Are you a parent that is surprised by the language in children’s books? When we go to the library or bookstore, my lil one wants me to read whatever she grabs off the shelf and I end up changing a lot of what is actually written. Even though the book ultimately ends in “Happily Ever After”, many of the children’s fiction books are filled with expressions of lack, limiting beliefs, victim/villain, bullying, sarcasm, self-consciousness over appearance expressed, and more. Even a subscription to Highlights, that was a gift, has stories that make me cringe and are edited when read them to my tot. I know I won’t be able to continue my real time editing techniques much longer. She will soon be reading the words, rather than reciting what I read to her.
When I took a homeschooling course at the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential, they advocated putting together homemade books with stories of the child’s experiences. They could include family events, family pet, a vacation experience or even a day at the park. The books can be a short story that describes the photos showing the child having a great time at the pool, swimming and splashing with friends. The homemade books can be tailored to your child’s age and interests. My daughter loves these personalized books more than any others.
Recently I found a great book at the library called Fast Food by Joost Elffers. It’s cute and colorful and is about different modes of transportation. What makes this book unique is that the photos of the transportation vehicles are all made out of fruit and vegetables. It is very clever and may even inspire your child to have a stronger affinity towards fruit and vegetables.
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