"Children's Books & Stuff We Love
at the Garden Fairies"
To my way of thinking there are two major responsibilities that parents
and grandparents have for their offspring.
The main lesson is to teach them the joy in
creating and the second is to fill their minds with beautiful
pictures and sweet stories just before they go to sleep so they have
a head start on goodness and light in their life. This is especially
important in light of today's blitzing media of playstations, MTV,
and (I.M.O.) disgusting lyrics of songs - "Sex sells, what the hell - push
it on the kids". Sometimes I think it's the Devil who is in charge
with the music industry today, with all of the temptations everyone warns
you against, - pushing all this stuff on the minds of our sweet little
children. I'm sorry if you disagree, but I honestly don't think it's
fair to a 6 year old to make them think that "Kid Rock" is a sing along
buddy! Of course if they are equiped with the lastest war game
...
It's no wonder America has so many troubles with behavior problems in
the schools, the kids are being taught right from an early age how to be
violent from influences all around them, subtle or otherwise (cartoons).
They are constantly making unconscious adjustments to their behavior
as they imitate what they observe on TV, in songs and magazines. So
if you the parent or grandparent can fill their heads with sweet and pure
images while they are still little they will have a head start in becoming
good people rather than the sex crazed icons of MTV world which seems to
be influenced by the not-so-subtle porno movie industry.
The best time to take advantage of this
sponge-like behavior is when children are just going to sleep.
This is when the molding of the personality most occurs
as children drift off to sleep they review everything from the day's stimulation
that has happened to them in the day whether or not they realize it and mold
their selves to whatever stimulation is freshest in their minds. This
is the best time to "program" their dream minds with fantasy tales and lovingly
hand drawn colored images which stimulates their minds to the natural way
of life rather than the false world as shown on television.
Sing to your children sweet gentle songs.
Read to them the sensitive caring stories found in Raggedy
Ann and Andy and other fairy tales and watch their beauty inside flourish
(ok so some of the tales of the Brother's Grimm do have a bit
of a problem .... ) . When I was growing up in elementary
school (waaay back in the 1950's) I remember spending some blissful time
during the day dancing and singing simple joyful songs, which suited my playful
nature to a "T". To this day I can still sing some of those songs
with the same gusto as I felt back then, it shows you how powerful early
songs and images are - take care what you input into your child's mind -
Hitler was aware of this (Hitler Youth), and so should you.
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The Blossoms' Ball - Danielle Stein-Aubert $12.95
"Before their debut in the garden, Miss Rose's young pupils
must choose their leaves, sew their costumes, and practice their
dance steps. Join Cosmos, Violet, Buttercup, and their friends as they
learn that growing up and going to school is a perennial adventure."
Tuesday has a song with music!
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The importance of showing beautifully drawn pictures to a child to spark
their imagination cannot be stressed enough. Life like images
(such as the ones in the following books) delight every child and spark their
imaginations. Stylized drawings such as comic books or those which
depict harsh lines are too sophisticated for children, their minds haven't
developed enough to discern what is real or what is "Hip". They need
colorful images and simple lines, there is time enough for the jaded or
commercial images to imprint themselves on their mind. Give Mickey
a rest and come play with some old time books and see the changes in their
ways of thinking. Also I have recently heard on the radio how poetry
helps in understanding our emotions as often times a metaphor is easier to
understand than simple words. Teach your children rhymes at an early
age and they will thank you for it later on.
The books we have chosen to present to you this season have been hand
picked by the mother fairy herself, from the heyday of the 1920's when sweet
children's books were filled with beautiful hand drawn illustrations. You
will find Mother Goose in all her splendour, past and present; fairies galore;
Brambly Hedge Mice Series by Jill Barklem; antique reproduction books including
the flower fairies illustrations we have on our front door; and one of my
most favorite of all, Raggedy Ann and Andy stories by Johnny Gruelle.
And if you allow yourself to be creative, the illustrations in these
books make lovely quilt blocks or backgrounds to embroider upon with your
photo transfer methods , they are just delightful. |