An aware parent loves all children he or she interacts with - for you are a caretaker for those moments in time.
~ Doc Childre

When was the last time you told the incredible kids in your life how amazing they are?  How about going one step farther --- taking time from your busy schedule to write your thoughts in a letter as a caretaker for a lasting moment in time for children to cherish?  You’ll have an opportunity to do just that on 19 March, Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®.  

What is Absolutely Incredible Kid Day®?
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.
― Charles R. Swindoll

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® (AIKD) is a call to action for adults and teens, who are urged to write letters of support and encouragement to children.  First organized by Campfire USA in 1997, the organization declares AIKD® as a national letter-writing campaign where kids receive letters of support, love and encouragement.  This practice is held yearly on the third Thursday in March.

The goal is for every child to receive a meaningful letter from a caring adult or teen.  The recipient could even be a child you don’t know.  Someone who lives in a homeless shelter or who is in the hospital.  If you don’t have children of your own, how about a niece or nephew?  Or that delightful child in your neighborhood?  

Imagine how awesome it would be it if kids everywhere discover a special letter just for them that’s hidden in their lunchbox or slipped into their mailbox.   Make a deposit in a child’s memory bank!

Why write a letter?
Letter writing can be seen as a gift because someone has taken his/her time to write and think and express love. 
― Soraya Diase Coffelt 

It’s important for everyone’s well-being and development to foster a feedback-rich environment of communication and caring.  Adults beam when their efforts are recognized through the written word.  Aren’t you over the moon when you receive a commendation from work or an atta-person note from a friend or family member? 

Children need the same encouragement, if not more so, to know they are doing well and that they are loved.  Start a tradition!  Give the gift of writing by exchanging compliments and encouragements through a note or letter. 

Where can I find tips and samples for writing my letter?
The proper definition of a man is an animal that writes letters.
― Lewis Carroll

Letters needn’t be long or complex.  Simple and heart-felt work best.  A brief note is lovely, too.  Think of a specific behavior to compliment or a quality you admire. These tips and samples will get you started.

• Find writing tips, sentence starters from Campfire USApa HERE

• Check out sample letters below 

         o   Pinterest
         o   Campfire USA   

How can I participate in AIKD®?
To write is human, to get mail: Divine! 
― Susan Lendroth

• Write your letter on kid-friendly stationery whenever possible.  If you don’t have any handy, below are free stationery downloads.

          o   Printablestationery.net
          o   Clipart.com   

• Printable certificates are great ways to encourage youngsters, too.

           o   Crayola Crayons medal of honor coloring page 
           o   Activity Village certificates
           o   Billy 4 Bear certificates
           o   Kids Printable angel certificates

• Encourage organizations, schools and classrooms that you know of to take part in AIKD®.
• Use social media to urge other adults and teens to join.  Tweet, text and tag:  
  #AIKD #KidLiterature  Every child receives a letter on March 19

Hey, you don’t need a special holiday to let kids know how amazing they are.   Recognize them at every opportunity.  Write it down.  Stand on the rooftop and shout it out. You'll be glad you did!

Please join the conversation in the comment section.
What will you do for AIKD®?
What additional suggestions can you add to make this day a success?

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Driving Down to Dillon:
A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings.

Last week, trapped indoors by wintry weather, I accomplished something I always wanted to do.  I made a movie!  Not the JJ Abrams kind to be sure.  Mine was a 3-minute video about my writing life, with visuals, music and voice over, about which I am proud.

Digiwriting.com invited me to post an author interview on its blog, and I thought making a video response would be the perfect opportunity to notch up my skills.  I tried making a video in November, but my head was too stuffed with the upcoming holidays and family obligations.  The experience was a disaster.  Discouraged and frustrated, I never finished that video.

There were fewer distractions this second time around.  A one-hour workshop at the Apple store also unraveled intricacies of iMovie and Garageband that I couldn’t master on my own. 

It took two weeks of slow progress.  I learned something new at every turn.  Where to find affordable royalty-free music and photos.  How to decrease volume on the music track, so it didn't overpower the voice over.  How to splice audio clips,  synch tracks, and write YouTube descriptions.  These were all huge concepts to conquer.

To keep from giving up, I turned it into a game.  Seeing how many new tasks I could master in a day. Celebrating small successes.  Streaming the Hallelujah Chorus when I finished a major work chunk. Seeking a sympathetic shoulder from ever-patient JM or cyber-screaming frustrations to authorly colleagues.

There is great joy in mastering personal challenges.  I will never climb Mt. Everest. (In fact, I don't even want to!)  My movie-making journey was my mental Everest, and I gladly tick it off my bucket list.

Please have a look at  I Am a Writer HERE.  I’d be over the moon if you’ll leave a like or comment.

LEARN MORE

I won't claim it’s easy to create videos. 

But there are many user-friendly, free apps for creating videos as a writer, parent, educator, and even a child. 

Native applications and online websites 
I used the software below in creating I am a Writer.   I didn't want video clips---only photographs, text-based visuals, and transitions with the 'Ken Burns' effect of panning in and out of a photo. And while I use Apple products, Windows has similar offerings also listed below.

• iMovie - Apple’s video platform  
• GarageBand - Apple's GarageBand to record narration (You can also record voice by plugging a microphone directly into a computer.)      
• MovieMaker - Windows video platform  
• Audacity -  free audio editor for all operating systems    
• Pixabay and morguefile – royalty-free photos (in addition to your own photos)          
• Canva - free, online graphic design program for making title slides and uber-awesome visuals with text  

Four FREE, User-friendly Digital Storytelling Apps
These four film-making apps will stir your creative juices, and they have extensive tutorials and friendly help desks in case you get stuck. Upgrade for a slight fee to access longer videos, broader music selection, etc.  Share by embedding code on YouTube or copying links in a text message or email.  

You’ll learn how to use these apps in a heartbeat and have fun, too.  Yes, you will! 

Narration with Photographs and Visuals

• Shadow Puppet for iPad and iPhone
• Adobe Voice  for iPad

These apps on Apple’s mobile platform tell digital tales or organize lessons in a snap.  Just upload and sequence photos, record YOUR voice, and use their simple transitions and nifty special effects, like stickers and text overlay --- Voila!

For Home: Both apps are great for personal use.  Need a thank-you card for Granny?  Take photos of the kids with the gifts she sent, and have the children record their thanks for her to see and hear.  Or send your vacation photos, and record your voice chatting about family escapades.

For School: Teachers, need to explain a simple concept?  Or invite students to demonstrate what they learn?  Whip up a simple video in no time with Voice and Shadow Puppet.  These apps offer free extended features to educators, such as maps and open-source image search.

In this example of involving children in video production, fourth-grade Alyssa narrates a Shadow Puppet video for my Sweet T and the North Wind book trailer.

Music with Photographs and Visuals

• Animoto
• Powtoon

Animoto and Powtoon are free online software programs that work on any computer.  They  require a bit more technical skill (but not too much, so do try them!)  Both apps add splashy transitions and music to videos.  However, they do not offer narration, as far as I can tell. 

I send short thank-you videos made with Animoto to students after my author visit to their classroom.  The videos tell the story of our time together and capture the students'  excitement about books and reading.

In addition to home and school use, these video-making programs would also spice up business presentations.

Please join the conversation in the comment section.
How might these video-making ideas work for you?
What additional suggestions or resources can you add?

Don’t miss a post.
Click below to receive this blog by RSS feed or email.

 Subscribe to updates about my books and receive a free downloadable tale I penned that’s very special to me -- just for grown ups who are forever young at heart. 
Driving Down to Dillon:
A Very Short Story of Love and New Beginnings.