Friday, June 4, 2010

“Forget Toys: French Kids Try Philosophy” plus 2 more

“Forget Toys: French Kids Try Philosophy” plus 2 more

Forget Toys: French Kids Try Philosophy

Posted: 03 Jun 2010 08:16 AM PDT

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While young Americans spend time playing video games or ball in their backyards, French kids who invite friends over for afternoon snacks are leaving such playthings behind for a much deeper activity: to debate the meaning of life, death and love.

Les goûters philos, philosophical afternoon snacks or teas, are a growing trend in France where families have become convinced that children should tackle metaphysical issues at an early age when children start asking existential questions.

The idea of the goûters philos is to have the children discuss and hammer out such issues for an hour, over cakes and fruit juice.

"I do not control the content of the discussion, I'm present to guide the children in their thoughts," Sophie Geoffrion, a philosophy teacher and founder of Philoland, an association offering different kinds of activities around philosophy, said.

"They are free to contradict themselves, to confront with each other, all of this in a nice way," she said. "The goûter allows children to expand their ability to think for themselves and to expand their critical thinking.

"Children are asking themselves questions and are asking their parents questions as well," said Geoffrion, who regularly intervenes in schools, public libraries and at privates homes. "Parents are often lacking an answer."

But parents wrongly think that philosophy can provide an answer, she said. "The philosophy does not find a solution to a question asked by a child," Geoffrion said. "But it will raise questions around a discussion.

"Kids love it. They have karate or dance classes and philo, it's really an activity like any other one."

Oscar Vennin, 12, gathers with his philosopher friends once a month at Le Petit Monceau café in Paris for a café philo. Recent topics included death, truth, lies, fighting. "In these gatherings, we can compare our points of view on a topic" Oscar said. "There is a real discussion among us and it's very interesting."

Dubbed the "mini-Kants" (for 18th century influential German philosopher Immanuel Kant) by the French Philosophie magazine, the group counts about 10 children ages 8 to 13 and plans its future sessions by communicating via the social networking website Facebook.

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Taking kids to Ravinia Festival? No problem

Posted: 03 Jun 2010 10:17 AM PDT

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As a parent, there are few things I enjoy more than attending the Kraft Kids concerts at Ravinia Festival. The concerts typically begin at 11 a.m. Saturdays with the gates opening at 10. This year's line-up is jam-packed with talented performers including Grammy nominated-rockers, Milkshake, hometown musician turned superstar, Ralph's World and premier Chinese acrobatic touring company, Golden Dragon Acrobats. To ensure your Ravinia experience is a success, I've gathered hard-earned advice from seasoned picnickers and experts.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and everyone is invited to picnic before the show. Lawn area seating is designated on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if you are planning on sitting on the lawn for the concert, this is an excellent time to find your perfect spot.

No food or beverages are allowed in the pavilion, so ticket holders are encouraged to picnic and play on the grass before taking their seats inside.

Pack picnic foods you and your kids will enjoy. Nutrition consultant Kim Seiden shares with us some of her favorite Ravinia picnic recipes, which include fruit kabobs and mini sandwiches that are easy to eat while perched on a blanket. To see Kim make these dishes firsthand as well as find the recipes, watch the following videos.

• Picnic Mini-Chicken Sandwiches
• Amazing Corn Salad Recipe
• Fruit and Pound Cake Kabob Deserts
• Card Game Activity
• Summer Fun and Games
• Videos open at top of the story.

The early bird may catch the worm, but being early sometimes means a lot of waiting. To help pass the time, especially on days when the park is crowded, bring along some games that require a small amount of space.

Unstructured playtime expert and children's book author Marlene Byrne, of www.projectplaybooks.com, suggests passing time by playing picture charades and card games.

To play picture charades, download the free PDF at www.pioneerlocal.com/mommy. Print and cut pictures so you have 8 animal "cards." Players take turns choosing an animal card and acting it out for the group. The first person to guess the animal correctly gets to choose a card next. Play continues until all animals have been played.

When playing card games, consider Golf, a card game that requires good memory and adding skills as well as a small amount of luck. To learn how to play, watch our video at www.pioneerlocal.com/mommy.

The Ravinia Kids Club booth will be set up prior to every Kraft Kids concert. Membership is free and includes discounts on select products, annual birthday treats, and free gifts on specific dates. To sign up, kids can visit the Kids Club booth, Ravinia Gifts or go online (with an adult's permission) at www.ravinia.org/kidsclub.aspx.



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Broward libraries entice kids to read this summer

Posted: 03 Jun 2010 06:52 PM PDT

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It may look like just fun and games, but the Broward County Library's summer reading program is all about preparing kids for a brighter future.

``Studies tell us that if kids don't read at all during the summer, it takes them a while to get back to their previous reading level when they start up again in the fall,'' said Katy Mullon, the library system's special events coordinator for Youth Services. ``They actually regress. So we like to keep them reading all summer, and they'll stay ahead of the game.''

This year, more than 25,000 youths from preschool through teens are expected to sign up for the summer program, which runs June 12 through Aug. 7. Students can register at any of the 32 library branches with Youth Services departments, Mullon said.

Maria Gebhardt, Broward libraries manager, said this year's program, with the theme Make a Splash -- Read!, offers components for both children 11 and younger and tweens and teens 12 and older.

The children's program is centered around a game board, in which participants mark off a square for every 30 minutes they read.

``We try to do it by amount of time read, instead of giving them a list of books, so that kids don't have to read books they are not interested in,'' Gebhardt said.

Every time a reward spot on the game board is reached, the child can go to their local library and choose a prize. At the program's end, completed game boards can be turned in for a chance to win grand prizes including an Apple iPod Touch or tickets to a Miami Dolphins game, Broward County water park or the Miami Seaquarium.

A series of free literacy-based performances will take place at various library locations throughout the summer.

``The programs all have an educational component or are book-based, and they're all disguised as fun,'' Mullon said.

Performers include Geddy the Gecko, a costumed character who uses song and dance to teach about self-esteem; Salty Sue, a silly pirate who spins tales of ocean lore; Simply Puppets, which uses life-sized puppets to discuss life lessons about family values; and Body, Mind and Soul African drummers, which teaches African culture through traditional music.

Mullon said the library offers at least one professional program at each branch.

``It's a hook to get [youths] into the library, and while they're there, the librarian has a chance to get them hooked on books,'' she said.

In the tweens and teen program, participants can track the books they read by filling out a Teen Picks card, which allows them to rate the book and offer their comments. Then the cards are posted in the library so teens can see what their peers are reading.

``It gives them a say and a voice,'' Gebhardt said. ``So many times kids don't want to read a book just because it's on a list, but when they see what other kids are saying about a book, it gets them interested in new material.

``Getting kids to want to read on their own makes a huge difference,'' she said. ``It makes them want to come back.''

At summer's end, completed cards will be entered in grand-prize drawings.

The summer reading program is sponsored by the Broward Public Library Foundation, Miami Dolphins, Miami Seaquarium and Publix, among others.

``With some schools not offering summer programs, it's hard for parents to find things for their kids to do all summer that don't cost money,'' Gebhardt said. ``But everything the library offers is free.''

The program will kick off June 12 with free programs at several branch locations.

The Main Library will launch its program at 2 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, 1 E. Las Olas Blvd. It includes a 45-minute presentation by storyteller Carrie Sue Ayvar, who will tell stories in English and Spanish. After story time, visitors can view the Pearl and Stanley Goodman Latin American Collection at the museum.

For reservations, call 954-357-7504. For more information, branch locations and a list of events, visit www.broward.org/ library.

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