The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders (Giveaway)

I grew up in the county, or as my husband refers to it as “cow country”. There were no tall buildings where I grew up and taxi cab sightings were few and far between. I don’t even remember locking the door except at night.

Back in the day when I was a child there was no such thing as computers, iPads, Nintendo, XBox or even a mall. We made our own fun out of what we had available to us.

There were woods behind our home (which has since been replaced by pricey home developments. Sigh…). My cousins and I would be outside from sun up to sun set. We’d create adventures in the woods, build forts, ride bikes, catch fireflies and even hunt for bones. Our home was located on the site of an old farm. My cousins and I would always come across a cow skull or a mysterious bone. It sounds gross but when you are a child it is the coolest thing ever. They weren’t cow bones, they were bones from a Dinosaur (in our minds).

My mom and my aunt were always there to help encourage our creativity. I still have very vivid memories of my mom taking a sheet and spreading it across the front porch to make a tent for me and my cousin. I remember it like it was yesterday. You wouldn’t think a sheet across the stairs could provide hours of creative fun, but it did.

My Dad worked for the phone company and would bring home miscellaneous “trash” because he knew me and my cousins would come up with something creative to use it for. Once my Dad brought home a cardboard barrel. My cousins and I would squeeze ourselves into the barrel and roll down the slope in the back of my house. Oh my! We did this for hours at a time. Its no wonder I don’t suffer from something like Vertigo! LOL!

My parents, as well as my Aunt Sandra, always found ways to help us have a lot of fun growing up. I still remember making taffy with my Aunt Sandra. Wow! What a sticky mess that was. LOL!

There days I fear that parents and children don’t “connect” the way they used to when we were little. Personally I make it a point to do creative and fun things with my kids whether its making gingerbread houses or sitting outside blowing bubbles. I feel its important to have those special moments with our children. Many years from now when our children are adults and out in the real world I guarantee they will recall the times we shot hoops in the back of the school or skipped rocks along the river. I doubt they will care as much about the new Nintendo game we bought them or hanging out at the mall with friends.

In the book, Childhood Wonders, author Susan Magsamen masterfully blends a vintage design and feel with a collection of activities, poems, nursery rhymes and art that underscores her philosophy on the best ways to encourage learn-through-play experiences and create special memories to last a lifetime. 

Divided into five sections that illuminate a child’s world and interests — Magic and Make-Believe; Outdoor Exploring; Crafts and Construction; Yummy for the Tummy; and Bedtime, Bathtime, and Dreamtime.  

Childhood Wonders is more than a great gift book.  It gives families a tool to reconnect with childhood whimsy and explore the importance of learning through play.  

During this season of off-the-hook consumerism and more, more, more, Childhood Wonders is a unique and lasting gift for kids, families, new parents and grandparents.

If you have a chance you should check out Susan Magsamen’s Family Stories website, www.FamilyStories.org. The site has a lot of great FREE downloads for crafts and games. 

I have TWO copies of The Classic Treasury of Childhood Wonders to giveaway to two lucky readers (one copy for each winner).

To enter please comment on a favorite childhood memory where you and your parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle “connected” by engaging in something fun and creative.

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.

- Subscribe to She Scribes and/or Connect with Google Friend Connect. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” National Geographic Kids on Facebook (they helped to publish this wonderful book), www.Facebook.com/NationalGeographicKids.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter (@She_Scribes) and tweet about this wonderful book and giveaway. Be sure to include me in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Use any or all of the social networking buttons found at the bottom of this post (Facebook, Stumble Upon, Digg…) to promote this giveaway. Be sure to tell me what you did and provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

This giveaway is open to both US & Canadian residents and will end on December 1, 2010 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winners will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winners will be contacted via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box) or a new winner will be chosen.

Other great giveaways are found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated in any way for this post. I posted this for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers.

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