How to Keep Your Resident Pirate Happy

Many parents today find themselves to be proud parents of a new breed of children, ones who have grown up with The Black Pearly, Davy Jones, Elizabeth Swan and of course Jack Sparrow.

Because of this influence in their lives your little pirate will be clamoring for anything and everything pirate related. When that happens, you best be aware that unless you want to "walk the plank' foresight and preparedness is what you need in order to keep your house in tip top shape and your resident pirate happy as a buccaneer on a treasure hunt. For those parents can well attest who have resident pirate kiddos, pirates like their treasure in whatever form it can be found. In this case, the treasure isn't one of gold, jewels or even Davy Jones' heart, but rather treasure of a different sort, treasure which invites laughter, creativity and above all good old fashioned fun!

Below is a listing of sites I've found which offer pirate fun, "how to's" and even lists of books for sea dogs of all ages and personalities. Trust me when I say that this list is one that will keep even the crankiest pirate happy and the benefits from saving this list (or even compiling a hard file from its contents for restaurants and outings) will save you many a cross moment and avoid all confrontation with sabers and other weapons of convincing pirates tend to lean towards these days. Good luck and here's hoping all your days are sunny and your pirate happy. It goes without saying, at least in our house, " when Barnacle Boo is happy, EVERYONE is happy!"

Coloring pages
These work wonderfully for appliqué and painting patterns as well as plain coloring books. Consider printing off several of these pages, creating a book and allowing your resident pirate create the cover. It promises to be not only a great time consuming activity but one where your child can be as creative and/or imaginative as he/she wants to be. Listed below are brief descriptions of specific pages along with the actual URL of the page. This will allow the user to decide whether the website is one they wish to visit or perhaps is one they have found to be (or not to be) useful in the past.

Many different pirate theme coloring pages

http://www.first-school.ws/theme/coloring-pages/pirate.htm

skull and crossbones (approximately 5" x5" )

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/skeletonprojects/l/blcolorskull1xb.htm

plain skull (no crossbones or swords)

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/halloweenprint/l/blcolorskull.htm

larger size skull and crossbones (approximately 71/2" x 6")

http://www.coloring-page.net/pages/hallw090.html

This page includes links to some great pirate theme pages including a treasure map, skeleton pirates and of course a ship!

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/coloring/piratecoloring.htm

Pirate information and coloring pages (located approximately ½ way down page)

http://www.lucylearns.com/kids-activity-pages-free-coloring-sheets-free-kid-clip-arts-sitemap.html

A cartoon pirate to color

http://www.coloringpage.org/pirate/pirate-coloring-page.html

Here's a pirate for the smallest of buccaneers!

http://homeschooling.about.com/library/colorp3.pdf

Here's a link to some pirate coloring pages

http://parenting.leehansen.com/downloads/coloring/pirates-coloring.htm

Pirate books of interest

The books listed below are books which span many age groups and reading levels. From preschool, pre-reader, early reader and on to chapter books as well as more advanced, the list has something for everyone. Along with the titles and authors of said books, is included a link to at least one bookseller who has said book in stock. Of course, these books can be found at many book sellers and in fact many are easily obtainable at large package stores such as TARGET and WAL MART as well as online. The links given are simply meant to add a bit more information for the reader should an interest be shown for any of the books listed, a convenience of sorts for the busy parent or overseer of a busy pirate child.

Pirates by John Matthews

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781416927341&itm=1

Everything I know about Pirates by Tom Lichtenheld

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780689860096&itm=1

Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780679824251&itm=1

Pirates: A Nonfiction Companion to Pirates past Noon (Magic Tree House Research Guide Series) William and Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780375802997&itm=25

Pirates by Dina Anastasio, Donald Cook (Illustrator)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780448414942&itm=2

Do Pirates Take Baths? By Kathy Tucker
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780807516973&itm=1

Scooby Doo and the Sunken Ship by James Gelsey

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780590819176&itm=1

The Curse of the Black Pearl by Irene Tremble

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780736421713&itm=4

The Coming Storm (Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack Sparrow Series #1) by Rob Kidd

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781423100188&itm=5

The Siren Song (Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack Sparrow Series #2) by Rob Kidd

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781423100195&pwb=1&z=y

The Pirate Chase (Pirates of the Caribbean Series #3) by Rob Kidd

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781423100201&pwb=1&z=y

The Sword of Cortes (Pirates of the Caribbean), Vol. 4

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781423100614&pwb=1&z=y

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long, David Shannon (Illustrator)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780152018481&itm=6

Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke, Kerstin Meyer (Illustator)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780439716727&itm=8

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: The Storybook by Catherine Mc Cafferty

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781423100256&itm=13

Pirates of the Caribbean: the Visual Guide by Richard Black, Herry Brickheimer

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780756620646&itm=12

Pirateology by William Captain Lubber, William Lubber, Helen Ward, (Illustrator), Ian Andrew, (Illustrator), Anne Yvonne Gilbert (Illustrator)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780763631437&itm=19

Dead Man's Chest by Irene Trimble

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781423100249&itm=20

The Great Pirate Activity Book

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Pirate-Activity-Book/dp/1856975789/sr=8-17/qid=1159721869/ref=sr_1_17/002-8480459-5813646?ie=UTF8&s=books

Pirate School (All aboard reading level 2...ages 6-8)

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-School-Aboard-Reading-Level/dp/0448411326/sr=8-41/qid=1159721981/ref=sr_1_41/002-8480459-5813646?ie=UTF8&s=books

Shiver me Letters, a Pirate ABC (Hardcover)
http://www.amazon.com/Shiver-Me-Letters-Pirate-ABC/dp/0152167323/sr=8-47/qid=1159722060/ref=sr_1_47/002-8480459-5813646?ie=UTF8&s=books

Now that you have the basics to keep your pirate kiddo happy on the most blustery of days, what's stopping you? Get cracking there matey and begin checking out the above mentioned sites. I promise you your pirate lad or lassie will thank you for it and if truth be known, you'll be the one thanking yourself when you have a happy pirate around instead of a pirate on the prowl! Have fun and enjoy your pirate while he's young...they grow up far too fast don't ya know!