Posted by Colleen | Filed under News
Membership in The National Association For The Education of Young Children , also known as NAEYC means you get some awesome books. I’ve been reading Ellen Galinsky’s book: MIND IN THE MAKING: SEVEN ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS. And I’m struck by the way the boys in NO MONSTER HERE demonstrate and use these skills. We didn’t intend this. We simply wanted to show brothers engaged in imaginative, active play.
1.FOCUS AND SELF CONTROL = paying attention, remembering rules, thinking flexibly, and exercising self-control. Jacob has to remember what he’s said. He thinks flexibly as he creates the monster. Joey pays attention and remembers the clues. He thinks flexibly when he goes back through the rooms in reverse order. When the boys are playing hide and seek, they remember and follow the rules of the game
2.PERSPECTIVE TAKING = figuring out what others think and feel, empathy Jacob gives clues so Joey will keep looking. Joey figures out if Jacob is telling the truth & where the monster might hide.
3.COMMUNICATION = being able to communicate and knowing if we are understood Jacob is constantly looking to see if Joey believes him. Joey is wondering if Jacob is making the monster up or if there really is a monster.
4.MAKING CONNECTIONS = figuring out what’s the same and different, sorting and seeing connections, then using them Jacob uses visual cues in the rooms to describe the monster. Joey connects the cues and the rooms as he goes back through the house.
5.CRITICAL THINKING = searching for valid and reliable knowledge Joey asks his parents about the monster, using them as a resource.
6.TAKING ON CHALLENGES = meeting challenges instead of avoiding them. Jacob invents the monster. And Joey takes on the challenge of finding the monster.
7. SELF-DIRECTED, ENGAGED LEARNING = allows us to realize our potential and change as we learn. Play is a form of self- directed, engaged learning. When Joey finds the Monster, Jacob decides the game needs to go on because the Monster wants to play.
We can use No Monster Here to help children develop these essential skills, to think about thinking, solve problems, be active, make connections and use their imaginations.
Tags: active play, communication, critical thinking, Ellen Galinsky, engaged learning, focus and self control, imaginative play, making connections, Mind in the Making, NAEYC, No Monster Here, perspective taking, self-directed, Seven Essential Life Skills, taking on challenges
Why kids love Where the Wild Things Are and No Monster Here
Posted by Colleen | Filed under News
Books about monsters were always a hit in our childcare center and elementary school. Children and grown-ups loved sharing books that let us stretch our imaginations. In his book, Where the Wild Things Are , Mercer Mayer let Max journey to the land of the wild things and become their king. In our book, No Monster Here, Joey searches until he finds the monster. For Max, the task is to face the wild things and become their king. For Joey, the task is to discover where the monster is hidden. In both books, the boys have to do something. It’s not enough to just sit there.
This is the attraction of monster stories. In these books, children get to be the heroes and solve the problem. In fantasy, they face something bigger than they are and triumph. So books about monsters are fun and a way to be brave and solve a problem with the main character.
And, while these books are considered children’s picture books, they work for all ages because grown-ups still have that child within.
Tags: books, fantasy, heroes, imagination, Mercer Mayer, No Monster Here, picture books, problem-solving, Where the Wild Things Are
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