Thursday, August 18, 2011

My Creative Space

As a teacher of wee little ones my most treasured role was teaching them to read. To hand these wide eyed beauties the keys to unlock the magical world of literacy was a gift for me and I never ceased to get misty eyed when the light bulb lit up above their sponge like brains and they would look at me with amazement and say, "I can read!"



Constantly asked by parents in the early days of their poppet's schooling what they could be doing to help motor their babes along in the domain of 'A,B,C's" I would simply answer..."Read to them....everyday!"



Mon petit poppet has had a love affair with books since the day dot and as a word lover I couldn't be more chuffed. Countless hours have been whittled away with a stack of books beside me and an eager beaver asking, "Wead it adain please Mumma?" I have refused to enter the land of flashcards and formal introduction of letters with my girl and have gone to great lengths to avoid "teaching" her rather just immersing her in all that is the wonder of our language. It probably doesn't hurt that I can talk the leg off a chair either!





As a result she adores letters and even at her tender age can identify and verbally spell her name and voraciously points out the letters of her name on signs, buses, in books, on cans of food....the list is never ending. So to encourage this love of letters I made her a little set of her own. I drew some letters on A4 paper as pattern pieces and cut them out of some vintage fabric and scraps with pinking shears, and with the right side facing out I backed them with calico and stitched them together leaving a hole for stuffing. Then I just ran them back through Jan to close up the hole. I must admit that stuffing them was akin to pulling teeth but when I handed them to her and she promptly hunted out the letter G, "Grandfather ...Mumma?" I almost burst with joy!



One day in the not too distant future I'll hear those excited words again, "I can read!"....but this time the little angel speaking them will be mine.




Have so missed playing along with all these ever inspiring souls.



15 comments:

spectacularfairywren said...

loving the letters! so much easier than inside outing them i tried that once... got as far as 'a'.. will try this with pinking!

Anonymous said...

I have such a passion for the written word and used to read aloud to our children while they were still nestled inside my womb...totally thrilled I was too that they enjoy books as much as I do.

I love these stuffed letters, so very cute and practical :)

x

MissMollyCoddle said...

Beautiful!! Love the old fabric :)

Colette said...

These are wonderful! I adore letters too and have been planning to make some one day, you've inspired me.

My little one also shouts out whenever she sees her initial somewhere calling it her 'number'.

naughty shorts! said...

so beautiful! I think i would like to try this with my little - thank you for sharing :)
Bec x

bron @ baby space said...

Lovely letters! We are big book fans in the baby space too :)

Bungalowgirl said...

Love this idea, my two are book mad but your poppet is miles ahead in reading at her age. For some reason your last two posts slipped through for me and i only just found them, the farmstay looked wonderful, loved that photo of you and poppet walking down the dirt track together.

Jennie said...

Gorgeous Steph!
Loving these vintage letters.

(i am still in shock that my little one can read. it just seem to have happened one day and its so amazing!!)

Sandrine said...

Hello Madame Steph :) It has been ages since I caught up with your beautiful blog!Such a beautiful post today and I adore your vintage letters so pretty and fun!I hope things are going like a charm.Take good care Sandrine xx

Unknown said...

These are fabulous! So cleverly done and I bet they become a playtime favourite.

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

Ciao ciao my beloved friend, look how clever you are. We are soaking up the sun and waves here in tropes, and whilst the wee little ones are exhausted from swimming, I thought I woul stop and check in on a few close friends!!!!! Love the letters darl, whilst we've been traveling, Jude has loved playing spelling games, with all the things he can see. I love their love of words too.....hope you re all well and enjoying yourself silly. Much love.....xx

Quill and Ink Handmade said...

Oh I do love this, Steph :)
x

Michelle said...

oh Steph, that is just gorgeous! I LOVE that idea, you're so clever. xx

Maxabella said...

I so love it over here, Steph. x

green tea and red nails said...

these are most awesome! will try to whip up a set for my nieces over the holidays! love it :)

Kel xx
p.s - i still tell my year 12's that to improve at English they need to be reading!!

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