Toddlers and car trips

In and out of the car.

In and out.

In and out.

Here and there.

There and here.

How many times?

No idea!

What to do with this time?

Whatever you like!

We had music time during our car trips as it

- kept arguing to a minimal
- aided the learning of verses and virtues through song
- developed an appreciation for music
- minimised the problems with toys and books falling onto the floor
- allowed me to concentrate on driving safely
- disguised my dreadful singing ability!

Cars and Toddler Tip

A great tip shared by a mum of twins:

When she was popping her twins in and out of the car she would have them stand with both hands on the side of the car while they were waiting.

This enabled mum to carefully secure one twin at a time in their car seats and kept them both safe.


So simple and yet so effective.

Psalm 1

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

nor sit in the seat of scoffers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and in his law he meditates day and night.

 

And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in season,

and its leaf does not wither;

and in whatever he does he prospers.

 

The wicked are not so,

but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

 

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

 

 

 

Who should lead your day?

Who should lead your day?

Who has the most
                             life experience,
                                                      wisdom
                                                                    and ability?

Is it sensible for the most capable one to gently lead the least capable one?

For example,

Is it the adult or the toddler who best understands the importance of;

regular meals and a balanced diet for optimal physical development?

regular naps and sleep habits for optimal all-round health?

time outside each day to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and to develop gross-motor skills?

focused table activites to develop concentration, sitting and fine-motor skills?

independent play time each day to develop self-play adeptness?

daily reading of books to develop the love of literature?

quiet times for refreshing the spirit?

teaching heart virtues each day to develop an adult with strong character?

Lead kindly,
                     respectfully, 
                                          consistently,
                                                               gently
                                                                          and lovingly.

Verbal Freedom

 

 

 

"Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body,

but it makes great boasts.

Consider what a great forest is set alight by a small spark.

The tongue also is a fire,

 a world of evil among the parts of the body.

It corrupts the whole person,

sets the whole course of his life on fire,

and is itself set on fire by hell."

James 3:5,6.

 

Teaching our precious little ones to control their words is one of our most important parenting tasks.

It is a long, long, long process.

 

From

gently discouraging the squealing in the high chair (with a finger on their lips to show quiet)

to

showing them the beauty of quietness (with independent play times each day)

to

helping them greet people politely (with lots of role play practice)

to

teaching them how to show kindness with their words (using the five love languages)

to

responding calmly and consistently to their disapproval of our decisions  (with a few minutes of isolation) 

to

firmly administrating logical consequences for inappropriate expressions of anger (that are age and context appropriate)

to

dealing with attitude (with loss of privileges)

to

helping them understand the power of words to build up or destroy (through a study of Bible verses) 

to

seeing words as a gift from God to love others well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can I do with my two year old all day?

10. Enjoy heart training

* kindness

* patience

* helpfulness

* obedience

* quietness

* orderliness

* perseverence

* gentleness

* love

What can I do with my two year old all day?

9. Enjoy family fun


* play hide-n-seek

* play chasings and tips

* have midnight snacks

* enjoy imaginative games and role plays

* play sock wars

* share adventure stories

* visit parks, reserves, lakes and beaches

* enjoy cafes and restaurants

* movie afternoons

* sing and dance to music
.

What can I do with my two year old all day?

8. Enjoy food fun

* have outdoor and indoor picnics for meals or snacks

* bake cakes and muffins together

* make yoghurt ice blocks and frozen fruit pieces for Summer fun

* visit a cafe

* eat in the cubby house ( outside or a temporary indoor one)

* shop at the green grocer, butcher, baker and fish shop

* pick fruit together

* plan and prepare simple meals with your toddler's full involvement

* make faces or shapes from finger foods for a fun plate

* enjoy a 'midnight' feast or drive-through ice-cream run (20 minutes after bedtime)

What can I do with my two year old all day?

7. Enjoy learning fun.

* teach the A B C's - through songs and cards

* teach the 1, 2, 3's - through counting in everyday tasks and play

* teach shapes - through games and play

* teach colours - through everyday activities and reading

* teach the names of zoo and farm animals - through books and DVD's

* teach the seasons and weather - on walks and excursions

* teach sorting and patterns - when playing and packing up

* teach colouring - with crayons, paints, pencils, calk and felt tips

* teach sticking, pasting and cutting - with activity books and catalogues

* teach songs and rhymes - through CD's, DVD's and singing together



What can I do with my two year old all day?

6. Enjoy doing household tasks together.

* setting the table (starting with plastic plates and cups before moving onto china crockery)

* sorting the clean washing (starting with small items and moving to bigger ones)

* weeding together (or giving them their own little patch of garden to care for)

* washing the car together - great fun in Summer!

