Mother Goose Characters Are On the Loose

“Mother Goose Characters Are On the Loose” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

“Mother Goose Day” is November 24. 

Pretend with me…Mother Goose characters are on the loose.   They may need some help.  Listen carefully to each description.  Can you identify who’s on the loose? 

1.  This little girl has lost her sheep. 

2.  This little boy watches sheep.

3.  This little girl ran away after getting cinders on her clothes.  *Hint:  her name rhymes with cinders.

4.  This character frightened mice under chairs when he visited the Queen.

5.  This boy kissed girls and made them cry and then he ran away. 

6.  This boy ran around town in his nightgown.

7.  This boy met a pieman and wanted to taste his wares.

8.  These characters ran away from the farmer’s wife who was carrying a carving knife. 

9.  This character slept in his breeches with one stocking off and one stocking on.

10.  A spider frightened this little girl.

Check your answers below which are arranged in reverse order to discourage peeking:

10.Little Miss Muffet   9.John from Diddle Diddle Dumpling   8.Three Bling Mice   7.Simple Simon   6.Wee Willie Winkie    5.Georgy Porgy    4.Pussy-Cat    3.Little Polly Flinders    2.Little Boy Blue    1.Little Bo Peep

Add a description of another Mother Goose character on the loose to the comment section below and be registered to win a copy of The All-Time Greatest Sing-Along Songs:  26 Songs Your Kids Will Love!  The drawing will be held December 1, 2013.  Please provide your email address with your entry. 

Thanks for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Have you entered the “The Mother Goose drawing?”  Come again soon.  Bring a friend. 

Please note:   Children 14 and under are not allowed to leave comments. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

Does Your Computer Have a Name?

“Does Your Computer Have a Name?” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

November 20 is “Name Your PC Day.”  I’m taking the liberty to call it “Name Your PC or MAC Day.”

An aside… http://www.thefreedictionary.com/aside

When I was a child, ‘PC’ had two meanings–privileged character and pole cat (skunk). 

Whenever  a person was acting superior/haughty, someone might suggest that the person thought he was a PC (privileged character).  Someone else might add that he was a PC–a polecat.  I asked my husband if he had ever heard this comeback. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/comeback He hadn’t.  We grew up in the same town and we are only two years apart in age.  Anyway, when I heard that it was PC Day, that’s the direction my mind took, until it settled into thinking of computers, of course.

Thinking on things that are named… 

•  Tracy Campbell, a writer and artist friend, has a Muse named Matilda.

Copyright–Tracy Campbell

http://tracycampbell.net/blog/my-blog-posts/  Smart thinking to name your Muse, Tracy.  Check here to shop for art samples featuring Matilda:  http://tracy-campbell.artistwebsites.com/featured/matilda-tracy-campbell.html   Check out greeting cards and her blog while you’re there.

Other things that are named:

• Pets
• Cars
• Boats
• and my favorite:  Bologna–Oscar Mayer.  Hear it sung:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmPRHJd3uHI
• So why not computers?   http://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/name-your-pc-day/
• Writers research names for characters in favorite sources.  Maybe a baby book or website.  We get to know our characters very well.  Of course they need just the right name.  Shouldn’t  the same apply to your computer?

Brainstorm names for your PC or MAC.  Have fun!

Copyright–Microsoft clip art

To get you started…

Brainstorm–what comes to mind when you think of your computer. 

This could lead to a name or nickname. 

Brainstorm and write potential names, no matter how unusual. 

When you think of your computer, do you think of–

1.   the sound of the keys?  Clickety-clack or Music Man

2.  the effort to locate the keys?  Hunt and Peck or  Zippidy-Doo-Da

3.  the emotional connection with your computer?  Best Buddy or Side Kick

4.  the primary purpose of your computer?  Novel One or Art Smart

5.  photos stored in your library?  My Treasure Chest

6. the connection with family and friends?  One of the Family or Family Friend

7. a relative’s name or a title of honor?  When I asked one of my family members what he’d name his  PC, he answered, “Mr. PC.” He said he’d choose, “Mr. Apple” for a MAC.

8.  Other ideas?

I decided if I was going to encourage you to name your computer, I should certainly name my own.  Because I count on my computer with my writing, I decided to select a name that shows its skills and dedication.  Here’s the name I chose.

Drum roll…My computer’s name is…Got What It Takes.

