Yes, I know it’s quite a ways into the new year, and I’m just getting back into the “business” swing of things.  Believe me, this blog was a hard one to write.  It’s been on my mind for a long while and, as with many things on one’s “to do” list, the longer I put it off, the harder it was to sit down and get it done. 

My focus this year will continue to be on helping to lead children on the journey to self-expression through writing.  I am hoping to really focus on helping parents and teachers learn how to use a child’s natural environment to help create inspiration for their writing.

I would love to introduce to you a fabulous organization called GREEN HEARTS.  Their website is  http://www.greenheartsinc.org/ .  They have a really great resource called  ”A Parents’ Guide to Nature Play” .  This is free for you to download (please consider donating to this wonderful organization).  The following excerpt is from their website:

Green Hearts is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to restoring and strengthening the bonds between children and nature.  We believe that frequent, unstructured childhood play in natural settings is a crucial stage in the development of life-long conservation values – and thus helps lead to adult conservation behaviors.  This kind of “nature play” is now an endangered part of American childhood.  Green Hearts’ mission is to help bring it back.

Thanks to The Motherhood Muse - http://www.themotherhoodmuse.com/ - for turning me on to this great site.

I must admit that I am a procrastinator.  I have great intentions to organize my laundry room and file all of my pictures neatly into picture albums and boxes.  But, honestly many times these projects do not get finished or sometimes even started.  I love reading articles on organization, and as soon as the Container Store opened up in our area, I was one of the first ones there.   I have grand ideas of what my laundry room will one day look like, but I haven’t even made the first steps in starting the project.  My perfectionist tendencies tend to shine through, and sometimes, if I can’t achieve perfection, I don’t even attempt the task.

How does this relate to writing and helping young writers you may ask?  Well… I have been thinking.  When my daughters embark on a creative journey of drawing masterpieces or gluing magnificent leaves onto their collages, I want them to enjoy the experience from start to finish.  I don’t want them to get caught up on the need for perfection and not even attempt to try.  Writing and drawing are creative processes that require motivation, encouragement, and risk.

I want to ensure that I am providing a safe, fun, and creative environment for my children.  I am determined to set aside my need for perfection and allow them to express their creativity and enjoy the creative process.  So, I am going to shut down my computer, go grab a pile of paper and crayons, and make fall books outside.  How can you start writing with your child today?  Like the famous Nike logo states, “Just Do It!”

I’ve personally always loved Barefoot Books.  It started when my little girl was 2 months old and I saw a princess book, CD, and puppet from Barefoot Books at a friend’s Open House for Mom-run businesses.  This book was different from other Princess books.  It told tales of princesses from around the world who faced challenges and trials but found a way to triumph with bravery, compassion, ingenuity and a little bit of luck.  I’ve read it to my daughter, now 4 years old, over and over.  The Animal Boogie book and CD have been a favorite of all of my kids and The Bear book collection has been one of my favorites as well…  Bear on a Bike, Bear at Home, Bear in a Square, etc.  Most recently I’ve discovered a whole collection of environmental books offered through Barefoot Books such as The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, Whole World, and the One World, One Planet Gift Collection.

Barefoot Books began with two mothers who wanted their children to have books that would feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet.  I loved this idea so much that I decided to partner with Barefoot Books to help expose more people to this beautiful community.  Please come and explore the world of Barefoot Books through Magic Lantern.  Your purchases on many products also help to support environmental causes.

http://www.barefootbooks.com/marketplace/8786/

My Backyard Adventure: Creating a Nature Journal

Tuesdays, October 27, November 3, and 10,  4-5:30 p.m.
Ages 6-12 years.
$ 35.00 for the three-week session.

The natural world around you is a beautiful place! Come and learn how to use a writing journal to help you explore your backyard and other environments!  This interactive class is designed to motivate children to write and sketch about the environment while spending quality time with nature.  The cost includes “An Adventure in My Own Backyard: a kid’s nature journal” a Magic Lantern theme journal.

Instructor: Cara Davies, M.A.
She encourages and assists young readers and writers to develop a sense of wonder for the natural world.

Please come and join us at the Majestic View Nature Center at 7030 Garrison Street, Arvada, Colorado
720-898-7405
http://arvada.org/docs/1252531951majviewbro%208-09%20to%2011-09.pdf