Notre Dame
In the sadness and disbelief of actually being in Paris while the Notre Dame Cathedral went up in flames on Monday evening, I believe it’s even more important to support our children in learning about the history of different buildings and cities around the world.
A rather poignant film to share with your children would be Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and sadly, smoke does blow up from the Alter at the end of the film. I will also be watching Les Miserablé, but that is not one to share with the children just yet!
The Eiffel Tower
Me in front of the Eiffel Tower with my Paris Marathon Medal
Postcards
As in Edinburgh, and you’ll see, from every place I travel to, I ALWAYS write a postcard to my Mum, Dad and my last Nanny children!
Remember when you were a child and you were so excited to get post through the door? The art of writing letters is almost dead, with emails, texts and FaceTime or Skype. But writing to your children will support their reading.
But also, giving your child a purpose to write will make it easier and more exciting. Send a postcard with your child to a friend or relative! It can just be a simple sentence, or even a picture and attempting to write their name for our younger learners. You don’t have to travel anywhere to write a postcard! You could even make your own!
As in the Edinburgh blog, I said that I send questions to my last nanny children, as before we had bedtime stories, I would always let them ask Siri (or Alexa) a question.
Also, forming questions with different word stems models how to form questions for themselves. How, what, and when are in this postcard. Do encourage ‘why’ questions too! They open up a world of exploration but also encourage longer sentences. I also love questions that encourage maths.
More to books…
I cannot tell you how much I laughed at this book. I don’t know if it’s because I’m an adult that I found it so amusing, but if you or your little one get as much joy out of this as I did, then it’s worth sharing, most definitely!
This next book is absolutely beautiful, the art work is phenomenal. Definitely one to share together (rather than independent reading) as you do have to be careful when turning the pages.
Paris- Up Up and away by Hélène Druvert
To do some of this with your children, check out products such as these. Be warned, even when they say they are for children, you have to press them really hard. They may need some help, but it is fun and looks really good. Can they make a pattern?
You could even use these to make simple but effective birthday cards.
This next book is like a Where’s Wally of today but around famous landmarks of Paris.
Paris- Hide and Seek by Masumi
My friend actually recommended the three books in the picture below, and then when in Paris, I found this one:
This is Paris by M. Sasek
I loved this bit, being a Nanny myself!
For the younger learners…
Show me your postcards by your little ones!
Send a picture of your Die Cut Cards.
What question did your little one ask Siri/Alexa about Paris?
love Kat x
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