Eight Tips for Helping Young Readers Bloom

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Spring is here, so many people are planning and prepping to work in their gardens. In many places, spring flowers are already blooming or daffodils and other spring bulbs are poking up out of the warming soil. Given the right conditions and care, gardens can be thriving, vibrant places full of life. And the same is true for young readers! So, to celebrate spring and gardens and reading, here are ten tips to help your young readers bloom and thrive, along with some garden photos for some garden inspiration. 1. Just like flowers, budding readers blossom in their own time. Encourage them, but let them grow at their own pace. 2. Gardens need the right nutrients to grow, and this can vary depending on the plant. The same is true for young readers. Fertilize young readers minds with consistent, nutrient-rich mind food. In other words, offer a variety of books! But remember, not all growing readers will respond to the same books the same way.  Cone flowers and black-eyed Susans in Rebecca'
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Summer Challenge Week Nine: Clever Creativity!

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This week the Summer Challenge is all about creativity! Creativity is not just about art. It's about using your imagination to create something or to solve a problem (or both). We hope that this theme will inspire you to get creative with your kids. Read a book or books that feature creativity or clever problem-solving, then do something creative together. You could create a work of art, encourage your kids to build something amazing with blocks or play with loose parts, or think up a clever solution to a small problem (like how to arrange a bookshelf or keep the squirrels out of the garden). There's no end to the possibilities!

Ideas for books to read:

  • Drawn Together by Dan Santat, a family story in which art helps a grandfather and grandson cross the language barrier.
  • Fern and Horn by Marie-Louise Gay. This is an imaginative story about two siblings' creative competitiveness.
  • Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. A clever and creative story about knitting, and sharing, and spreading joy and color throughout your community.
  • Kate, Who Tamed the Wind by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Lee White. A story about a girl who comes up with a clever solution to a blustery problem.

Ideas for things do discuss:

  • Are artistic skill and creativity the same thing? Why or why not?
  • In what ways were the characters being creative in the story?
  • Everyone is creative in some way. What makes your creativity shine through?
  • Talk about a time during which you had to think creatively to solve a problem.
  • How can you combine creativity with other things, like math or cooking?

Ideas for things do do: 

  • Draw or paint a character from a book in a new scene or situation.
  • Brainstorm alternate endings to a story.
  • Do some research into how an illustrator created the pictures in one of your favorite books. Try that form of art yourself if possible.
  • Write and illustrate your own story.
  • Build a home for a book character out of blocks or craft materials.
  • Create a project inspired by the book, whether that book is about art, a clever invention, or some other way of being creative.
Have fun being creative this week! We'd love to hear about your clever creativity in the comments or on social media with the hashtag #RDDSummerChallenge.

Comments

Rum Tan said…
The summer challenge's main objective is creative development, which is very beneficial. Because it happens in such small, frequent bursts that are creating the habit of generating in you, you might not even be aware that having fun, exchanging ideas, and working under pressure is what will advance you. Always choose educational institutions and tuition that support children's creativity as a study topic.
November 4, 2022 at 9:21 PM
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