Uplifting and Fun Gift for Kids

by Karen Elizaga | Posted: December 16th, 2011 | No Comments »

Remember the Fonz? I loved the Fonz. When I was 8, I had a tee-shirt with picture of him on it – complete with that trademark grin and black leather jacket. It was my favorite tee-shirt. Fast forward 32 (gulp) years, and I have fallen in love with him all over again. And the artist formerly known as the Fonz will capture your heart, too, whether or not you had a crush on him in your childhood. To boot, he will give you many gift possibilities for your holiday giving this year.

Let me start with this thought. “Never put a period at the end of a negative thought.” How brilliant is that? This is what Henry Winkler, who is now a prolific children’s author (of the series Hank Zipzer), told a group of 2nd through 5th graders at my children’s school. “Never put a period at the end of a negative thought.” And it stuck with them.

He explained… a sentence that starts with “I can’t”, “I could never” or “I couldn’t” ought not be finished. When a negative thought enters your brain, he advised (my daughter just recited verbatim, I think, what he actually said): “‘Hello, I don’t have time for you now!’ And then replace it with a positive thought. And then people will look at you weird, but it doesn’t matter.”

How awesome is that? He got an entire gymnasium full of elementary school to become aware of the negative thoughts that occupy space in our brains and then offered up ways to combat them. And did so with this pithy little sentence.

So anyway, back to holiday giving, the Hank Zipzer series is about a kid with learning disabilities (based on Henry Winkler’s own experience) who figures out creative ways to get through his difficulties. Boys and girls will equally relate to his struggles, irrespective of whether they themselves have diagnosed learning disabilities.

My daughter has zipped through seven of the Hank Zipzer series and wants more. She absolutely loves them – and therefore also the Fonz! I wonder whether Santa will put some of any Hank Zipzer books in her stocking this year.

Such a great gift – educational, inspiring and fun! Your kids will love them.

Thank you to my daughter, Sloane, who contributed to this post this morning!