Endless Energy

Do you have a bouncy, always moving toddler? They are a huge delight.

To manage all that energy, ensure that your daily schedule is balanced between short, quiet, sitting activities and long, outdoor, busy activities.

Twenty minutes of high chair activity time (this broken up into two activities like playdoh and drawing) could be followed by sixty to ninety minutes of outside play with balls, bats, a sandpit, bikes, skateboards, scooters, a swing set and a trampoline.

Making mud pies, bush (leaf and twig) stews, gardening, outside painting and 'large' craft projects, constructing spaceships and cubbies out of boxes and left over wood were some messy, fun activities outisde that also provided a creative outlet for this endless energy.

Caleb was quite happy with two outside playtimes each day, but Sam often needed three!

Attitude Actions

As mothers to toddlers, much of our day is cyclic.
Meals, cleaning, washing, toys out, toys in,
the same daily instructions over and over throughout the day.
This is not very exciting or motivating by itself.

However, when we see each part of the day
as an opportunity to train positive attitudes
and virtues into our child's heart, the whole day is meaningful.

Meal times can foster an attitude of thankfulness. Little tots can sign their "thanks", while toddlers can rote learn a simple thankyou phrase.

Packing up toys time can foster an attitude of orderliness and respect for the toys they own.

Chores time can foster an attitude of helpfulness, as even the toddler senses he is an important member of the family unit.

How you give instructions, and how you teach your child to respond (deliberate or unintentional training) can foster a spirit of cheerfulness (or the opposite).

And so on throughout the day.

Every day has multiple moments to teach attitude actions. Enjoy the journey!