If you haven’t already, think them through and write them down! (It is hard to aim for a goal if you don’t know what it is.) Goals might include:

To Love the Lord
Obedience to God and Parents
Exposure/Learning Opportunities
Training
Reading and Math Readiness

Here are practical tips to help you better maximize and enjoy your time with the precious little ones God has gifted to you:

Training

Although it seems to take forever to go over rules and procedures time and time again, training now will be a huge bonus when they are older. Tips:

Do not let your child rule over you or the household.
Do not allow disrespectful voice or behavior.
Do not do for your child what he can do for himself.
Do train your children to serve others.
Tape off (painters tape) or use a blanket or desk to make a space for them to stay in while you are otherwise occupied. These spaces can change from time to time but the idea remains the same. Here are your boundaries – stay put.
Where do they sit/work/play during siblings’ school time? Again, define boundaries.
Train them to play and entertain themselves quietly. (This is quite easy for some children and exceedingly difficult for others. Use discernment and grace!!)

Children who cannot amuse themselves at a young age often become difficult as they grow older. They tend to look to others for their entertainment instead of drawing on their own resources.

Older children also need the blessing/discipline of learning how to properly look after little ones. It may seem that you are spending half your life training the kids but the fruit will be children who are capable of taking care of themselves, and others, in a Godly fashion.

Bear in mind that training includes the “why” not just the “how.” Attitude is key! This verse is wonderful for both memorization and discussion: Colossians 3:23 (NKJV) “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…”

Have a Plan

What are they doing while you are working with siblings? Have a plan for each day. Examples:

“School Boxes or Trays”
Sorting & Classifying
Reading Readiness
Math Readiness
History/Science
Fine Motor Skills
Imaginative Play
Fine Arts (music, drama, art, story-telling)
Chores
Planned physical activities and/or outdoor time
Planned “free play” (define boundaries)
Quiet time
Bible time
Snack and meal time (small folk often need to eat more than 3 times per day!)

“School” with little ones is about training and readiness: reading readiness, math readiness, and *memorization. They are little sponges – work with them on memorizing:

Scripture
Songs
Poetry
Numbers
Letters
States/Capitals
Presidents
Whatever you deem important!

*Even if they don’t understand a concept like “states” yet, by the time they are able to grasp the meaning they will already know the vocabulary.

Reading Aloud
One of the most important things you can do with your children is to read aloud. Every day. Multiple times a day (if possible). I could write a book on this but just trust me for now: Read. Out. Loud. Daily.

Learning through Doing
Most of us learn a new task best by performing it. Our young ones especially need to perform the task, not just hear about it or see us do it. Don’t expect them to be mini-adults. They’re not. They need to: Do. Do. Do. (Ok, don’t say THAT three times fast! LOL!)

Easy Dinner- Creamy Chipotle Shrimp Tacos

2012-02-14T08:00:54Z

When we were recently in San Francisco, I had the tv on in the hotel room for maybe five minutes. In that time, I happened to see a Rick Bayless show about great little restaurant stands in Ensenada, and he showed them serving creamy chipotle shrimp. Rick went back to his studio and recreated creamy chipotle shrimp tacos, and I drooled.

That day I decided to just eat lunch in the cellar at Macy's, which in San Francisco is a little food court. Lo and behold there was one of Rick Bayless's restaurants called Frontera, and on the menu? Chipotle shrimp tacos. Score! So good, I had to make them at home. And then again. Now I keep getting requests.

Creamy Chipotle Shrimp

The recipe is here, and if you buy your shrimp on sale, it's a great weeknight meal. Quick and yummy.

Cilantro Lime Rice

I added cilantro lime rice, which my friend Caroline taught me to make like they do at Chipotle. Just add a squeeze of lime juice to taste and some chopped fresh cilantro. Easy!

Dorot Chopped and Frozen Herbs

My cheat for fresh herbs in the wintertime is Dorot brand. They chop them up, freeze them into little cubes, and then you can just add them frozen to whatever you're making. I buy them at my grocery store, often with a coupon, but I believe Trader Joe's carries them, also.

