Looking for a particular author or work? On your computer, go to edit on your toolbar. Then go to "find on this page". Input what you are looking for and your computer will do the rest!

Do Rivers Talk?

Recently, I was out fishing with my three year old daughter and something struck me. As we walked along the water it was if the unmistakable sound of the mountain stream was saying something to me. It was soothing, as the sound of a flowing river always is, but it was as if there was something behind the words. As we walked I kept pondering the thought, but couldn't make any more out of it.

At one point, I even asked Cameron if she could tell me what the river was saying. She couldn't, but with her limited vocabulary tried nonetheless. She said something, in what could have been Swahili for all I know, but the effort was greatly appreciated. My reasoning for asking a three year old was simple. I figured that she was in direct contact with God just a few short years ago, so there was the possibility that she could be able to understand what the flowing water was saying. I neglected to take into account her limited vocabulary. Now that I think about it, she probably did tell me what the river was saying, I just couldn't understand what she was saying. But isn't this always the case with young children? They know what they're saying, even if we can't quite understand it. And it's my contention that they know what the river is saying as well.

But that doesn't get me any closer to answering the question of whether or not rivers talk, or rather, what they are saying, because as you can probably tell, I think they do say something. The interesting thing is that I've begun to conclude that what's being said is beyond words.

I think the answer lies in silence. In fact Henry David Thoreau's observation may well hold the answer: "In human intercourse the tragedy begins, not when there is misunderstanding about words, but when silence is not understood."

So that's more than likely the answer to the question of whether or not rivers talk. Through the silence that is experienced anywhere in the vicinity of a river the answer is a resounding YES. Yes they do and they do it through the silence.

©Trevor Kugler

The Benefits of Reading at a Young Age

How many books did you read as a kid? While it is true that some children will never be seen without a book, it can be hard work getting every child to read enthusiastically. Yet this is the key stage in their lives when a love of reading should be developed in order to give them plenty of enjoyment throughout their adult lives as well.

While being able to read is certainly an essential skill that is needed in everyday life, there is far more to a book than pages full of words to be learned. It can be a window onto another life, and there is certainly nothing else like the power of a book to transport you into other times and worlds – both real and imagined.

The key to getting kids to enjoy books from a young age is to discover what interests they have, and match some books to those interests. For example, if your child loves horse riding you'll find there is a whole range of books on that subject from which they could choose the ones that most interest them. While fictional stories are wonderful to read, there is no beating a factual book for giving your child an insight into what life is really like – whether that is today or a thousand years ago.

Television certainly has its place in modern society but when it comes to books you can develop your knowledge in a number of ways. There is no doubt that children who are voracious readers tend to be able to spell more easily as a result: a skill that can be taken forward to be used in any job or career in the future.

Books can also teach children how to put ideas and thoughts down in words. They learn essential English skills through reading every day that they don’t even realise they are learning. For children who find it difficult to keep their attention in lessons reading can provide a way to make that learning process easier and more engaging for them. As they get older the habit of reading regularly will also stay with them, giving them an outlet that provides rest, relaxation and an escape route from the stress of everyday life on occasion.

So how can you get your children interested in reading? If you introduce books at a young age they will grow up being used to having books all around them. Encourage them to choose their own books, and buy books for birthdays, Christmas and other occasions as well as toys. You can be guaranteed that the books will last longer.

Perhaps that is the real gift of a book – the knowledge that the more wear and tear it goes through and the more creased its pages get, the more loved it has been in its lifetime.

©Daniel Collins

Image from:Royalty Free Clip Art

joyful!

" Make A joyful! Noise..."

Do Rivers Talk?

The Benefits of Reading at a Young Age