Written & Illustrated by Emily A. Filmore
With My Child Series
It’s a Beautiful Day for a Walk
Written & Illustrated by Emily A. Filmore
With My Child Series
Copyright Š 2010 by Emily Filmore All rights reserved. Text and Illustrations: Emily Filmore Editor: Dianne Schilling Book Design: Fairman Design | Granbury, Texas No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. Published in the United States by Beautiful Day Publishing 237 E. Fifth Street #109 Eureka, Missouri 63025 Web address: www.WithMyChildSeries.com First Printing:March 2010 Library of Congress Control Number: 2009942416 ISBN-978-0-984 1700-1-2 Printed in the United States of America
To my grandparents – Your love gave me the strength and integrity to walk my path. To my friends – Your support holds me up when I stumble. To Yvonne – Your faith, patience and love remind me to stop, breathe and smell the roses. To Scott and Sage – My life’s path was always meant to lead to you.
My heartfelt appreciation goes to Todd and Wyatt, the father and son whose faces grace the pages of this book.
“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart” ˜ Helen Keller ˜
Dear Fellow Parent, As I write this letter, summer has fallen to autumn. Cool, crisp air replaces stifling heat. Sweatshirts and pants emerge, and everything seems just a little more comfy, cozy and cuddly. My family enjoys everything about nature - our lives revolve around playing outside. The change of seasons and consequent change in scenery always reminds me of how wonderful it is to walk with my daughter Sage. It’s a Beautiful Day for a Walk is the second book in the With My Child series. While a casual glance suggests that the book is about the simple stroll of a father and his son, it is much more than that. The book encourages you to engage with your child and explore your world; it invites you to spend time together, strengthen bonds and forge more connected relationships. Walks, hand in hand, are a great activity to share at any time of year. In my family’s world, summer walks are boisterous, fun adventures with loud voices, singing and dancing. We savor the sun and praise the rare, random winds that cool us. Summer days are marked by these wonderful adventures of bonding. Autumn gives way to more gingerly walks in which we look at familiar trees for signs of color changes. We relish the cooler air and faint smells of burning wood, get excited about apple picking, pumpkin patches, hay rides and wonderful fall crafts. Winter walks are quieter and more serene, as the chilly silence is broken only by the sounds of crunching snow under our feet. The cold air is cleansing and while our winter walks are shorter they are no less valuable. Spring walks are punctuated by frequent stops to smell the flowers. We almost always bring a camera to capture springtime “springing.” These walks are slower, as we try to take in all the beauty and enjoy the warmer tones in the air. We love our walks! In the back of the book I have included several ideas for projects and activities based on experiencing the world around you; I hope you will try them! Use this book along with your imaginations to have a grand adventure. Take a walk together during which you explore nature, lie in the grass and look at clouds, fly with the wind, go searching for turtles, bugs and worms, stop and smell the roses and grow closer together as a result – With Your Child! Peace! Emily
Take a walk with me my little child, Let’s go down the street. There are many things to do and see Walking with you is such a treat!
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Stop!
Let’s smell those lovely roses, Mrs. Potter’s prized - red – blooms. The velvet petals smell so sweet, And fill her yard with their perfume.
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What is that music that I hear, Up there in that tree? Look up! A blue bird’s chirping, His song fills me with GLEE.
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Feel the warm sun beating down, Upon your tousled hair? Let’s stand right here and soak it in And breathe in the summer air.
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Put your tiny, chubby hand in mine – I love to walk with you. Your hand feels oh-so-nice to touch And you’ll stay safer too!
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Let’s go running through that field, But first kick off your shoes. The grass is tickly but oh so soft, Run! You have nothing to lose.
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Ahhh, You’ve worn me out my little runner! A break we’d better take; Come next to me and rest awhile, Let’s sit and watch the lake.
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Look beneath the water’s surface, Orange fish are swimming near. They dart around, swim fast you see I think they know you’re here!
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A mama duck and little ducklings Are slowly swimming by. She turns her head to check her babes
And keep them in a line.
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I spy another family, Moving slowly across the ground–
A mommy, daddy and baby turtle Each carrying their house around.
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We can act like we are turtles too! Just walk on your hands and knees...