Add tortillas...

...and a simple spinach salad. Dinner is served!

Great Guest Month!- What God Thinks About Women- Linda Cheek- Part Two

2012-02-12T08:00:06Z

Linda and Family

If you missed part one, you can read it here.

The first step in the process was to identify your area of bondage, and we do this by praying. Prayer is a topic I’m passionate about! The demands of life can cause us to be busy, but I want to exhort you to not put anything above some time with the Lord. The time of day you spend with Him doesn’t matter. However, fellowship with God is a priceless privilege. You cultivate friendships by spending time together and that’s what God desires as well. Pray for discernment!

The second step in ending the cycle of deception was to identify the lie at the root. And we do this by asking God to reveal truth to us. However, I also believe one other key component is enlisting the help of others (we need friends!)

“Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?” Proverbs 20:6.

Our upbringing and history of relationships impacts who we choose as friends. Some friends have hurt us, and we’ve made vows to ourselves to never have a friend like that again to avoid the same disappointments and betrayals. Our experiences could have happened in elementary school, high school, or in our adult life, but whatever the difficulty for some of us, it has crippled us from having the intimate relationships that the Lord intended for us. This can result in sin. Our tendency is to look for change through acquiring knowledge. We go to seminars, classes, and retreats, hoping that God will miraculously take us to the next level of spiritual growth. We deceive ourselves if we think that growth and healing come merely through accumulating data. Growth and healing always have and always will come through relationships with God, self, and others. Psalm 133

In Mark 3: 13-14, Jesus appointed 12 apostles. They were His companions. They witnessed every part of his life. He chose Peter, James, and John to be His bosom buddies. This serves as an example to us. We’re called to intimacy in friendship.

Do you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother? Someone who loves you, who speaks truth to you, and whom you can speak truth to in return? You must determine not to live in isolation, but rather to live an examined life. We need accountability and support, but these two are not the same thing. True accountability requires that someone have the guts to make you uncomfortable if that is needed. Support requires that someone have a love that will stand by you even if you are sinning repeatedly. It’s great when you can have both in one person, but not every friend is at that level, which is one more reason to have at least two or three to help you grow.

Our culture has driven us to think of promises as personal fulfillments. Think for a moment of the culture we live in. We can be accessed by television, radio, internet, and cell phones. We are told, "If you follow this diet, you’ll lose 20 pounds in two weeks!", "If you use this face cream, you will look twenty years younger in ten days!", "If you use this shampoo, your hair will be full and shiny!"

The sensible part of us knows that such promises are nonsense, but isn’t there another part of us that desires to believe miracles can actually happen? And don’t we think at some level, surely these kinds of promises wouldn’t be made if they weren’t true? The reality is God’s promises are not about us, but about Him. His promises are an expression of His holiness. When God makes us a promise, He can never break it. I wonder if we have such a hard time believing this, resting in God’s promises, because we have been lied to so many times, because so many earthly promises are broken. Therefore, there is a struggle to count on Him. The reality is that the world’s promises are fleeting and although we break God’s heart at times, he still continues to love us. We don’t have to say that right thing, and risk Him not liking us. We don’t have to worry about hurting His feelings. God’s love is unconditional.

The last step in ending the cycle of deception and cultivate a heart like God’s is to know His truths. I have picked 8 of my favorite to share from the book Lies Women Believe:

God is good. He loves me and wants me to have His best. (Romans 8:32)
God doesn’t make mistakes (Isaiah 46:10)
God’s grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9)
My past does not have to plague me ( 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Gods’ word is sufficient to lead me, teach me and heal me (Psalms 19:7)
We must relinquish control (Matthew 16:25, Luke1:38, 1Peter 5:7)
God is more concerned about changing me and glorifying Himself than about solving my problems (Romans 8:29)

It’s not about me; it’s all about Him (Colossians 1:16-18, Revelation 4:11)

