LITTLE MOUSE . . .
FOR THE VERY YOUNG
Note from Jim the author:
Several people have asked me to write a book for the very young child. A picture book and its accompanying coloring book is now available! See the home page for information!
Note from Jim's wife Nancy:
What does one do with very young children? They cannot read Little Mouse books for themselves and they have short attention spans and cannot sit still long enough for an adult to read the Little Mouse books to them. I have several suggestions, and the possibilities are endless.
After reading the first book to myself, I would present a Little Mouse t-shirt to the young child and then use every occasion possible to “tell a short Little Mouse story." Talk about all the positive and wonderful characteristics of Little Mouse and reinforce such behavior with the very young. Tell excerpts from book or just make them up, using settings that interest the young child.
One grandfather, after several sessions, finished summarizing the first book, The Adventure of Little Mouse, to his grandson at bedtime. The grandson begged for more Little Mouse stories each night, so the grandfather began just making them up. Little Mouse went everywhere and did all sorts of things: went fishing, attended a community gathering with other animals, ate acorns from under his special black oak tree, went swimming in his favorite swimming hole on Little Butte Creek, helped a friend, cleaned his bedroom, made his bed, made a trip to sit on the edge of Paradise Lake, talked to Mrs. Squirrel about the weather, sat under a big oak leaf to keep dry as rain poured off the leaf, etc.
Once the child has a good concept about Little Mouse, I would provide many opportunities to reinforce positive behavior with comments and encouragement that foster good manners, character, morals and values. Here are several examples:
If a child helps someone or does something “good,” say something like:
- “Oh . . . Little Mouse would be proud of you!”
- “Super! . . . You are helping someone.”
- “Good job! Little Mouse always says to DO GOOD & BE GOOD.”
If a child says, “Please,” say something like:
- “Little Mouse always says please and thank you. I’m proud of you!”
If a child puts his toys into the toy box, say something like:
- "Oh, you are just like Little Mouse. He puts his things back where they belong.”
If a child waits and doesn’t interrupt, say something like”
- “Oh, Little Mouse is polite, just like you. How wonderful!”
If a child has a problem situation and needs to think of a more positive way to solve a problem, say something like:
- “Oh . . . Let’s stop and think about this . . . Hmmmm . . . . What would Little Mouse do?”
If a child is restless and not going to sleep at night, give the child the Little Mouse pillow and suggest that Little Mouse is tired and needs to have it really quiet so he can go to sleep. Suggest in a whisper that he or she help Little Mouse go to sleep . . . .
- "Let's help Little Mouse go to sleep . . . "
When you put on a Little Mouse t-shirt on a child, say something like:
- "When we wear our Little Mouse t-shirt, we are just like Little Mouse!"
The very young child needs to have simple regular chores, such as “helping to dust the furniture.” With a sock on his hand, a very young child, with help, can run the socked-hand over a table to dust it. A young child could put toys away, put something in the trash, help set the table, etc. Say something like:
- “Oh, you’re cleaning up, just like Little Mouse would do!”
Want some special “thoughts” to talk with children about? Visit the Little Mouse website page titled “Little Mouse’s Thoughts.” Take your choice! Lots of conversation starters!
See the Index website page for Book #2, The Legacy of Little Mouse the Mouse, for other topics. After reading this book to yourself, look over the topic Index to pick topics to discuss.
Also, have the young child color pictures in the Little Mouse the Mouse Coloring & Activities Booklet while discussing the story and related topics. You may send in pictures to Little Mouse and the pictures will be placed on this website for all to see.*
Put up pictures and posters of Little Mouse in the child's bedroom copied from The Little Mouse the Mouse Posters Templates Booklet and use as reminders to foster good manners, character, morals and values. Put up the Little Mouse Wall Hanging (available in the Little Mouse Store) in the bedroom as a reminder to always "Do Good & Be Good" like Little Mouse.
These readiness activities will help prepare young children for the day you can read the actual books to them. Have fun and use every opportunity to talk with all young people, using Little Mouse as a positive model.
*Just send in drawings and photos with initials only, with or without name of school. Mail to: P.O. Box 1503, Paradise, CA 95967. Videos may be emailed to LittleMouse@LittleMouseTheMouse.com. Submission means that you agree that the photos and videos with initials may be published herein and become the property of LittleMousetheMouse.com.
