It’s obviously not feasible to bring a computer with you when you are out and about but that does not need to be a reason for your child to leave their blogging behind. The very best blogging opportunities will happen while at the park, museum, zoo, on vacation and many other unexpected places! By creating a blogging essentials bag for your child to bring with them, they never need to miss the opportunity to capture a special or interesting moment to add to their blog when they are back at home. Here are some ideas for things to include in the toolkit.
- Notebook
Who doesn’t need a place to jot down notes? The notebook can also serve as a canvas for the occasional impromptu artistic expression.
- Writing Tools
Pens pencils and highlighters are helpful for capturing ideas and highlighting important items.
- Portable Art Supplies
Markers, Colored Pencils, and Crayons will travel best. Unlined paper in the obligatory notebook will be great for the spontaneous artist
- Camera/Video Camera
Everyone knows how disappointing it is to witness a spectacular event only to realize that the camera is out of reach.
- Voice Recorder
A voice recorder is a handy way capture the inspirational musical creation, interviews, stories and more. An inexpensive MP3 player will work great for this, you will be able to load the audio onto the computer later and maybe even produce a podcast!
- A Bag to keep it all in
Keep all these essentials in an easy to carry bag, backpacks are great for this since they are easily carried. A toddler sized backpack can help keep the weight down and eliminate the problem of trying to carry too much. They also come in fun colors and designs.
photo credit: carolyn.will
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We know that kids ask questions. A LOT. It’s how they learn and how they work out placing the puzzle pieces of life into place. Have you ever paid attention to what word starts the majority of your child’s questions? I’ve spent a fair amount of time considering this. I have two children, they approach life and problems in distinctive ways. My older son (7) is a “How” kid while my younger son (4) continually asks “What if.” These questions really say a lot about them and I can see ways that these questions are an expression of their individual personalities. The questions that they ask and the things that they ask questions about are very interesting to consider when you consder them in relation to the toys they choose, the books they read, the activities they prefer etc.
Here is a short list of some types of questions that kids often ask. Naturally every kid will ask each of these types questions but which one pops up more than any other?
The “Why” Child
The classic kid question. Kids that focus on this question might really be trying to understand why things are the way they are. “Because I said so” is never going to be a satisfactory answer. This child will want a position to be fully defended before they will accept it as true.
The “How” Child
Interested in real life and how things work. Grounded in reality. May choose non-fiction over fiction. This child’s play might be more closely related to happenings of the real world.
The “What If” Child
Interested in cause and effect. When told that something can’t or won’t happen this child wants to know is “but what if it does?” The What if child is thinking creatively. Considering possibilities and impossibilities alike.
The “Who” Child
Interested in people. Wants to know everything about everyone, including strangers. This child may be more attuned to social cues, physical appearance, etc.
This is not a psychological evaluation it’s just about paying attention to what makes your kid tick. We know that each child is unique, they will each thrive more fully in different types of settings. Pay attention to what type of question your child is asking, it may give you some insight into what aspect of the world around them they would get most excited when exploring.
With this in mind consider how to incorporate the child’s preferred type of question into their blog posts. Have the “who” child describe a person they know. The “what if” child could create a fantastical scene in a made up world. You get the idea. Occasionally nudge your child into a different direction. For example, have the How child answer a what if question. This can’t be overdone or forced but can certainly be a stretching and growing experience for the child!
photo credit: Eleaf
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