Remember Jesus? His family underwent an unexplainable birth. He was rejected by His fellow countrymen. He took upon Himself the form of a man with no extra “special privileges”. He carried the cross for His own crucifixion. He was cursed, beaten and spit upon. To add final humiliation, one of the criminals who hung on a cross next to Him spewed insults at him. Jesus didn’t deserve that punishment and death- we did. Do we actually think He lacks understanding? He experienced the worst that hell can pour out, and He rose again to set us free and secure for us a destiny with Him forever- a destiny that the enemy cannot touch. No matter what circumstances pull the carpet out from underneath us, God will use the darkest of nights to let us know that He is there to keep us safe.

We need to take and claim the following scripture, “I am complete & accepted in Christ.” Ephesians 1: 4-6

Where have you been finding your security, identity, purpose, and value? If it’s been in anything other than the Lord, you will be disappointed. God loves you….right where you are. As we grow, we can learn to take God’s heart and make it the center of our own thinking.

Mystery of History Sale!

2012-02-11T16:37:50Z

Our favorite history curriculum, hands-down, is Linda Hobar's The Mystery of History. CBD has it on all on sale right now for 30% off, which is a great deal. The companion audio CD's (think: fold laundry, make dinner, knit, write a letter, etc. while the kids are listening) and enrichment project and art packs are all on sale, too!

You can read about why we love The Mystery of History here. Maybe it's the perfect history curriculum for your family, too!

Great Guest Month!- What God Thinks About Women- Linda Cheek- Part One

2012-02-10T08:00:48Z

Linda and Family

Linda Cheek is a woman I admire for many reasons, not the least of which is her passion for God and her heart for other women.

Recently Linda spoke at a women's event at our church and I was furiously writing notes because what she had to share was so rich and profound to me. I asked Linda if she could make her notes a blog entry, and she was able to edit them so that we could share them with you. This will be in two parts, and I know you'll be blessed.

♥

What God Thinks About Women, Part One

All of us have a story. Life happens to us. We get tired and weary, confused, and sometimes we wander. We lose our way. The weight of life presses down. Storms come. You don’t get that job you counted on. The man you love doesn’t love you back or share life as intimately as you desire. Your children, as much as you admire them, take a path you would never have chosen for them. A friend isn’t there when you need her most. The bills keep coming, and you don’t know how you’re going to pay them. Your health fails. A loved one dies. You want to accomplish great things, but you don’t know how or where to start. You dream big dreams, but can’t seem to bring them to life or make them real. Or maybe things seem comfortable, yet you yearn for something more.

Alone, defeated, frazzled, ashamed, confused, angry, frustrated, lonely, fearful, and even suicidal. Some of us are gripped by fear: fear of rejection, fear of what people think of us, and a longing for approval. Still others are emotional prisoners, enslaved by worry, anger, depression, and self-pity.

In order to change our “stinking thinking” it requires more than superficial solutions and remedies. There is hope! When we read the scriptures, we are reminded that God didn’t intend for it to be this way. We read the words of Jesus in the gospel of John and know that God has something better for us. “I have come that they might have life……” John 10:10

As you look at your life, would you say you are experiencing the abundant life Jesus came to give? Or do you find yourself just existing coping, struggling, surviving? I am not asking if you have a trouble-free life. In fact, some of the most radiant, joyful women I know are women who are living in difficult circumstances. Yet, somehow in the midst of their pain, they have discovered a source of life that enables them to walk through the valley with peace, assurance, and fullness.

So let me ask, what about you? Do you relate to any of this? What if I told you that instead of being miserable, frustrated, and in bondage, you could be free, stable, joyous, peaceful, and radiant? Do any of those words describe the kind of woman you would like to become? I won’t be offering simple solutions or telling you about shortcuts to an easy life, nor am I promising the absence of pain and difficulties. Life is hard- there’s no way around that, but I do believe that there is a way to walk through the realities of life- things like rejection, loss, disappointment, and even death- in freedom and true joy. Together we are going to be learning to take Jesus’ heart and make it the center of our own thinking.

