pelika O Observer
A12 Oct. 02, 2019
Guiding your child to share and care By Beth Pinyerd For the Opelika Observer
L
uke 10:27 - “He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbor as yourself.’” What a wonderful world we would have if everyone took the time to share what they have with others! To meet the needs of others with food, material items or time are lessons that we need to teach our young children. In working with young children, we must realize that it is very hard for them to share. We have to guide them by being a good role model on sharing. As
you sit down, play and interact with your child, role play with them situations of sharing. Praise and encourage your child when they share. All children are born unique and special; some children will share without being asked or taught this. But for most children, sharing is very hard. Much of a very young child's identity is locked into what they have such as a teddy bear or doll. Looking at developmental stages of children, toddlers, twos and threes think more of their needs, whereas children at age 4 begin to really understand what it means to share. Children who are 6, 7 and 8 learn the importance of sharing and cooperating with other children. As a teacher of young children, I'd like to
share some methods I've used and learned from the classroom as well as from other teachers and resources: 1. There are so many good books about sharing. Our local librarians would be glad to help you find books, videos or DVDS on sharing. 2. Demonstrate sharing and generosity by example. Take the time to let your young child share. It may be cutting in half a piece of fruit with your young child. Tell your child they are a star if they share it with you. 3. With your preschooler, point out and discuss other people's needs such as mom, dad, siblings and people in the neighborhood. In making gifts for parents with young children a child might say their favorite color is a certain
By Beth Pinyerd
one. Ask them what their parents' favorite color is in making their parents a gift. The same can go for food - they may say I like cheese pizza, but ask them to think what mom or dad may like, such as pepperoni pizza, in which they would need to learn to share other people's favorites. 4. Praise children when they share with other people in the family. Hug, verbally encourage and let them know that you are
happy when they share. According to their age, if older children still haven't learned to share as they should, such as keeping all the toys to themselves, it is important that the parents show they disapprove of selfishness. Don't be too harsh, but positively start guiding your young child in steps of sharing. 5. In working with your child in sharing their toys with friends, consider separating their toys. In teaching them to share step-by-step, your child may have some of their favorite toys you might consider putting up in order to avoid arguments. Ask your child to decide upon toys they would like to share in playing together. 6. It's neat to sit back and watch little ones learn to share between
each other. Children can learn from their peers on how to share. They learn the key word “compromise." 7. Children can also have the character traits of love, kindness and patience which young children express in many ways as they interact with each other. A craft lesson I love to do with children is to make helping hands. These helping hands can be pulled like coupons to help you on a busy day. And it teaches your child responsibility, as well as sharing and caring. It's so wonderful to step back and watch your young child share on his own. Parents, you are very special to take extra time to teach your child to share. When we share, it shows we care.
OBITUARIES Richard Thomas Landreth
Mary Bishop Still Mary Bishop Still, 94, of Opelika, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Thursday, September 26, 2019 at Arbor Springs Health and Rehab. A funeral service was held Saturday, September 28, 2019, at 11:00 A.M. at JeffcoatTrant Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation was held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 A.M. Mrs. Still worked along side her husband Dewey Still running their business Still Service Station for over 40 years. She was well respected and developed many longlasting friendships in and around the Opelika area. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Opelika which she loved very much. She is preceded in
death by her parents Father John Thomas Bishop and Mother Annie Esther Bishop, Son-in-law Rick Fussell, Grandson Clay McBurney, Great Grandson Justin McBurney. She is survived by her husband of 77 years Dewey Still; her children Faye (Bobby) McBurney; Angie Fussell; Anita (Frank ) Cox; six grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; one great-greatgrandchild. Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister; she will be greatly missed. Family has requested in lieu of flower donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association or First Baptist Church Opelika Building Fund in memory of Mary Bishop Still.
On Thursday, September 26, 2019 Richard Thomas Landreth, loving husband and father of 3 children, passed away at the age of 59. Tommy was born on April 2, 1960 to John Thomas and Celia Landreth in Valley, Alabama . He worked at West Point Stevens for 30 years, retired. Returned to work at Hanwah manufacturing for 9 years. On November 27th, 1982 he married the love of his life Adis Regina Tillis. They raised 3 children Heather, Justin and Alyssa. Tommy had a passion for his family. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit. He loved capturing special moments on his old disposable wind up cameras.
