How many times as parents have we heard, “Where is my _____? I can’t find my ___.” It is a major tragedy for a little child when they can’t find a toy they want. It is worse when it is that special toy that goes with them everywhere. For my daughter is her blue dog. If we can’t find that little-stuffed toy, her little world is in crisis. She can’t go to bed without it.
I’m trying to teach my daughter the importance of putting away her toys. If she had a place for each toy and each toy was in its place, nothing would be lost. Of course, that never happens which is why things go missing.
As a parent, I know I need ways to reinforce this lesson. The worst time to do it is in those panic moments when the precious item is lost. I’m thankful for cartoons like “Hello Kitty.” In one episode, Kitty loses her precious toy and must clean her room to find it. That is a good opportunity to enforce and teach the lesson of cleaning the bedroom and putting away toys.
Another good way to teach is through the stories we read. I’m always thankful for books that teach lessons I want my children to learn. The Underground Toy Society Helps Beary Bear by Jessica D. Adams is such a book. Beary the Bear is lost. Beary is that precious toy of Janelle. Beary is not found until Jenelle cleans her room. Reading this story to kids gives a great opportunity to ask questions to teach lessons such as cleaning one’s room. Any children can relate to a lost toy. Parents can ask questions such as “How does Jenelle feel?” to help the child empathize. Parents can ask “What did Jenelle have to do to find the bear? Could she have found it sooner?”
I would recommend this book as a means to teach and reinforce the lesson of cleaning one’s room. It would make a good bedtime story.
Author Bio:
Jessica grew up in Catawissa, Pennsylvania. She attended Southern Columbia Area High School. After high school, she attended Bloomsburg University for two years, and then Thomas Jefferson University for two years. She graduated with honors with a degree in Occupational Therapy.
She still lives in PA with her husband, Greg, and two daughters. Her daughters are the inspiration for her books, and they help with the illustrations in most of the picture books about The Underground Toy Society.
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Thank you very much for reading and reviewing The Underground Toy Society Helps Beary Bear! Beary is very pleased and says thank you!
Love it Jessica! Congratulations!
Rosie