Recognizing
and manipulating sounds in spoken words is referred to as phonological
awareness. It is a key skill in early literacy and playing with sounds is a
great way to help children develop phonological awareness.
Simple
rhyming games can be fun for young children and will help them to develop
phonological awareness. Give a few examples and let your little chime in.
Pretend words are acceptable! (cat…hat…bat…zat) Rhyming stories
and songs are also great for identifying rhyme.
Syllable
awareness is another way to promote phonological awareness. Tap, clap or stomp
out the syllables in a word. Extend this activity by counting the syllables as
you clap.
Identifying
initial sounds in words will also help children to develop phonological
awareness. Cat starts with /k/. Dog starts with
/d/. You could also try an “I Spy” game and look for things that start with
/k/, /d/, etc. “I spy with my little eye something that starts with /k/.”
Young
children like to play games and playing with sounds can be lots of fun. Keep it
light and keep in mind that every opportunity to develop phonological awareness
is a chance to help your child or grandchild acquire an important early
literacy skill.
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Chives are a
perennial herb that look like little onions. They are in fact part of the onion
family. They are not, however, the same as green onions or scallions.
Chives have
a mild onion flavour that serves as a delicious accent to lots of different
foods, including salads, dips and soups. One of my favourite combinations is
chives sprinkled on sour cream on top of a baked potato. Yum!
Chives are
easy to grow and require little care. They are not invasive. One plant will
probably give you enough for modest use.
Chives are
great for a pollinator garden. The bees love the purple flowers.
Chives can
be harvested throughout the growing season. They can be enjoyed throughout the
year if you dry them. Chives dry well. I use a dehydrator, but you can also
hang them in bunches in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space or dry them in the
oven at a very low temperature.
I have fond
memories of our next-door neighbour dropping by my garden to pick chives
throughout the summer. She loved them and I loved sharing them with her.
If you like
onions, but they don’t always like you, chives may just be the answer to your
craving. Enjoy!
