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Advice
Speaking Out about Parental Involvement
Parents often ask me how to make their own family more like Jimmy’s in Danny Meets Jimmy. One answer is being actively involved in their children’s education and lives. Research on the effects of parental involvement shows a consistent, positive relationship between parents’ participation in their children’s education and their children’s academic performance. Studies show also that parental involvement is associated with lower dropout and truancy rates. There is no question anymore that parental involvement positively impacts the education of children. Parents often ask my how they can increase their involvement. If their children attend school outside the …
Illustrating Your Children’s Book
As a children’s author, I’m often pleased to find that I’ve inspired children and adults to write children’s stories of their own. One of the most important components of an illustrated book is, of course, its illustrations. Most children’s books offer several delightful illustrations. I spent an entire year searching for the perfect illustrator for Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy. I had an exact vision of what I was looking for, and chances are so do you. Don’t compromise your vision, but continue to search for the right illustrations and pictures for your kids story. I recommend communicating as exactly …
Library Visits with the Kids—Some Helpful Tips
There’s nothing like good, old-fashioned visits to the library to get your kids interested in reading and encouraging them to become avid readers themselves. You can start bringing your children to the library as early as infancy—around six months of age, or when they start to become interested in looking at the pictures in books. Make sure your baby is well-fed and well-rested before your trip so he’ll be able to enjoy himself and you’ll find it easy to keep his attention on the books you’ll show him. For infants and toddlers who are still interested in putting any …
What Makes Good Children’s Literature—Some Helpful Tips
As a children’s author, I’m often pleased to find that I’ve inspired children and adults to write children’s stories of their own. A question they wonder is what exactly makes a good children’s book. Whether you’re a children’s author, illustrator, parent who reads to your child, or someone who is shopping for a children’s book to give to a cherished child, it’s important to know the components of a good children’s literature. This question perhaps can’t be easily answered, as delightful children’s books come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties, but it’s worth taking a look at it. Even …
Is Reading to Your Young Child Really Necessary?
Research continues to support that reading benefits children of all ages in a variety of ways. According to studies, reading helps build your child’s vocabulary, helps develop his imagination, and increases his ability to communicate. In fact, there is a direct relationship between how many words an infant hears in a day and his language skills, even his IQ. That being said, reading is crucial in exposing your baby or young child to a variety of words. The images and colors in children picture books and illustrated books also stimulate the imagination. This is part of the reason why I …
Danny the Dragon Contest Winner for November!
Leah Naumec was the winner of the October contest as part of the October Danny the Dragon Gluten-Free cupcake party hosted by Tina Turbin in Florida. She received a Danny the Dragon gift basket loaded with goodies and Danny the Dragon give-aways! I am very pleased to also share Leah’s story. Her mother briefly shares what it has been like to raise a child with celiac: A new mom, feeding journals, diaper journals, sleep schedules… all trial and error! Leah’s precious life started with a week in the NICU, but as a fighter she bounded out and has been that …
Ways to Get Your Kids Reading
First of all, start young. Studies show that reading to your child should begin before the age of six months, as soon as they’re able to enjoy the images and pictures inside of their books. Collect some board books, either buying them at the bookstore or getting some hand-me-downs from friends and family. All children have varying attention spans and you should keep in mind not to push too far past these limits in their attention and not force them to read, as children tend to dislike things they are forced to do not on their own determinism. Every child …
A Mother’s Role is a Valuable Asset to Our Society
Chances are, you have an idea of just how important you are as a mother in your household. For instance, what if you were to go out of town for a week? Who would get the kids ready for school, take them to soccer or ballet, help them with their homework? And could you imagine the state of the house after such a length of time? As helpful as your spouse or children may be, without having Mom around to spur them through their daily chores, how often would they do the dishes or remember to take out the trash? …
Traveling With Children – Sound Familiar to Anyone?
Many of us parents have had our share of traveling experiences with our children.
Getting the Kids to Listen: Danny the Dragon Author Offers Some Tips
I was sent this lovely article written and published recently after a brief interview by reseacher and writer Robert Bell. I thought I’d share this with all of you It’s time for dinner and you’ve called to your children three times so far to turn off the TV and come to the table to eat. You start using threats of coming into the living room yourself to turn off the television, to ban TV for the rest of the night, or to eat their dinners for them, but they still don’t come. Sound familiar? But aren’t kids supposed to have …