FSU's College of Education produces 'Children's Activity Book' for sheltered-in families
Byron Dobson
In these days, when soccer camps, T-ball tryouts and family restaurant trips have been halted, Florida State’s College of Education is offering a choice for parents: the “Children’s Activity Book.”
The 16-page booklet, including covers, offers six educational activities and six coloring pages.
And, it’s sprinkled with plenty of Florida State University flavor, with “fun facts” on Cimarron, the official mascot of FSU’s Kids Club; the FSU Heritage Museum and the significance of 1905, the year FSU’s College of Education was established, making it the oldest in the state.
“We wanted to put together a variety of educational activities, including math and word games, that engage young kids while also promoting Florida State University,” Dean Damon Andrew said in an email. “Each activity has an FSU theme with fun facts about the university.”
The idea was sparked by a conversation Andrew had with an alumna from the Class of 1964, who recalled completing a Florida history activity book in her youth. The activities associated with FSU in that book sparked a dream to attend the university.
The final product was a collaboration between the college’s marketing office and University Communications.
The booklet, which is geared toward children but is useful for all ages, has been shared on the college’s social media platforms and is posted online at: https://issuu.com/fsu_education/docs/coe_activity_book.
Andrew said with quarantine measures in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are looking for ways to keep their kids engaged at home.
“While the idea for this activity book has been in the works for some time, we accelerated the production timeline due to the COVID-19 pandemic to get this out so that children and parents could enjoy it,” he said. “We've already gotten some positive feedback from our alumni and hope more people will take advantage of it.”
The booklet serves community outreach and an extension of its goal of promoting Project ElevatED, the college’s statewide campaign to promote the teaching profession and attract students to the field.
“The children of today are the educational leaders of tomorrow, and we are constantly seeking innovative ways to connect with the next generation of students and promote the teaching profession as a way to make a lasting, positive impact,” Andrew said.
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And, what is it about coloring books that makes them so popular?
“Coloring books have been around for generations; some can leave a lasting impression if they're focused on a subject of interest,” Andrew said. “For young children, they can help hone fine motor skills and encourage creativity and self-expression. But activity books are even popular with adults, as activities such as word searches and crossword puzzles are a way to reduce stress.”
Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.
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To obtain a copy:
To download a free copy, visit: https://issuu.com/fsu_education/docs/coe_activity_book