Internal Pride

My brother and I have had long conversations about internal pride.  We have a "Good Job!" mom.  When we did things to her satisfaction we were rewarded with, "Good Job!" This response was used for everything from a report card with all A's to helping clear the table after a meal.  My brother's position is that this actually affects the value that he put on his work.  He suggests that this gave him a jaded view of internal pride. Many of the things that he was told "Good Job!" for were things that weren't items that he found challenging or particularly "Good Job!" worthy.  

Our conversation went on for a while ending with that we appreciated being noticed.  The things and that the "Good Job!" was less meaningful than saying something like "I noticed you worked really hard at..." or I"I see that you....".  I don't disparage those of you who are "Good Job!"ers.  We all need to hear it from time to time.  I merely suggest that we take time to notice the wonderful things that children are doing.  And that we take the time to let them know that we notice them.  

The other day my heart was warmed when after I talked to Miles about a picture he made.  He used a few magnets to hang it in a prominent place on the fridge.  Maybe he would have had some pride in his work if I'd just told him, "Good Job!", but I'm not sure that it would have elicited this response...

When's the last time you noticed a child's work?

I'm Published!!!- Shameless Plug

I am super excited to announce that, "Miles' Shadow" is available for purchase on Amazon for e-readers.
Buy it here!  I'm still trying to figure out if I can get some hard copies made to sale too.  I have a printed copy for Miles and I to read and have bound it using my "reusable book binding method" (see future post).

Miles' Shadow is a book which encourages families and teachers to participate in Dialogic Reading.  Dialogic Reading is a method of reading with children and asking them questions to help relate the story to their own lives.  This method has been proven effective in teaching children how to read.

I Know, Therefore I Play

 A week or so ago we took our son to see the MONSTER TRUCKS! when they came to town.  We got to see, hear, and feel the trucks in action.  (We were right behind where the trucks parked, so when they started up we could feel the stands vibrating.)  In the small arena, every already bone rattling sound was amplified.  The trucks are truly a feat of engineering!

 We watched as the trucks crept up to the starting line and gunned the engine to make the trucks fly around 30 feet in the air!  We watched as the monster trucks jumped and drove over the cars.  There was an anouncer that interviewed various drivers as they won the different challenges set before them.  (Chris and I decided that monster trucks are the professional wrestling of motor sports.)  

We even had the opportunity to see the tow truck that comes and assists the monster trucks when one flips/tips over.  What a show!

Ever since our trip to see the monster trucks live Miles has taken every opportunity to pull Chris and I into playing monster trucks with him.  He carefully lines up the cars and his monster truck that he got for Christmas makes run after run over the line of cars.  He makes the noises, jumps, and lands the truck with a bounce just like in the real show!

The experience guides his play.  He knows about monster trucks because he had a live/personal experience with them.  He got to hear, feel, smell, and see the trucks in action.  He has taken this experience and now guides his play.  Miles could have seen it on the TV and started to play monster trucks in a similar manner, but I like to think that when you watch him control his monster truck that he now has a better basic understanding of Physics.  He knows that "what goes up must come down."  He makes the truck jump a little higher when it goes over an angle as opposed to along a flat surface.  Children often play what they see, hear, taste, smell, or touch.  How does your child make their real life experiences come alive during play?