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The Field Guide to Parenting     

Workshops in Early Childhood

 

 

 

Presented By Shelley Butler

Co-author of The Field Guide to Parenting, educator, webmaster, book reviewer, and freelance writer, Shelley is available to present a variety of workshops to your parent, caregiver, or family professional group.

 

New

I am Good at What I Do: Recognizing and Believing in the Importance of Raising and Caring for Children

Raising and caring for children is important work—do you believe it? Do you acknowledge your strengths and talents, and the gifts you bring to the children in your life? You take care of everyone else, it seems—who takes care of you?  Discuss the challenges to feeling good about your work, and discover new ideas for taking care of yourself, and how that helps the kids in your life.

New 

Food to Grow On: Helping Kids Develop Healthy Attitudes on Nutrition and Eating through Activities and Reading

Eating healthy and feeling good about food is often difficult for kids, and can be a source of conflict with the adults who feed them. Find out how to reduce the battles and help kids learn positive attitudes about food and eating. Explore activities, recipes, and books in class and take home even more ideas for play and reading.

 

REVISED with New Content

The Hero Starter Kit: How to Help Pint-Sized Superheroes Find the Hero Within  Starter Kit: How to Help Pint-Sized Superheroes Find the Hero Within

We live in interesting times, in which real-life heroes share the spotlight with superheroes. Learn how to help young kids understand the difference, and how to support development of the hero in every child. Time for Q&A, sharing, small group, and discussion of children’s books will be included. [Formerly Superheroes and Heroes: What’s the Difference and Should We Allow this Kind of Play?--revised with new content]

 

Playing Smart: Books and Activities to Foster the Many Kinds of Intelligence

The important question is not “How smart are you,” but “How ARE you smart?” Discover the eight kinds of intelligence and where your strengths lie. Then, learn ways to cultivate the various kinds of smart in young children through reading and play. Through sharing of ideas, demonstration, and hands-on learning, we will explore ways to nurture a child's head and heart (and maybe our own, too).

 

 

Opening the Magic Doors of Children’s Literature: New Kids Books to Amaze and Amuse

It’s all about wonderful, inspiring, colorful, and fun new picture, board, lift-the flap, and non-fiction children’s books! With approximately 5,000 new kids books each year, how can one parent, librarian, or child care provider find the gems? Come find out what one book critic chose as the best new books of the past few years, and how to find more good books. Then, catch a sneek peek at a few new books not available in stores or libraries yet.  All children's book lovers welcome.

 

What’s in a Picture Book? You Be the Judge!  
Just what makes a picture book a great picture book? Expand your critical skills and learn how to judge the quality and appropriateness of a book for yourself, based on criteria of critics and award judges. Find out what not to read to children, also. Workshop includes presentation of good new books, small group activity, and children’s book drawing. Bring your favorite books to share.

 

Peace, Courage, and Confidence: Using Picture Books to Introduce Big Concepts to Young Minds
If you have ever struggled in helping children understand the importance of values such as gratitude, kindness, peacefulness, or to gain the confidence to say “I can” instead of “I can’t,” you are not alone. Discover how children’s books that are carefully crafted to speak a child’s language through words and pictures help young kids learn about hard-to-explain, big ideas while having fun. New and classic children’s books will be presented, as well as activities to enhance the fun and learning. Feel free to bring in your favorite children’s books to share.  
Available as a single two-hour session or a series of two two-hour sessions.

 

A Story is a Great Start: Helping Young Listeners Become Successful Readers
Find out how you can have a major impact on the young children in your life by reading, talking, and play. Learn how to create a simple, practical, yet powerful environment that will help set children on the path of reading success. Great new children's books will be presented as well as fun and easy activities to enhance the reading experience. Time for Q&A, sharing and small group discussion included.
Part 1: Babies and Toddlers, Part 2: Preschoolers on Up
Available as a single two-hour session or a series of two two-hour sessions.

 

Please Contact Me if You are Interested in Presenting a Workshop to Your Group or Organization.