My morning greeting goes like this, “Good morning, Got What It Takes.”  When I type these words, the greeting echoes right back at me.  Like a mirror.  Now, that’s teamwork.  That’s positive affirmation.  Read “The Only 100 Positive Affirmations You Will Ever Need” by Farnoosh http://www.prolificliving.com/blog/2012/08/27/100-positive-affirmations/  My computer’s name reminds me of Affirmation #12 from this list: “I matter and what I have to offer this world also matters.”

Share one or more of your computer names from your list.   Now that you’ve chosen a name, why not greet your newly named friend?  Carry on a conversation.  It works for plants.  What about for a computer?

Thanks for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Leave a comment if you’d like, especially a computer name.  Come again soon.  Bring a friend. 

Please note:   Children 14 and under are not allowed to leave comments. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

Wrap a String Around Your Finger to Remind Yourself to Play

“Wrap a String Around Your Finger to Remind Yourself to Play” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

Yes, today is National Day of Play.  Don’t forget.  Wrap a String Around Your Finger to Remind Yourself to Play.

Do you have play planned for today or will you find a way to play as you go?

Examples of Planned Play, you might try:

1.  Check the back of your sock drawer.  Do you have a bag of marbles from your childhood stashed out of view?

What if there are no children in your home or you donated the toy chest to charity?  What can you do?

2.  Perhaps you can invite a child from your family to visit or take him to the park.  It’s a mild day in my area, perhaps in yours too.  If the weather doesn’t permit outside play, look for old board games you no longer play or create games or stories of your own.

If no one can join you for play, what can you do?

1.  Check your storage area.  Do you have a bike that needs dusting off?  You get the benefit of exercise and fun too.

2.  Consider playing a  computer game.

Why not play as you go today?

My start to a day of play as I go:  I emptied a bottle of Palmolive detergent while washing breakfast dishes. I noticed that the cap’s style was different from the Joy container previously purchased.  I removed the Palmolive top and gave it a spin.  I felt kid-like.  I tried spinning it with the stopper open and with it closed.  I spun the other end.  I imagined playing with a friend–each person with his own spinning top.

It was fun.  The price was right–free.  The experience–freeing. 

What items do you sneak play with before discarding or recycling?  I have turned many empty oatmeal boxes into drums.  How about you?

If you missed my earlier post about National Day of Play and the National Toy Hall of Fame, check here: 

https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/mark-your-calendars-for-a-day-of-play-november-16-2013/ 

Today’s post was inspired by a comment left earlier by a friend. Thanks, Joan…

My dear friend, Joan, left a comment sharing her joy of spinning tops.  I believe her comment led to my creative play with a common household item–a dish detergent top.  Thank you, Joan, for planting the seed for creative play.  Joan inspires many writers at her website and blog.  See here:  http://www.joanyedwards.com/ and http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/

Check the National Toy Hall of Fame for the 53 inductees  famous for bringing hours of fun. 

http://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys

Have fun today and always!

Thanks for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Leave a comment if you’d like.  Let others know how you put a little play into each day.  Come again soon.  Bring a friend. 

Please note:   Children 14 and under are not allowed to leave comments. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

Mark Your Calendars for a Day of Play–November 16, 2013

“Mark Your Calendars for a for a Day of Play–November 16, 2013” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

Saturday, November 16, 2013 is National Day of Play. 

Have you ever heard of it?  How will you spend the day?  Why not spend it playing with toys inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.  The what?

The National Toy Hall of Fame.

 Want to know more about the National Toy Hall of Fame?  http://www.toyhalloffame.org/about

Where is the National Toy Hall of Fame?

The Strong in Rochester, New York is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Would you like to visit?  Need directions?  See here:

http://www.toyhalloffame.org/about/hours-directions

How long has the National Toy Hall of Fame been established?

Since 1998.

How many toys are on the list?

There are 53 toys in the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Which ones have you played with on the list?  Ask your parents how many they have played with.

What are the Two Inductees for 2013? 

How are they chosen?  Have you played with both of them?

Microsoft Clip art

http://www.toyhalloffame.org/

Want to know what the other 10 finalists were and other toy trivia?  Read here:

“Rubber Duckies, they’re the ones” by Carolyn Thompson

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/57097130-68/game-toy-rubber-hall.html.csp

Nominate a favorite toy for 2014.

http://www.toyhalloffame.org/nominate

And if you say you’re too old to play, check this author’s comments on having fun and being silly.  http://taralazar.com/2013/10/28/pre-pibo-day-4-betsy-devany/

Thanks for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Leave a comment if you’d like.  Let others know how you put a little play into each day.  Come again soon.  Bring a friend. 

Please note:   Children 14 and under are not allowed to leave comments. It’s against the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA)  See:  http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen