812-Lanc*ster Farming, Saturday, January 13,1990
TAKING
TIME
by Rebecca Wolf
Editor’s Note: Rebecca Wolfe
is a home economist with Penn
State Cooperative Extension in
Lehigh County. Her column
replaces “Back Home” written
by Michelle Rodgers. Michelle,
promoted to assistant regional
director for the Capitol region,
no longer has time to write the
column.
Rebecca writes: When I was
invited to share some thoughts
with you about today’s family,
the stresses it faces and the ways
we can strengthen it, I consid
ered many approaches. But
above all others, the recurring
thought was: “Quality family
life is a matter of taking time”--
time to listen to a child, time to
unwind after a stressful day at
work, time to plan a major
purchase, time to create a
romantic surprise for a spouse. I
hope that you will enjoy this col
umn, and I hope that the
thoughts I share with you dur
ing the coming months will
encourage you to take time for
yourself and your family.
Will You Read Me A Story?
This past holiday I spent some
time at my parents’ home and
enjoyed a bit of nostalgia as I read
a book that my Mom used to read
to me each holiday season. What
happy memories it brought to
mind!
I also thought about a comment
my friend had told me recently,
“There’s going to be no such thing
as books for kids growing up
today... just TV and videos.”
Do you remember during story
time as a child nestling in the arms
of a loving adult and finding your
self magically carried to the ima
ginary world of your storybook?
The winter months provide an ide
al time for you to renew that tradi
tion with your own family.
Not only is reading aloud a
good activity for family time, it
also promotes development of a
young child’s language, imagina
tion, observation skills, and atten
tion span. This is one of the best
things a parent can do to help a
child succeed in school. Reading
together also allows a parent to
reinforce values and communicate
love to the rest of the family.
Reading can be fun for people
of all ages. As your family grows,
allow children to read to you or
read silently to themselves.
Remember, your example speaks
louder than words. When is the
last time you read a book JUST
FOR FUN?
Here are some suggestions for
your family?
With toddlers and preschoolers:
Allow them to sit close to you
and look at the pictures. Encour
age interruptions for questions or
for a second look at a page. The
<g. _ jpaned
sponge over the shiny erea and press lightly over a pres
sing cloth.
youngest children will simply
enjoy browsing through books.
They are fascinated with the hinge
action of the binding. The fun of
"reading” a book is in turning
pages, opening and closing the
cover, and looking at the pictures.
(Don’t be surprised if they also
want to chew the covers!)
Two to four year olds enjoy
fast-paced books with rhyme,
rhythm, and repitition. They love
participation books and books
with exaggeration. Try Hand,
Hand, Fingers, Thumb and others
by Dr. Seuss or The Day Jimmy's
Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka
Hakes Noble.
With elementary school-aged
children:
Select books about real-life
situations. The House on Maple
Street by Bonnie Pryor and The
Mare on the Hill by Thomas
Locker are two good stories to
share with these children. Chil
dren this age still enjoy listening
to you read. They can scratch your
back, paste trading stamps in a
book, or draw while listening.
With young teens:
These individuals often have
hobbies. The Eyewitness Books
published by Alfred A. Knopf
help them explore a variety of top
ics. The Tripod Trilogy by John
Christopher, Matilda by Ronald
Dahl, and Where the Red Fern
Grows by Wilson Rawls offer a
mixture of humor, adventure and
sorrow.
With adolescents:
Teens enjoy books about rela
tionships - love, friendships, and
families. Look for books about the
challenges of growing up. You
may also encourage a teen’s read
ing by giving him or her a maga
zine subscription.
Suggestions for the entire
family:
• Limit TV watching. Avoid
making it look like reading
together is taking away TV time
by saying, “The TV set goes off at
8:30. If you want a story read
before bed, that’s fine. If not,
that’s fine, too. But no TV after
8:30.”
• Make a trip to the public
library a part of your family’s rou
tine. If you need help, ask the
librarian for suggestions.
• Don’t just read books. Also
read newspapers, package labels,
lyrics on CD covers, advertise
ments.
• Give books as gifts. Mail one
to a friend in a distant town. You
can frequently buy used books
inexpensively. You can also sell
or donate your books to others
once you’ve read them.
Want to create memories that
last? Want to invest in your child’s
future? Want to remind yourself
about the lighter side of life? Take
time this week to read with your
family.
Farm Show visitors enjoyed the good taste of lamb when Julie Maust, Lamb and
Wool Queen, handed out samples.
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