Croak-Croak!

What an amazing weather change last Saturday brought to us. It was the day that one could almost stand and watch the snow retreating from where it has held on far too long.

With that retreat, an unfriendly reminder of thoughtless began to emerge. In the past I have spoken about the beauty of my little commute in the country to Ladysmith. Each year I am filled with hope that everyone has become more attuned to the environment and keeps a trash bag in their car, appropriately disposing of trash when they get home. Each year when the snow recedes I hold my breath. This year I think I am seeing less of the ‘toss out the window’ stuff, but very sadly I see a sets of tires in the ditch and an old television. I wonder what was learned by the young children riding in the car with the thoughtless parent who tossed out the tires on the side of the beautiful country road.

So what will I do? I will be out there on this beautiful afternoon for an hour or two, to do what I can to beautiful my little place in the world. I will call my town supervisor to see what can be done about the old television and tires. I know he will help, but I also know his work and my tax dollar could be spent in a more productive way.

I will hope that someone reading this column will gather their children and grandchildren with bags and gloves to pick up the ugliness left behind by a few thoughtless people. I know these children will learn to be stewards of the land they live on when their families care for the environment. And I will look forward to a more beautiful commute next spring as the snow recedes.

This next Saturday is for the birds! Bring your children to Toad House to create a beautiful gourd birdhouse with your child. See you there!

from ‘Croak-Croak’ Toads Environmental Song

artwork from Janelle Thompson

If you see some paper trash, pick it up (croak-croak)

If you see some plastic trash, pick it up (croak-croak)

You will help the little toads by putting garbage where it goes,

Please help the little toads, pick it up! (croak-croak)

Fun times at the Toad House singalong

We had a great time singing together! We hope you will join us next time!

The Dedication of the New Little Free Library @ Toad House!

We had a wonderful time at the dedication of the Little Free Children’s Library at Toad House. Children and adults stocked the log building, built by Arian Knops with books for a variety of ages and it is ready for your child to explore and take a book home to enjoy or to sit on Toad’s porch and read. There are very few rules. Take a book, read, and if you or your child has a book to donate, please do!

 The New Little Free Library for Children at Toad House.

In the last few weeks of April this column focused on early literacy and books, using the analogy of a pyramid. As parents we need to build a sturdy base with a healthy start in life. We need to engage children in conversational turn taking and the building of brain connections for the language we speak and write. We need to read books and sing with our children to create the sense of rhyme, rhythm and beauty in language. What do you think is at the pinnacle of our pyramid? The language skill we call writing is at the very top.

When children have a firm pyramid in place, they can take what they have learned; they can take the vocabulary; they can use the rhyme and rhythm of language. They now can use their imagination and create their own stories. How proud we feel when we see our children achieving this outcome!

I watched as Janelle Thompson and Nancy Wheeler engaged children in the art of making books and writing. It was a joy to see one child create her very own toad book, all her own ideas and pictures. How wonderful is that!

This next Saturday, we hope you will come to Toad House to meet Kathy Sprague and create very edible art with cupcake decorating! See you there!

Rocks and Rain

Our April literacy events for the Toadally Artsy Kids’ are great fun. Last week we listened to Everybody Needs a Rock and then we painted a rock. This week we will sing a spring croaking toad song and a song about the rain. Then we will create rain sticks. We hope you will be there!