Olivia’s mother is currently the story book character with whom I can most identify. She takes her children to the beach, the museum, implements time out, and has the humanity to tell her daughter, “You really wear me out, but I love you anyway.” I can relate to her negotiating how many stories to read each night before bed; Olivia wants five books and her mother counteracts with the offer of one; they compromise on three. AnaLu, Ben and I read Olivia by Ian Falconer at least twice a week, and have done so for the past three years, which adds up to about 300 plus visits with these characters. It’s safe to say that we have spent a fair share of time together. Good times, good memories.
Alan Alexander Milne had a brilliant understanding of the importance of characters to children, writing two books about a boy named Christopher Robin, after his son, and various characters inspired by his son's stuffed animals, most notably the bear named Winnie-the-Pooh.
Connecting to story book characters is an important part of the reading process. We tell children, “Good readers make connections.” My son, Ben, is an amazing example of this. He puts himself into every page of every story that we read, announcing who he is along the way, “¡Yo soy Diego! ¡Yo soy el gato! ¡Yo soy el camion grande!”
Exploring characters and their experiences is also an important tool in helping children to develop empathy and provides children with role models who they might not otherwise “meet.” We also discover characters who are just like we are, reaffirming our feelings and experiences.
Tomorrow, March 25, we celebrate characters and their importance in our lives. Children are invited to come dressed as their favorite story book character. It’s okay if your child doesn't have an elaborate costume, or any costume at all. It’s okay if he or she insists to come dressed as a superhero, princess, pirate, Harry Potter, or even Captain Underpants. It’s especially okay to come dressed as a character that no one may already know. Tomorrow we invite everyone to use their imagination and connect characters to life, or connect life to characters, such as it may be.
Alan Alexander Milne had a brilliant understanding of the importance of characters to children, writing two books about a boy named Christopher Robin, after his son, and various characters inspired by his son's stuffed animals, most notably the bear named Winnie-the-Pooh.
Connecting to story book characters is an important part of the reading process. We tell children, “Good readers make connections.” My son, Ben, is an amazing example of this. He puts himself into every page of every story that we read, announcing who he is along the way, “¡Yo soy Diego! ¡Yo soy el gato! ¡Yo soy el camion grande!”
Exploring characters and their experiences is also an important tool in helping children to develop empathy and provides children with role models who they might not otherwise “meet.” We also discover characters who are just like we are, reaffirming our feelings and experiences.
Tomorrow, March 25, we celebrate characters and their importance in our lives. Children are invited to come dressed as their favorite story book character. It’s okay if your child doesn't have an elaborate costume, or any costume at all. It’s okay if he or she insists to come dressed as a superhero, princess, pirate, Harry Potter, or even Captain Underpants. It’s especially okay to come dressed as a character that no one may already know. Tomorrow we invite everyone to use their imagination and connect characters to life, or connect life to characters, such as it may be.
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