Let’s discuss the issue of warfare; it is a real problem. Satan poses as an “angel of light” in 2 Corinthians 11:14). He promises pleasure and pretends to have our best interest at heart, but he is a fraud.

Do you think Eve would have eaten the apple if it had been foul and crawling with worms? Would she have considered disobeying God? Of course not. What made Satan’s offer so glamorous is that it looked right. The problem was that Eve didn’t stop to evaluate what was really happening. She didn’t take time to discern truth from error. She didn’t stop to consider the cost of what she was about to do.

We have the same problem! Very few Christians seriously consider the consequences of their choices. We simply live our lives responding to the people, circumstances, and influences around us. It all looks so virtuous, it feels so right, and it seems so innocent. Yet we end up angry, frustrated, trapped, and overwhelmed. We have been deceived. We have fallen for a lie.

This deception doesn’t happen overnight, but rather it is a progression that leads to bondage. It can be subtle and it usually always begins when we listen to lies. Listening to things that are not true is the first step toward ultimate bondage. First, we listen to it. Then, we dwell on it. We begin to consider what the enemy has subtly placed before us. We mull it over in our minds. We begin to engage the enemy in conversation, and we contemplate that he may be right.

How do we stop this insanity, end the cycle of destruction, and begin cultivating a heart like Jesus’ and making it our own? I believe there are 3 steps to the process:

1. Identify your area of bondage (shopping, substance abuse, anxiety , fear, stinginess, anger, lying, eating disorder)

2. Identify the lie at the root of that bondage or behavior. We need the Lord to help us see what we have believed that isn’t true.

3. Replace the lies with the Truth. Satan is powerful, but the TRUTH over powers the schemes of the enemy. “the truth will set you free” John 8:32

♥

In part two, Linda will delve into each of the above points. It's going to be great!

Come to the 2:1 Conference! I'd Love to See You There!

2012-02-08T15:51:10Z

Have you signed up for 2:1 yet? Oh, how we'd love to have you there!

A great group of speakers:

Christine Young of From Dates to Diapers

Heidi and Jay St. John of First Class Homeschool Ministries

Rachael Carmen of Apologia

Rebecca Ingram Powell of Mom Seriously

Zan Tyler of Apologia

Amy Andrews, author of Tell Your Time (over there on the sidebar)

Amy Gross of MomsToolbox

Amy Roberts of RaisingArrows.net

Andy Fletcher of The Mango Times (totally biased on this one- the man is a fabulous homeschool dad and he'll be speaking to homeschool dads)

Angie Kauffman of Many Little Blessings

Belinda Bullard of A Blessed Heritage

Carisa Hinson of 1+1+1=1

Heather Laurie of Special Needs Homeschooling

Jennifer Janes of Jennifer Janes (she also writes and speaks on special needs)

Jolanthe Erb of Homeschool Creations

Kris Bales of Weird, Unsocailzed Homeschoolers

Linda Difino of The Joyful Journey and The Homeschool Apologist

Lisa Bertolini of The Homespun Life

Maggie Hogan of Bright Ideas Press

Stef Layton, creator of The Homeschool Village

Toni Anderson of The Happy Housewife

...and of course me!

PHEW! That is one amazing line-up and I am so excited to be a part of such an inspirational conference. Won't you pray about a way to get there? If the Lord wants you there, He already has a plan!

Great Guest Month!- Contest - Pips Ebersole

2012-02-08T08:00:41Z

Pips is a new friend from church whose lovely blog I love to lurk upon. She is artistic and has a sense of the world, having grown up in South Africa. And her one-year-old son has the most stunning blue eyes. That's a big statement from a mom of 8 with blue eyes! But look:

Yep. Stunning.

Pips' art work is simple and kitschy and a lot of fun. I want all my readers to have a chance to win some, so Pips chose a piece of art to give away to you. All you have to do is comment and make sure to include your contact info, and we'll pick a winner randomly. Contest ends on February 22, 2012, midnight PST.