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Or would you rather be a monkey Hangi re in that tree? e h t ng up
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What fun it is to play pretend! You’re really good at this. We can be whatever we want, Who knew such fun exists?
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Now lie back and let’s look up. The sky’s so blue today.
Clouds are artists and you can see Their drawings on display.
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How many pictures do you count? I count: one…two…three! I see lots, Daddy! There’s a dog! Daddy, do you see? Oh yes, my sweet I see that dog, He looks so cute and fun. 15
Next I see a lady bug, She’s dancing in the sun.
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Another animal floats on by, He’s mighty, wise and strong, You guessed it - he’s an elephant. You knew it by his trunk so l-o-n-g. 17
Up to your feet, my little love, We’ve so much more to see! A meadow lies ahead of us, With flowers above your knees.
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zz
ing bees,
Wildflowers . . . bu A fly or two goes by. That
tall, tall grass will tickle your .nose y k As it reaches to the s
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ell m s d he An n i d in w dt a the air there is n u ro a s w o l b That
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Of sweet, sweet grass and lavender From fields where flowers dwell.
de rw
om
e
Iw
on
m o r sf
here that wind
c
s o cr a g n i w That’s blo
ace, f r ou y s
Do you think maybe the trees and clouds Are having a BIG RACE?
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Speaking of races, my little buddy, Look at the bugs on the ground.
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There are beetles, spiders, a n d s q u i r m y w o r m s Chasing each other around.
And if this walk were after dark, You’d hear all kinds of noise – Owls, crickets, frogs and howling dogs Music to ears of little boys.
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One thing’s for sure, my little one, I love this world’s sweet songs, But everything seems sweeter still When I’ve got you along!
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Back towards home, we should begin, To walk. You lead the way! I’ll follow like those little ducks, I’ll even waddle while we play.
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What’s that you say? You found a rock? Well, stop and pick it up! We’ll have to clean it in the tub, It won’t fit in a cup.
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A hug and a kiss to finish our fun. How about a big high five?
A child is special in every way! You make me glad to be alive!
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You’ve learned so much, we’ve had such fun. I’ve not even checked my clock.
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I’ve really loved my time with you.
What a beautiful day for a walk!
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The next few pages describe walk-related activities to do with your child. My daughter and I enjoy a good project, and we especially like to use the treasures we’ve picked up on our walks as inspiration. While I don’t claim to be the originator of these ideas, my daughter, husband and I have tested and enjoyed all of them. I hope that you will be inspired to try them and to be creative in developing more activities based on the adventures shared with your child. Some of the ideas require only your minds, while others take a little forethought and a few supplies. Feel free to adapt them to fit your lifestyle. The important thing here is not the end result; it is the shared journey of bonding and togetherness you will take with your child. Remember: spending time together, fully engaged with your child, for even just 15 to 20 minutes a day can result in enjoyable, invaluable bonding. Such bonds will stay with your child throughout the day, even when you are apart!
Project 1: Adventure Journals All great adventures deserve to be recorded. Children delight in feeling that their adventures are important enough to have you help write them down. My daughter insisted that the three of us each keep our own journal so that we all could participate. This has added to our fun as we each record our own thoughts and then compare them. Supplies: 8.5x11 colored construction paper, card stock, or stiff paper 8.5x11 plain white paper Stapler (for Mom or Dad to use – please be safe!) Markers, stickers, crayons, pencils, etc.
Make it: • Take 2 pieces of your child’s favorite color paper and place 10 to 20 pieces of blank white paper between them. Staple three times down the left side to make a booklet. (Repeat for any other child or adult who needs a separate adventure journal.) • Help your child write her name on the front with words that convey the importance of the booklet to your child. Example: Sage’s Grand Adventure Journal, started on (insert date) • Next, help your child add pictures, scribbles and/or stickers to the front to make the cover special and personal. • Ask your child for help in decorating your own journal. It will make her feel like a contributor to your fun as well as a recipient of your help.
