Animal Serenade for your little Valentines.....

Here's a cuuuuuuute video to watch with your little valentine on your knee. It's short so afterwards if you are part of the Our Time class and are reading the Animal Serenade book then you should cuddle up and read.....I wonder if the Yellow Mr. Horse will meow or quack or growl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yihq8BIhL9c

Then I'd like to tell you about making a contingent response. That's one of the big differences between a child watching a video and you reading together with your child. Making a contingent response creates moments of high learning possibilities.

If you child is watching the TV and reacts (let's say she makes a remark like naming an animal or making the animal sound) and no one pauses to say "Yes, that's a donkey!" or to imitate her vocalizations, when no one is there to make a contingent response, then a window of opportunity, a chance for learning, has been neglected.

When you're reading together and your baby starts to chew on the book and you gently pull the book down and turn the page you are reacting...that's another contingent response. Your reaction to their action creates a moment of learning not to be missed.....

Now that you know what a contingent response is be observant at how you naturally make them...you are programmed to do this...it's all in the plan for optimal learning for your child. A DVD or computer game just can't do this.

I learned this last year at the Challenge of the Children conference at Hope College last May. Jane Healey spoke on the topic of screen time (TV, video, Computer games etc) in education. It was eye opening. Ask me if you like to borrow her book!

Make room now on your calendar for this year's Challenge of the Children Conference, Thursday, May 17th all day. They've got a great line up of speakers....including me! I'll be talking about my passions: Music and babies and the brain! :-)

Now, go read to them and watch your contingent responses! See how they grow?
I would be reading too but big sister is reading to little sister right now so I'm doing this instead.
Happy Valentine's day to you and your loved ones.
Yvette