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"Oh, it's only make-believe. . ." is a disparaging remark. Only Make-Believe? Make-Believe is IMPORTANT!
What do we mean by Make-Believe anyway?
What if we stretch the meaning to "opening the door to creative belief." In a state of 'creative belief' we may not KNOW if something is 'true', but we open ourselves to acting as if it is true. In that open, creative state, who knows. . . .
Make-Believe is an exercise in being more aware, more alive, more creative. It is important. In this information-oriented, fast paced and technology ridden world, it is important to try to protect the creative space in which a child can have Make-Believe.
Appletta can help create a space for imagination in your family. We believe that Appletta's stories are a delight for the entire family. The shared pleasure in Appletta's world helps to create a safe space for the child to enjoy Appletta's stories and run with them . . . to dream magical dreams, to peer more closely into the natural world in order to discover wonders - all kinds of wonders!
Appletta is a Tooth Fairy, that's her job. You can call on her to bring depth and richness to a ritual that is often reduced to the giving of cash.
Yet ONLY A SMALL PART OF APPLETTA'S WRITING FOCUSES ON TEETH (a few of the Letters and the beginning of the first book). INSPIRATION CAN BE GIVEN FREE REIGN AS TO THE DELIVERY OF LETTERS. Hide them in "Fairy places". Let them appear on the most special (or UNspecial) days. Let it be play and delight for the whole family (older "knowing" children can hide the letters for younger ones). Have fun! Use Appletta's offerings to create your own family's traditions - pleasures to be remembered together for years.
Make-Believe makes for the development of a healthy, intelligent, creative adult. Make-Believe is IMPORTANT!
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READING & WRITING
Do reading or writing seem like a mountain to
climb? Or a little scary?
Leap out! Put on some Fairy wings and enter
Appletta's world. Reading and writing skills will
come along for the ride.
You may know that baking cookies is a great
way to learn mathematics. Why? Because the
pleasure of making and eating cookies gives
reason to WANT to learn to count and measure.
The tactile process also gives the child a "feel"
for the quantities and volumes involved.
A child's reading and writing skills benefit much
the same way when delving into Appletta's
wondrous books and Letters. The delightful
stories, magical papers and playful handwriting
give the child the desire to read and to write.
The creative lettering and language give the child
a feel for the formation of letters and the "code"
called written language.
Indeed, reading and writing in Appletta's world
are creative processes. Her handwriting is so
expressive you can almost hear Appletta's voice
reading out loud. That makes it easier for you to
read out loud (child or adult!). Reading IS
storytelling and the child discovers this - just like
telling Daddy all about what happened when the
helium balloon got away.
Read Appletta's books to your child any time
after she has stopped chewing on books. Engage
her in the pleasure of skills to come! The Letters
from Appletta are not tied down to the Tooth
Fairy rituals. One mother wrote to us "SHE
SEEMS TO FULLY BELIEVE IN APPLETTA
EVEN WITHOUT THE PROSPECT OF
LOSING ANY TEETH IN THE NEAR
FUTURE."* Share the pleasure of reading
Appletta's letters at a pace which will encourage
your child's emerging skills.
What fun to play with the shapes of letters and
words the way Appletta does! Handwriting
becomes a creative form, as well as a skill and a
useful method of communication. The child
wants to imitate Appletta and in doing so
practices writing. In learning to write comes the
freedom to write letters (to Grandma?) and
stories of his or her own. What a thrill!
Reading and writing a thrill? Sure is a long way
from that scary mountain that those skills once
seemed to be.
*Shay Seaborne, FOLC eclectic homeschool
network, moderator VaEclecticHomeschool
discussion list. Her articles have been published
by Teach-at-Home.com,
TheHomeschoolMom.com, Virginia Home
Education Association, The Homeschool Zone,
and Home Education Magazine.
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Read Shay Seaborne's Review about Appletta!
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EMOTIONS
Appletta is fun! Appletta is imaginative! Appletta is a wise
friend who understands feelings and challenging
experiences. Her stories often offer a cheerful Fairy point
of view on such matters.
"You can feel the Vetches as if they were inside of you -
jumping up and down on each other's toes, snatching each
other's hats to hurl them across the room. . . . How do you
get rid of the Vetches once you know you've got them? I
don't know but I can tell you this:
1. Vetches like to be in your house when it's raining.
2. Vetches like to be around hungry, tired children (and
parents).
3. Vetches like the smell of wretchedly burnt macaroni and
cheese."
When my son was small, small things - small fingernails, a
small face, small bruises, and big emotions about seemingly
small things - filled my world.
There are mothers who have great aplomb. They keep
their sense of humor and perspective through the minutia
of caring for young children. I, only sometimes, was such a
mother. I wish that I had known Appletta then.
WHAT A RESOURCE OF WISDOM YOU HAVE AT
YOUR FINGERTIPS WITH The LETTERS from
APPLETTA - "just the right story at just the right time!"*
PULL OUT A LETTER TO SUIT THE MOMENT -
FOR THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY.
The Letters are not a self-help manual for children. But
Appletta, like any good friend, sometimes likes to chat
about deep and important things.
What about a lonely child? Or a day that seems empty and
dreary?
"If you find yourself lonely (or bored, or adventurous), see
if you can sense any Fairies round about. . . . Turn on
your insides and outsides. Turn on your nose and your
ears. Keep your eyes open or try closing them. . . .
Pillywiggins . . . The Frid. . . Brownies . . . Ariel . . . A
Fairy visit might be just the thing to turn the lonelies inside
out! . . ."
Does a child feel inadequate in some way? Perhaps, like
Appletta's friend Ollie, the "handicap" is really a blessing!
"Ollie was an empty-headed boy, and this had its ups and
downs. Names and dates and instructions just fell out. . . .
This was the 'down' of it.
The 'up' part was this: Ollie's head wasn't full of telephone
numbers and maps. . . . If you want to be sure how useful
this was - listen up! . . ."
Fear, anger, losing a friend . . . Appletta often finds just the
right words to bring a little light!
*Marianne Alsop, Managing Editor Renewal Magazine
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
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Rosenberry books, etc.
1-800-723-0336
www.rosenberrybooks.com
101 Nicks Bend West
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Appletta is a registered trademark of Rosenberry books, etc.
Rosenberry books, etc. is a registered trademark of Rosenberry books, etc.
copyright 2003 Rosenberry books, etc.
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