Writing with Emphasis
When you are trying to play with a child, it helps to begin by considering where the child is developmentally. You don't need a class in child development; just stop and observe the child. Does she crawl or walk? If not, does she sit up by herself? Can he hold a toy in his hand? Does he say anything that you can understand? A child is like a little puzzle for you to figure out. I think it's fun to find the clues that help you know how to respond to him or her.
Once you've made a few observations, you can come up with a few ideas.
Try to imagine life from the kid's perspective. For example, if the child is a baby who can only lay there and look around a bit, think about what that would be like. You can make the kid's life more interesting by doing something interesting visibly, like playing peekaboo. Or you could help them hold a toy in their hand if they can't do it themselves. If you've established that the baby doesn't seem to be able to move themselves, you could gently move their arms and legs for them while singing a song or talking with them.
One thing to remember is that children are usually very forgiving. If you toss the kid up in the air, and the kid starts crying, of course you're going to feel really bad. The real shame however is if you use that as an excuse to give up on interacting with the child. After saying you're sorry and giving the kid a few minutes to recover, simply try a different tactic. You will probably find that the child moves on and forgets about the momentary trauma.
When you are trying to play with a child, it helps to begin by considering where the child is developmentally.
Main clause: It helps to begin by considering where the child is developmentally
Subordinate clause: When you are trying to play with a child
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
3 description or narration-focused paragraphs
Unlike the poor souls who grow up in warm climates, I know what a lovely season winter can be. I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I remember the pure magic of a snowy winter. Looking out on the glistening snow and feeling that cozy warmth from just being inside makes winter worth the occasional chill and inconvenience. Even the simple joy of drinking hot cocoa is better with a beautiful, sparkling white blanket of snow on the ground outside. Without a cold, snowy winter, you have no opportunity to build a fire in your fireplace, and feel the comforting warmth when you gather around it with your loved ones.
And what is winter without snow days? I'm not talking about the so-called snow days we sometimes get in Lexington, Kentucky, where I live now. These "snow days" are days when a few inches of snow scares everyone into a tizzy, and the schools close. Oh, no, I'm talking about two feet of snow and several days at home to do nothing but what you want to do in that precise moment. You can build blanket forts inside and snow forts outside, re-watch your favorite movies, read a whole book just for fun, or simply curl up on your couch with your dog and do nothing but breathe. Sure, you can do some of those things on the weekend, but anything you do on a snow day is more fun simply because you're doing it on a snow day. You smile every time you think, "I should be in school, but I'm not!" It's like the thrill you get from skipping class, only you don't have to worry about getting in trouble.
"Wow," you think, "that sounds awesome." But I've barely touched on all the fun you can have when you go outside to play in several feet of snow. As a child, sometimes late in the evening, I would bundle up in my winter clothes and go outside to sniff the crisp air and appreciate the unique stillness that comes with a thick blanket of snow. I might walk around making footprints for awhile, then fall down to make snow angels and look at the night sky. There is no age limit to this kind of pure basking in the brilliance of nature. There is also no age limit for sledding. As long as you're able to tromp up a snowy hill, you can experience the excitement of speeding down that hill on a sled, the cold air whipping past your face. At my elementary school, for months the only thing we did at recess was go sledding on the hill on our school grounds. We all had our plastic roll-up sleds, labelled with our names in permanent marker, and after twenty minutes of trudging uphill and screaming downhill, we all felt that delicious exhaustion that only comes from outdoor excercise in the winter.
And what is winter without snow days? I'm not talking about the so-called snow days we sometimes get in Lexington, Kentucky, where I live now. These "snow days" are days when a few inches of snow scares everyone into a tizzy, and the schools close. Oh, no, I'm talking about two feet of snow and several days at home to do nothing but what you want to do in that precise moment. You can build blanket forts inside and snow forts outside, re-watch your favorite movies, read a whole book just for fun, or simply curl up on your couch with your dog and do nothing but breathe. Sure, you can do some of those things on the weekend, but anything you do on a snow day is more fun simply because you're doing it on a snow day. You smile every time you think, "I should be in school, but I'm not!" It's like the thrill you get from skipping class, only you don't have to worry about getting in trouble.
"Wow," you think, "that sounds awesome." But I've barely touched on all the fun you can have when you go outside to play in several feet of snow. As a child, sometimes late in the evening, I would bundle up in my winter clothes and go outside to sniff the crisp air and appreciate the unique stillness that comes with a thick blanket of snow. I might walk around making footprints for awhile, then fall down to make snow angels and look at the night sky. There is no age limit to this kind of pure basking in the brilliance of nature. There is also no age limit for sledding. As long as you're able to tromp up a snowy hill, you can experience the excitement of speeding down that hill on a sled, the cold air whipping past your face. At my elementary school, for months the only thing we did at recess was go sledding on the hill on our school grounds. We all had our plastic roll-up sleds, labelled with our names in permanent marker, and after twenty minutes of trudging uphill and screaming downhill, we all felt that delicious exhaustion that only comes from outdoor excercise in the winter.
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