Do you have a policy on gift giving? The Bear That Heard Crying is one of Hannah’s favorite books. It’s a beautifully illustrated story (based on a true event) about a little girl in the late 1700s in New Hampshire who … Continue reading
As I mentioned on the A Spirited Mind Facebook page recently, I find it interesting that people can react negatively to the subject of teaching manners. I wonder if that might be because etiquette can be used as a means … Continue reading
Bibles and devotional type books for children abound, but I find that most are targeted for older kids or are so watered down as to be nearly useless for teaching kids about God. Here are a few exceptions that I’ve … Continue reading
As I mentioned on my Mosaic Tile Toy Giveaway post, shape games are a great way to teach math to preschoolers. We also count things, play with manipulatives like little bears and buttons and blocks, learn numerals with a dot … Continue reading
About a week and a half ago the kids and I began our latest science/gardening experiment: this year we are trying to grow tomato plants from seed. We bought a packet of tomato seeds that promised “up to 40 plants.” … Continue reading
After noting the advance comments from Danae Dobson and Bernice King, I was interested to see Anthony DeStefano’s new book This Little Prayer of Mine. Many religiously themed books geared toward children are treacly and/or are oversimplified to the point … Continue reading
I loved Little Women like every other red blooded American girl does, but so help me I could not get through Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women. I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t like this … Continue reading
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. ~Emilie Buchwald Reading to children of all ages is important and, as I mentioned in my tips for getting past the book ripping habit, if that means you have to … Continue reading
I’m all about reading to children – the earlier the better. It’s easy to read to small babies, because they are fairly docile and easily mesmerized by Mama’s voice. Don’t laugh, but when Hannah was a baby I read her … Continue reading
It’s not every day that a piece of cookware explodes dramatically all over your kitchen. At least I hope it’s not an every day occurrence at your house; it certainly isn’t at mine. That’s why I was utterly shocked this … Continue reading
Hi, I'm Catherine Gillespie and A Spirited Mind is where I post about reading, writing, and parenting and the lessons I'm learning as a result. Thanks for stopping by!
