KID KANDY - Fun Winter Activity

Any number of great picture books could be read before, during, and after this fun stuck-in-the-house activity.

A few suggestions:

~ The Mitten
~ The Hat
~ A Snowy Day
~ The Gingerbread Baby
~ Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash

Meet Princess Khloe as she hangs out the wash, er, princess clothes. Freshly pretend washed in the toy machine, clothespins, indoor drying rack, and lots of entertainment. This gave Nana a breather from being the 'kid' while Princess Khloe was 'in charge.'

Those of you with children or with other people's children know that of which I speak.

Dig out those dress up clothes, drying rack, and a bunch of clothespins. And then sit back and sip a cup of coffee while the kiddos amuse themselves.

KID KANDY is a book extension feature for kids and their families. If a child has a fun activity to do after reading a book (or before reading a book), the ideas and information in the book are more likely to stick. We know that the more kids love books, the more they read. And the more they read, the more they internalize things like story structure, character development, language, conflict, and creativity. And the love of both reading and exploring is encouraged to grow deep and rich in the life of kids.

Some things that will help you use KID KANDY:

~ Not every idea will appeal to you or your child. Make up something else fun!

~ Let your child be the leader in making the KID KANDY activities work or evolve. They love being in charge.

~ Adjust the suggestions to fit your circumstances. We don't all have the same resources, experience, or chunks of time.

~ Be flexible. Some things might not work out. Laugh and go on. I bet kids will remember the mistakes and flops more than the perfect endings.

~ Above all, read books together. Shared love will run all over those dog-eared, food-smeared, mangled and torn pages. Books are like the Velveteen Rabbit. The books that show the most signs of wear and tear are the ones that are most loved. They are the ones that become real in your child's heart.

Enjoy KID KANDY.

Feel free to share the ideas found in this blog. I would love to hear how your KID KANDY escapades work out.

Angie Quantrell writes picture books, blogs, takes photos, and chases her naughty kitties off of the counters. Books come to life in her imagination and litter all spaces in her home. If it weren't for all of her books, Angie could live in a one room house.