Paint and mixed media on a wood panel, 8x8 inches

Great Guest Month!- Art With Preschoolers- Melanie Oneth

2012-02-07T08:00:26Z

Cross, by Melanie Oneth

Melanie Oneth is a friend and artist whose work shows me the Glory of God. She has homeschooled their four children who are 17, 16, 13, and 11, and she teaches art classes to other students including one of our sons. I asked Melanie to share her thoughts on teaching art to little ones, and I know you'll be blessed and hopefully inspired, too.

♥

I think I speak for most home school moms when I say that art is not always our number one priority. Our tendency is to push it to the back of the “curriculum to cover later” line. We need to revaluate our thinking however—art brings A LOT to the educational table!

Here are a few considerations:

Art develops hand and eye coordination.
Art stimulates perception.
Art stimulates both sides of the brain.
33% of children are visual learners.
Studies show that children who make art read better and get better grades in science and mathematics.
When art is integrated with other subjects in a curriculum, children commit more to the learning process.
Lastly, art is fun! It’s one of the few subjects without any rules—which means it’s a subject that you can relax and enjoy with your child.

The very first thing you should understand about teaching art to your children is that art and the skill of drawing are not the same subject and should be taught separately. If you try to teach them at the same time you will end up possibly frustrating and/or discouraging your child.

For example, let’s say you give your children an assignment of listening to a piece of music and interpreting it visually on paper. Little Suzy proudly brings you her paper and you, trying to teach her, begin to critique her work pointing out that arms shouldn’t come out of heads or that eyes should be the same size. Now Suzy is discouraged; what you’ve unknowingly done is teach her that there is a right and a wrong way to express herself creatively.

Now, Johnny on the other hand has nothing on his paper. He wants to draw a man running through a field but he knows there is a right and wrong way to draw a man. Since he does not know the “right way” he is frustrated and ends up doing nothing.

Melanie's daughter Macayla drew this when she was 5. Melanie writes, "When I saw this I knew she would be a great artist. This was the same art lesson I describe [above]."

Art

Art is all about creativity, expression, and exploration. I believe that this is all you should teach your child until they are about six, unless your child asks for advice on drawing more realistically. I tend to use a lot of lessons from MaryAnn F. Kohl’s books with younger kids. My favorite art lesson for kids is creating an Eric Carle type collage. You can find the instructions here. There really aren’t a whole lot of rules for art instruction; it should be low stress, and most of all, fun.

Drawing

Drawing is no different than anything else in life- the more you do it the better you become. A lot of people believe that the ability to draw is a talent that you are either born with or you are not. True, some people are born with a little more skill than the rest of us, but the truth is that it is a skill that anyone can learn.

Eric Carle art, by Melanie's son River

Now if you haven’t learned the skill yourself it may seem a little daunting to try and teach your children—not to worry, there are a lot of books out there on the subject. Mona Brookes’ book Drawing with Children is my favorite. She breaks drawing down into 8 basic elements of shape. This is not a self guided book that you will be able to hand to your child and let them go through; it will require some reading and preparing on your part.

Also helpful are Walter Foster and Discover Drawing paperbacks that you can find at the library. I would encourage you to go to the library and check out as many books on drawing as you are able. Look them over; find what makes sense to you. We all learn differently so different books will appeal to different people.

I have also always encouraged copying (as long as they don’t try to take credit for something that is not theirs)—it’s a good training exercise. The real key here is practice, practice, practice. Remind your child that they are not going to love every drawing they produce; in fact, they will not like most of them but that is ok, we learn from our failures.

I love this quote from Leo Buscaglia—“We seem to gain wisdom more readily through our failures than through our success. We always think of failure as the antithesis of success, but it isn’t. Success often lies just the other side of failure.”

Miss America, by Macayla Oneth

♥

Romeo and Juliet, by Macayla Oneth