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Use it: Take the completed journals on adventures, real and imagined. Allow your child the creative freedom to “record” her thoughts in her own way. If she wants to write words, ask if you can help, or allow her to write them in her own secret language. If she wants to draw pictures of the things she has seen, offer as little or as much assistance as she seems to want. My daughter draws “maps” of our adventures in her journal and days later can, by looking at her random lines and circles, tell us which adventure we took on a certain day. This is all about being present in the moment with your child and allowing her to guide her own experience. Your child will notice that in this simple project you have spent time together, you have listened to her needs and wants, and her opinions have counted. Plus, kids feel great to have a finished project that they can use over and over. Store it and carry it: Store the journal in a safe place when not in use, but allow your child to look at it whenever she wants to review past adventures. Make sure to carry it (and a crayon or marker) with you when you go on adventures outside the home so that the journal becomes a true record of your child’s wonderful journeys.
Project 2: Telescopes and Binoculars This activity is easy as pie and greatly adds to the adventure as your child explores his world. He’ll love pretending he can see far-off lands! Supplies: Tape Paper Crayons, markers, stickers Make it: • Telescope - Take a piece of paper and have your child draw on it, color it, or decorate it with stickers. Roll into a tube and tape along the edge. Voila! • Binoculars – Take two pieces of paper, do the same to each paper as you did for the telescope, and tape the 2 tubes together. Use it: Keep handy with your field journal for whenever the adventure bug bites you!
Project 3: Rainy Day Adventures Turn your house into a world of adventure with your minds. Use the scenes from this book or memories of your favorite places to recreate the wonder and excitement. Then when you are finished, don’t forget to record your adventure in your adventure journal. Zoo Animals My daughter loves to play zoo. The credit for this idea goes to my husband, proof that an engaged parent, even one who works long hours, knows his or her child and through this knowledge can create great bonding experiences out of small ideas. We start in one room of the house and are first informed by our daughter which animal we are each going to be (these animal personas may be changed by her at the drop of a hat). We then go room to room through the house acting like penguins, elephants, giraffes, fish, puppies, tigers, lions, turtles, monkeys, bears, etc. Even though it is called zoo, we aren’t always zoo animals and that is OK! We talk about what sounds we should make, how we should walk, what we would eat, whether we groom each other or wait for the rain. We imagine our shower curtain is a bush of leaves to eat; the tub is a water hole in which to splash; the bed is a large mountain to climb; the couch is a rock to nestle up to; the steps are a natural mudslide to slide down on our bottoms. We pretend the windows are our cage, and make faces at the people outside looking in at us. Our only limit is our imagination.
Rescue Adventure This one is my daughter’s idea adapted from a few children’s shows that have taught her the value of helping people or animals and is mildly based on the game hide and seek. I am instructed to go hide. Daddy and Sage gather the necessary materials: a map, a telescope or binoculars, their journals, hats, phones, even a computer. They consult their map, saying that they got a call that mommy needs help. They then travel through the house looking for clues, things I may have left behind on my way to “getting lost.” They ask stuffed animals for help, search under beds, scour her toy room until, finally, the clues lead to me. Sage finds me and saves the day! These ideas can be adapted endlessly based on your own child’s interests. The important thing, we have found, is that if we allow Sage to lead and play by her rules, we learn more about her each time. We learn about the depths of her imagination, her compassion towards others, and her innate sense of adventure. We have also watched her learn and grow through these experiences. She has become more self-confident, she has internalized more information about animals, their lives and habits than she could from our passively reading a book about animals to her. She has learned about adventure, journeys, traveling. She has learned about the world and universe around her, specifically the names of countries and continents and she has acquired an understanding of planets and stars from using the map. She has become more and more creative as we have allowed her imagination to develop by not restricting her creativity to things that are rational or make sense. In fact, she just recently told us that one day she will take us on a vacation to outer space. And when I hear her talk, I almost believe it is possible.
Project 4: Pet Rock Use pieces of nature collected on an outdoor adventure walk to create a pet rock. This can be used as a paperweight or just a decoration. Either way, displaying your child’s art is very good for his self-worth. Supplies: A rock the size of an adult fist or slightly larger Child’s safety scissors Craft glue or hot glue gun for Mom or Dad to use (Hot glue holds to the rock better, but please be careful!) Child’s glue Acorns, leaves, sticks, pinecones, flowers, grass, etc. Scraps of fabric or construction paper Poster paint, puffy paint, glitter, googly craft eyes, ribbon, beads, etc. Hint…Spread newspaper on work surface to minimize mess.
