Tag Archives: children’s activity

Sep16

Interview with Semara Moffitt

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Tiffany Turner

As we continue this unusual start to the school year, I’d like to present another self-confidence book to build character and help with problem solving skills. Semara Moffitt is the author of the book, “Marissa’s Scrunchie Collection”. It’s a marvelous story in which a girl learns that inner beauty is more powerful than outer beauty, and that choices can make a difference. Its print edition is a coloring book, and will make a great activity during pandemic indoor days. I had a chance to talk to Semara about her favorite authors, writing routine, and what projects she has in store for us.

Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Semara Moffitt: “I Am Enough”, by Grace Byers, is such a wonderful book! It demonstrates excepting yourself as who you are no matter what anyone thinks or says.

2) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Semara Moffitt: Usually, I will write down the first idea that comes to mind and work out the details little by little overtime. My first book took about 3 months for me to write.

3) What projects are you working on now? What subjects would you like to write about?
Semara Moffitt: I am currently working on a Christmas book. I’m not quite sure if it will be ready this year, but I’m very excited to share my work.

“Marissa’s Scrunchie Collection” is about the choices we make in life and how they can affect how we feel about ourselves. Marissa has a drawer full of different scrunchies. There are shiny ones, patterned ones, and sparkly ones. Picture day is here, and she needs to pick out just the right one to look beautiful and perfect. But she can’t seem to find the right one? Will choosing a scrunchie be the right choice? Or will Marissa come up with the perfect look all on her own?

Marissa’s Scrunchie Collection is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback book. The print edition makes a great coloring book gift.

For more information on the author, Semara Moffitt, visit her author’s page at: https://www.amazon.com/S-M-LiteratureLLC/e/B08GH9J845.

Jun16

Interview with Tenile Carlos Bey

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Tiffany Turner

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Tenille Carlos Bey wrote the girl’s journal “Mommy & Doodlebop: A Journal for Girls We Love” with her daughter, Aalani.

During the summer, it’s good to keep your child engaged with activities. With all the need to social distance, it’s even more important to look for activities that children can engage in and be safe while doing. What about journaling? This is a historical time, when first person resources will be documenting how children and people lived through the pandemic. Your child can be part of the moment, writing out thoughts, feelings and what life was like during these strange times. I have the perfect journal for you child to begin their writing journal. It is written by a daughter and mother team, Tenille Carlos Bey and Aalani Carlos Bey. It’s called “Mommy & Doodlebop: A Journal for Girls We Love”.

Written as a support for inclusivity for girls with African ancestry, this journal is for girls to write out their thoughts and feelings for good or bad days. It will be a companion to sort their feelings during the pandemic. I also had a chance to interview Tenille Carlos Bey in regards to her childhood reading memories, future writing subjects, and what writing means to her.

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Tenille Carlos Bey: My favorite memory was sitting on my stairs engulfed in a good book.

2) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Tenille Carlos Bey: I would love to write about children & their experience from their eyes as often times they are voiceless.

3) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Tenile Carlos Bey: Writing to me is therapeutic.

“Mommy & Doodlebop: A Journal for Girls We Love” is an interactive journal for all the little Brown girls loved. It’s developed to help a girl express herself daily engaging creativity and expression of ideas in words on a daily basis. Keeping a daily journal will increase writing ability and help your child work through daily problems and feelings. This will make a great gift or at home activity during the pandemic.

“Mommy & Doodlebop: A Journal for Girls We Love” is available at Amazon.com.

Jun11

Fun Summer Activity for Kids: Build a Fairy Garden

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Tiffany Turner

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I use crystals, small plants in pots, and fairy figurines to decorate my porch fairy garden.

I’ve been giving tips to parents for the last few months in how to help structure your child’s learning. Now that summer is here, we’re trying to find more at home summer activities to keep our children and families safe from Covid19. What a great time to take advantage of the outdoor space you have! Have you considered building a garden? This doesn’t mean you need a backyard. Gardens can be built on a porch or even a window sill. To make it extra special, create a fairy garden!

The first step is to choose small plants that you would enjoy tending. You can buy them in small planters and/or replant them into the places you would like, or plant seeds and watch them grow. Choose flowering plants or herb plants such as lavender, rosemary, or other favorite herbs your family may prefer. You get the extra bonus that you can eat them later. Small ivy or other small growing plants with flowers make lovely fairy settings.

Many cities and towns are starting phase 2 openings in which garden shops are starting to be allowed to reopen. Small starter plants can be purchased or order seeds online. You can pick and choose which plants you enjoy. Look to see where your plants will be. Consider if you have more shade or sun, since often plants can be purchased that fit those conditions. I have a shaded porch and I find plants that need a lot of sun tend to not do well. So, I’ve chosen more shade friendly plants for my porch fairy garden. Remember, stay safe and wear a mask when going back into stores and use hand sanitizer.

My garden gnome was purchased from the local garden center and is prominent in my fairy garden.

The second step is to order either small pebbles, sand or other decorative gardening accents to create paths and decorative areas for your fairies. You can use these items to decorate and create places for your fairies to gather. For example: I used old aquarium stones to make paths and a little gathering space to later place fairy figurines.

Accent items turn the garden space into wonderful scenes for fairy figurines. The added bonus is you get to watch the plants grow to fit. You can also order crystals to places through out the garden. Plants enjoy having the energy of these wonderful pieces among and around their leaves. Place stones and crystals in pots and in soil.

The third step is to order fairy figures. Many of the figures I have collected over the years have been given to me as gifts or I have purchased from gardening shops or other places. This can be a fun experiment in searching for the right fairies for your garden. You might find it is a wonderful time to start a new collection, and the garden will be a home for your new fairy figures.

When done, you’ll have a fabulous fairy garden to tend. Watering my garden is a great welcome relief from online working and tutoring. I enjoy having a cup of tea while smelling jasmine flowers or looking at my small Japanese maple tree. Other plants and flowers attract birds and butterflies from time to time. My porch may be small, but it is mighty in the positive fairy experience it creates for me to relax and enjoy some quiet time.

Enjoy building your own fairy garden with your children and welcome the summer weather in style. When you’re done, you’ll have a monument to the peace you can build at home.

Plus: you can still continue summer reading with your child. I’ve made available an entire free online novel to go along with my first book in my fantasy children’s series, “The Lost Secret of Fairies”. The story takes place during the summer, and is a great addition to a child’s reading list to continue reading skills in these away from school months. There is nothing better to curl up with a good book in a garden. It’s something I did as a kid myself. So, can’t help but pass on the tip.