A children's book I love is called I Love You the Purplest by Barbara JoosseThis book takes you through the day of a mom spending time with her two boys. In their adventures of fishing, the boys seek to be "the best" at everything. Mom is clever, and she has an answer for each of their questions of who is the best, capturing their personalities and building them up. For instance, when they are searching for worms and wanting to know who is the best, mom responds saying one boy catches the liveliest worms and the other boy catches the juiciest worms. When rowing the boat, one boy rows the deepest and one boy rows the fastest. At the end of the story as she is tucking the boys into bed, they ask who she loves the best. Her answer completes this wonderful tale!
For those who have children who feel the need to compete with others, and the drive to be always the "best" this story is for you. I was able to put the concept into practice one day. I had some neighbor children, age 2,4,9,&10 over helping me to pull weeds as we cleared the garden bed to prepare to plant. Not too far into the weed pulling, the oldest child brought me a really big weed and said, "Look, I pulled the biggest weed!" This of course upset the younger children who ran off trying to pull really big weeds, but just didn't have the strength to do so. I challenged them in different ways. I had someone find me the smallest weed, the most colorful weed, the weed with the thinnest root, fattest or longest root, and anything else that I could think of. By the time these four children went home, they had all been the best at finding some kind of weed. The adventure together was just as rewarding for me!
When they finally went home and ran to tell their mom how much fun they had in pulling weeds, she questioned me as to how I can get her kids to pull weeds and she never can. What do you think? This book is an inspiration of how to build children up and give them what they need without putting anyone else down. It helps children to see how unique and loved they each are for their own special ways. A must read.
**Barbara Joosse is also the author of a great book called Mama, Do You Love Me **
Kelly this is inspiring.I admire the way you were able to apply what you read to real life situation.You were teaching those students while having fun.It's amazing how we are practitioners everywhere we go without even realizing it.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly, How great this book sounds. I have to admit I have never read or heard of it before this. I am definitely going to track it down at the school or city library as it is exactly what the boys in my kindergarten class need to hear.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI love love love your story. I have to say I have never read the book you posted but I will be sure to pick it up! I really enjoyed how you challenged the children intellectually and socially. You were responsive to all of their needs and were so creative! It is also a great example on how to work with multiage groups and be successful. That story represents true early childhood education! Great work!