The Art of Storytelling: Orality for Parents and Children

March 31, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Education

My dad is an amazing storyteller. As a child, I loved the stories of his childhood experiences among seven siblings, but his fictional tales were just as engaging. (They featured a naïve kid named Billy who made poor choices and faced amusing yet believable consequences; my dad often retold the stories twice in a row, with Billy making different decisions and arriving at better outcomes.)

My own storytelling skills are weak. With a Bachelor's Degree in English, I've read plenty of choice stories, but literacy differs from orality. Storytelling is an art that is improved with practice--and practice is what I need. I'm going to make frequent storytelling a focus in the next few months. Here are some tips I'm learning:

Classic French Nursery Rhymes & Finger Games: Videos, Lyrics, & Music

March 27, 2014 by Michele Cherie in French Language Learning, Teaching French, French Resources, Education

You may have forgotten most of the nursery rhymes of your childhood, but most likely, those simple songs and rhymes helped you learn the rhythm and sounds of your native language. Whether you're simply curious about French comptines (nursery rhymes) or are serious about wanting to play in French with your little one, these videos of simple French songs with fingerplays will make you smile:

Weathering the Tides of Family Life: Seasons Of Separation & Single Parenting

March 25, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Home Management, Reflections on Parenting, Contentment

I've heard this twice lately: to children, there is no such concept as quality time; instead, all they discern is time spent together or apart. Our family has been vacationing in central Oregon the past few days, and it's been renewing--not so much for the change of scenery, though the high desert beauty is arresting, but for the time spent en famille.

First Aid for Parents & Children: Favorite Natural & Holistic Treatments

March 19, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources

In five years of parenting, my children have had blessedly few injuries requiring first aid: a bloody nose or two, two minor burns, and a drinking straw puncture to the palate. When my son punctured his palate it bled enough to make me lightheaded, but thankfully it wasn't deep, and as a nursing toddler he was able to breastfeed until he could eat solid food again. In the emotion of such moments, it can be difficult to remember the best treatments to follow. Here are some basic, natural first aid treatments to make your child's next first aid incident less traumatic:

Finding Your Tribe in the Early Years of Parenting

March 15, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources, Reflections on Parenting

A reader recently wrote to ask me for information about local social groups and support groups for parents. It's a great question, because in our culture, the early years of parenting can be so isolating that finding a way to connect with others becomes crucial to maintaining a joyful perspective. To figure out what will truly re-energize you, here are a few questions to ask yourself first:

Giving Children What They Want: Will We Ruin Them?

March 13, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

My daughter turns five this week, and a few friends have asked me for gift ideas. Though I remind them that gifts aren't necessary, I also share one or two of the items she's asked for over the past few months: a baby doll with a pacifier, Hello Kitty stick-on earrings, swim goggles, a two-wheeled scooter. I feel a little sheepish sharing these wishes--part of me is concerned that it makes her appear demanding, and another part of me fears that she might actually receive most or all of the items she wants. Surely that wouldn't be good for her character, right?

Favorite French Cartoons for Little Language Learners

March 11, 2014 by Michele Cherie

My husband and I are quite selective about what our children watch. In fact, they don't watch any live television, but they've seen their share of Pixar films. For entertainment and language comprehension, though, my four-year-old daughter and I occasionally watch French cartoons on YouTube while her little brother naps. Here are my top four favorite French cartoons (dessins animés) for young children, selected for their clear language, amusing and age-appropriate plots, and entertainment value:

When Mothering is a Struggle: On Anger and Forgiveness

March 06, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting

My heart is heavy, mes amis, because I yelled at my little ones today--full volume anger about their inability to get along harmoniously while I made dinner. It was an extra-long parenting day since my husband couldn't make it home until bedtime. My children and I had passed the afternoon with violin lessons followed by free play in the pouring rain, but the kitchen was a mess and my fatigue reared up with such harsh words. I apologized and embraced my children, trying to restore those bonds of love, but even though children are able to forgive and move on so much more quickly than adults, we adults know the damage is deeper than they realize.