He was a country boy who loved horses, dogs and working in the yard planting flowers. He could turn junk into treasure he had an eye for details. Tommy was preceded in death by his father, John Thomas, and his mother, Celia. He is survived by his wife Regina, his 3 children and Spouses, Heather and Jonathan, Justin and Brianna, Alyssa and Nick. His 5 grandchildren Hannah, Alex, Andrew Kal-El, Chloe and Cooper. His brother John, sister Cathy, and several cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. He’s now home. A memorial service was held at The Bridge Church, Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.
Jean Marie Lacey Jean Marie Lacey of Opelika was born to the late Charlie and Margaret Cain on April 30, 1932 and passed away at Arbor Springs on September 24, 2019. She was 87 years old. A memorial service was held Thursday, September 26, 2019 in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home at 5:00 p.m. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home directed.
To have your loved one’s obituary published in the Opelika Observer, email editor@ opelikaobserver.com or call 334-749-8003
George “Pooker” Ellington Robertson Funeral services for George “Pooker” Ellington Robertson were held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the sanctuary in the First United Methodist Church of Opelika. Graveside service will follow at Oak Bowery Cemetery. A visitation followed the graveside service at the Robertson Family cabin in Oak Bowery. George “Pooker” Ellington Robertson, Jr., 76 years old of Gold Hill, AL, passed away at his home on Sunday, September 22, 2019. George was born March 17, 1943 to George Ellington Robertson and Josephine Summers Robertson. At some point in George’s childhood, he was given the name “Pooker” although he was never able to tell anyone
why. Pooker was a lifelong resident of Gold Hill, Alabama. He attended Chambers County Schools. Pooker regularly got in trouble with his mother for leaving perfectly good pairs of shoes on the bus in favor of going to school barefoot. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1961, where he served as class president. Pooker took this responsibility seriously and hosted reunions for his class annually up until a few years ago. He went on to graduate from Auburn University in Animal Husbandry. Pooker was a country boy who grew into a country gentleman and a successful farmer. He was a rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service
(Lafayette route) for over 20 years. He ran a cattle farm and grew vegetables and roses. His roses were well known to many in the community who were ill or needed arrangements to brighten their homes. As a member of the Opelika First United Methodist Church, Pooker regularly provided flowers from his garden for the sanctuary. He always had a rose on his suit lapel.Pooker was active in the Alabama Cattleman’s Association, Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and on the board for the Farmer’s Service Agency. He received numerous awards for his work as a farmer, including being a finalist in the Chambers County Farm/ City Award and the 2003 Governor’s Conser-
vationist of the Year Award by the Alabama Wildlife Federation. Pooker loved Alabama politics and enjoyed getting to know many political leaders within the state over the years. Everyone admired Pooker. He served on the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles under Governor Fob James. Most importantly, Pooker will be remembered as a beloved uncle to his nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was a selfless family man and a good father even though he did not have children of his own. He loved being involved in helping his nephews on the farm. He regularly drove his great-nieces and nephews to school and
was engaged in their growing lives. He was always present to talk and dispense wisdom to his non-farming nieces and nephews as well. He was proud of the generations that followed him. Aside from his family, Pooker took great pleasure in mentoring those interested in farming and living the country life. He offered respite for many generations of Auburn University football players to come to his farm to hunt, fish or just relax. He kept watch over his community and was a loyal steward to his land. Pooker is survived by his brother Joe Rawles Robertson (Betty) of Gold Hill, nieces and nephews Daniel Sayre Robertson, Jr. (Sherie) of Auburn, Rebecca
Robertson (Peter Skrdla) of Devon, Pennsylvania, Anna Robertson Bennett (Gabe) of Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, Joe “Jody” Rawles Robertson, Jr. (Jennifer) of Lafayette, George Isaac Robertson (Bradley) of Gold Hill. 13 great nieces and nephews. Pooker was predeceased by his brother, Daniel Sayre Robertson (Teryl) of Auburn. Pooker enjoyed being a paternal figure in the lives of Race Cannon and Peter Barrios and remained close to them from childhood into adulthood. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to First United Methodist Church of Opelika (702 Avenue A, Opelika, Alabama 36801) Frederick- Dean Funeral Home directed.