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Audiobooks Through the Ages

March 28, 2011/in Books /by ValleyFamilyFun

Audio Books Through the Ages I am a huge reader. It wasn’t until I was finished university and realized I could CHOOSE what I wanted to read that I discovered the joy of reading. Now, I am in a book club, host frequent book swap parties, and will read just about anything. I have also […]

5 Ways to Beat Mealtime Battles

February 17, 2011/in Family Life /by ValleyFamilyFun

5 Ways to beat mealtime battles! Are there ever mealtime battles at your house? Do the kids ever ask you how much more they have to eat before they can leave the table? I have lots of people who have told me how stressful meals can be. It’s no different at our house either! […]

Audiobooks Through the Ages

March 28, 2011/in Books /by ValleyFamilyFun

5 Ways to Beat Mealtime Battles

February 17, 2011/in Family Life /by ValleyFamilyFun

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Audiobooks Through the Ages

March 28, 2011/in Books /by ValleyFamilyFun

Audio Books Through the Ages

I am a huge reader.

It wasn’t until I was finished university and realized I could CHOOSE what I wanted to read that I discovered the joy of reading. Now, I am in a book club, host frequent book swap parties, and will read just about anything.

I have also discoverd the joy of audiobooks. When we travel in the car, whenever we put on an audiobook, the children magically go silent and pay attention to every word! It is how we survive car trips!

In fact, audiobooks can be used at all stages of life! Here’s how:

Newborn

At this stage, the audiobooks are more about the breastfeeding mama.

When my first son was born, I was looking forward to catching up on my reading, but as a new mom, I didn’t always have the time. So, I started playing audio books in the nursery. I always looked forward to going in for a feed so that I could hear the next part of the story.

In fact, my idea was featured in the December 2008 edition of Today’s Parent!

Toddlers and Preschoolers

At the stage when kids are first learning to read, they love to follow along with stories. We are lucky that our library has a big collection of the “kits” that come with both the book and the CD.

Some of our favourites for this age group include:

– David Shannon’s – Too Many Toys: Book and CD

– Any of the Skippy Jon Jones books by Judy Schachner: Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble

School-Aged Children

My boys love to listen to audio books in the car, even if only for a five-minute drive. We were also having troubles with our oldest falling asleep quickly at night as he was always playing around in his room. However, when we set up an audio story to play for half-an-hour, he would lay quietly listening to the story and would often fall asleep before it was over.

By far our favourite series is Mr. Gum read by Kate Winslett. These are a MUST.

– The Mr. Gum Collection: Part One: Four Wacky Adventures Narrated by Kate Winslet (age 5+)

– Winnie The Pooh Audio (age 3+)

– How To Train Your Dragon (7+)

– The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2CD Limited Special Edition) (8+)

– The Lord of the Rings: The Complete Trilogy (8+)

Adulthood

Now that my kids are in school, I am always listening to audiobooks – when I bake, clean, walk the dog, etc. I love a good murder mystery or adventure story!

– I love anything by Janet Evanovich- for example Two For The Dough

– Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

– Anything by David Baldacci like Hell’s Corner

What are your favourite audiobooks – either for kids or adults? Leave a suggestion (along with the age range).

5 Ways to Beat Mealtime Battles

February 17, 2011/in Family Life /by ValleyFamilyFun

5 Ways to beat mealtime battles!

Are there ever mealtime battles at your house? Do the kids ever ask you how much more they have to eat before they can leave the table? I have lots of people who have told me how stressful meals can be. It’s no different at our house either! But, we have found a few tricks, when used sparingly, can really work.

1. Kids Help with Meal Planning: We do up a weekly meal plan and I always ask the kids to pick one meal each that they would like to have that week.

2. Crazy-themed Meals SDRAWKCAB Meal – Want a new fun way to spice up your meal time? Try a Backwards Meal! Start with dessert and end off with main course. Take up a level and invite your family to wear their clothes backwards, too! Eating supper was never so much fun!

3. Utensils Meal!
Remember those days of summer camp where you did silly things at meal time? The next time you are having spaghetti (or something equally as messy) for supper, fill a pillowcase and fill it with kitchen utensils – egg beaters, mashers, salad spoons, ladles, etc. Have everyone draw out a utensil and that is what they will be using to eat their meal with!

4. The Dice Gamble: To determine how many more bites your child has to eat, have them roll the dice. Feeling nice? Use one. Want more of a risk? Use two!

5. Treat Under a Bowl: This is my personal favourite! Get a special treat for your child and put it on a plate with a bowl upside down hiding it. I’ve used anything from a toy to a cookie, Timbit, etc. Then, place a plate on top of the bowl. In order for the child to have the treat under the bowl, they must first eat what’s on the plate on the top. No peeking!

What are some of tricks that you use? Leave a comment and share some new ideas!

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Audio Books Through the Ages

Newborn

Toddlers and Preschoolers

School-Aged Children

Adulthood

5 Ways to beat mealtime battles!

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