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Make it: • Let your child’s imagination be the only limitation. • Have him point to where he wants you to glue something. Very carefully place the item where he indicates, being sure not to let him touch the glue until completely cooled on the surface. • Have fun and enjoy watching your child’s creativity soar.
Project 5: Watch the Seasons Change In this ongoing activity, use your walks to observe nature, trees and flowers. Take pictures of the same tree or patch of land at the beginning and middle of each season and then compare the photos and discuss the changes. Make a chart as you progress through the year, pasting the pictures up as you go—or make a collage of the pictures at the end of a full year.
Project 6: Write a Story About a Grand Adventure Together Sit down with your child. Have on hand a pen, markers or crayons, and paper. Allow your child to tell you a story about a special activity you have done together—or an activity your child would like to do together. Again, the only limit should be your child’s imagination. If he says there are pink frogs, let there be pink frogs! If he thinks cows can fly, let cows fly! You can always explain the difference between pretend and real as you go, but at least for purposes of the story allow your child to explore his world in non-rational glorious color! After the story is written (including the illustrations and any writing your child personally adds to the page), make a big deal of reading the story together to the other parent or a visitor such as a grandparent or friend. What a boost to confidence children get when their parents are proud enough of their work to share it with others!
Project 7: Clouds Are Artists and So Am I! Help your child make cloud pictures of her own. Supplies: Cotton Balls Blue construction paper (or any other color that symbolizes sky to your child) Glue, markers, glitter, paints, etc. Make it: Make beautiful cloud pictures together. Let your child decide if clouds will look like animals, trees, flowers or people. Glue the cotton balls in place. Color, draw or decorate to your child’s (and your) heart’s content. Display the picture proudly for others to see.
Project 8: Catalog Leaves, Bugs, Birds or Flowers Collect leaves, flowers, sticks and rocks on your walk and then look them up in an encyclopedia or on the Internet to learn more about the species or type. Your child may not internalize or remember everything she learns, but she will feel special and smart for merely completing the process of investigation and will enjoy the extra bonding time you spend together. Keep a list of your finds and occasionally review, together, all of the samples your child has observed. Additional Ideas • Plant flowers in your yard and then watch them grow on your daily or weekly walks. • Get a book of local birds, insects or butterflies and, as you see each one, mark it off so you can count how many in the book you have seen. • Make a collage or picture with things you collect on your walk. • Make up a song about the things you see on your walk. • Draw a picture illustrating the favorite thing you see or do on your walk. • Write a story about an animal you meet on your walk. • Draw leaf animals. • Decorate a pine cone with twigs and leaves and acorns. • Write a make-believe story about living in a different place (if you live in the Midwest, write a story about walking on the beach) using your imagination.
It is not the quantity of time you spend together it is the QUALITY that matters. Being engaged with your child in a meaningful way through these simple interactive activities is highly rewarding for both parent and child. Most of all, use your imagination and HAVE FUN together!
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Author’s note: Credit goes to the following TV shows for inspiring several of the preceding activities: Sid the Science Kid and Super Why! (PBS); Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go! (Nickelodeon).
The With My Child series shares everyday ways for parents and children to connect. I know time is in short supply for many parents but even brief interactions between an engaged parent and his or her child can be magical. My hope is that you will use each of my books as a shared experience with your child
Emily Filmore is Mommy to Sage (4), a beautiful little butterfly whose wings are always spread and ready to fly! Emily and Sage spend their days playing, exploring and learning about the world around them. Some of their current favorite activities include cuddling, reading, taking walks, making up songs and stories, and going on grand imaginative adventures. Emily has a B.A. in Psychology from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. She is a licensed attorney as well as a writer, artist, mommy and wife. Over the last few years, Emily’s experience with attachment parenting has profoundly and positively affected her outlook on life. She resides with her family in St. Louis, Missouri. This is the second book in the With My Child series.
It’s A Beautiful Day For Yoga It’s A Beautiful Day For A Walk
237 E. Fifth Street #109 • Eureka, Missouri 63025
$17.95 U.S. / $18.95 CAN.
Titles available in the With My Child series: