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"theme" activities  Sue:
In your book The Absolute Best Play Days you center your activities around a
given theme like airplanes, I love it : ). You include the crafts, music, and even snacks
that would go with the theme. What gave you this idea to "theme" activities as
opposed to having just crafts that the kids would make?
 Pam:
When my children were in a wonderful preschool in Stillwater, OK, I found that
their best days were when they came home and said, for example, "We had Dinosaur Day
today! We made playdough dinosaurs, we ate dinosaur-shaped cookies, we read three books
about dinosaurs, we saw a dinosaur movie, and we pretended to be dinosaurs!" Basing
the whole day on one theme clearly was a big hit.
Sue:
Your book gives the parent or adult a lot of room to change the activities within
a given theme. How would you recommend a new reader approach her first themed activity?
Pam:
The best way is to know what interests your child, and what are his or her
skills. That way, first, you can pick a theme for which you probably already have related
toys or items around the house , and second, you know what's safe and what's doable for
that child. >From there, you can decide, does my child like lively, run-around play
first, or should we start with a craft project? For the craft, can she use the scissors,
or should you cut and she colors? Lastly, depending on the weather, nap-times, and other
reality factors (doing laundry, getting lunch, sibling needs), you can plan for some down
time, whether that means reading several stories, listening to quiet music, or snuggling
to watch a video. For each activity, craft, and snack, there are hints on adapting the
idea for younger or older children.
organized
kids' groups love this book
Sue:
Many times passions, like yours, grow out of personal experience(s). What
experiences influenced your book and how you decided to "theme" the play days?
In this
interview....
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In this
interview....
The Absolute Best
Play Days:
From Airplanes to Zoos (and Everything in Between!)
by Pamela J. Waterman
Children Love Theme Days!
The Absolute Best Play Days contains 52 themes and activities for keeping children between
ages two and seven happy, safe and creatively occupied for an extended time period. From
dinosaurs and bugs to clocks and inventions, this book covers themes kids love. Low-cost,
everyday materials plus simple planning make this book invaluable for parents, and it's
perfect for baby-sitters, childcare providers, and grandparents too!
Kids Around the
World Create!:
The Best Crafts and Activities from Many Lands
by Arlette N. Braman, Jo-Ellen Bosson
also see
the interview with author Arlette N. Braman
 From
Italian carnival masks to Egyptian jewelry,a fantastic collection of Earth-spanning
activities Kids Around the World Create! is an excellent way for parents and teachers to
introduce children to dozens of diverse cultures from around the world and throughout
history. Each of the projects and activities in this collection is original, fun to do,
and accompanied by a host of interesting facts about the culture. Author Arlette Braman
helps kids recognize the similarities between cultures as well as appreciate the value of
diversity. Perfect in the classroom or at home, the many multicultural projects include
making an Egyptian bead necklace, designing an Amazonian Indian headdress, sculpting an
Inuit spirit figure, and many more. *Includes original activities from many countries,
including India, Ghana, Japan, Korea, and Mexico *All projects can be done with
easy-to-find and inexpensive materials |