* packing up after each activity throughout the day to teach orderliness.

* sweeping together (at first they make more mess, but eventually they are a help)

* taking an active part in shopping with counting objects and naming colours of labels etc

* making their bed (the standard will gradually improve over time if you keep encouraging)

* dusting together (especially if they have their own colourful duster to use each time)

* 'helping' with the fixing of broken bits (with their own small hammer and nails and wood blocks).

What can I do with my two year old all day?

5. Enjoy inside play

* play hide-n-seek

* enjoy dress up fun

* dance together

* play chasings

* play matching and sorting games

* make a cubby house out of sheets 

* play Simon Says

* role plays and acting out stories

* sing action songs together

* play sock wars - our family favourite!

What can I do with my two year old all day?

4. Enjoy music


* play instruments

* sit and do action songs together

* dress up and dance to music (great on rainy days!)

* watch music DVDs

* make up songs about you toddler to sing to him/her

* have songs for different parts of the day e.g. a bath time song, a getting dressed song

* make home made instruments (see the internet for lots of ideas)

* have a certain type of music playing during room play each day
e.g. one mum I knew would play classical music during this time

* if you are even a little bit musically talented (not me!) you could record your
playing and singing for a tape for times when one of you is away or for free play time

* have a disc of gentle bedtime music for a relaxing way to end the day.

What can I do with my two year old all day?

3. Read Books

Have time each day for enjoying books.

* reading quietly in bed before the wake up song begins the day with hugs and tickles

* individual reading time after 1 each day - start with 1 - 2 mins and build up to 10 - 15 mins

* enjoying snuggly one-to-one reading time just before naps each day

* have a sibling  'read'  to another sibling

* have a book or two in room play each day

* have books available during free play times

* plastic books are great for bath time play

* family reading times

* audio and interactive books

*sticker and activity books

What can I do with my two year old all day?

2. Enjoy table play.

Having one or two short times of 'sitting' play each day
will help your child develop focusing and concentrating skills.
They will be cultivating self-control and many fine motor skills too.


* playdoh

* sticker books

* wooden puzzles

* pegs

* crayons

* books

* farm or zoo animals

* mini keyboard

* duplo

* stacking toys

. . . and many more!

What can I do with my two year old all day?

1. Explore the outdoors.

* every day

Plan an outdoor time each day. In Summer we had this early in the morning

or late in the afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day. In Winter it would be more in the late morning to make the most of the Winter sun.

* 60 minutes a day

We aimed for an hour a day. My boys often loved being outside twice a day.

Some days we spent most of the day outside, on other days it would be a 20 or 30 minute time, depending on the weather.

* outside toys

Often they played outside on their own with bats and balls, sand and sand toys, bikes and scooters. The trampoline was often a popular choice for fun. Sometimes I would join them and enjoy simply playing together, other times I would be pottering in the garden and doing bits and pieces with them playing nearby.

* outdoor craft

Sometimes I'd organise an outdoor craft activity with paint and huge sheets of paper for them to create monster size pictures.

* cardboard box fun

Sometimes we had a large cardboard box which would lend itself to all sorts of imaginative play.

* water play

In Summer we would fill a small wading pool for hours of water fun. A bucket of water with a large paintbrush provided hours of fun 'painting' the fence. A small tub of water with a few containers from the pantry is great 'pouring and filling' fun.
 

In Winter we would rug up and walk in the windy weather. On rainy days we would pop gumboots on and splash in the puddles. A few times we even made mudpies - with a warm bath straight afterwards!

* nature play

Sometimes they would find a snail to observe - my little ones loved to simply lie on their tummies and watch them for ages!

* building fun

Sometimes they enjoyed creating with a stack of wood off-cuts - building bridges and roads and garages for their outdoor cars and trucks.

* parks and picnics

Sometimes we would walk to the park for a play on the equipment or a very simply picnic with another family.

* walking time

 

Sometimes we would walk slowly around the nearby streets with no destination in mind, simply observing and exploring.

Parenting Personality

So, understanding your own personality,

and that of each of your children

 is so helpful in the parenting journey.

It is helpful to understand their motivations,

 reactions and choices through this lens.

The aim is not to put them into boxes,

or to excuse any forms of choices,

but rather to see personality types as a way

 to help you wisely guide the heart training of each individual

 who has been entrusted to your care. 

Enjoy their uniqueness!!!

Goal of Parenting

Tedd Tripp:


If the goal of parenting is no more profound than securing appropriate behavior, we will never help our children understand the internal things, the heart issues, that push and pull behavior.

Those internal issues: self-love, rebellion, anger, bitterness, envy, and pride of the heart show our children how profoundly they need grace. If the problem with children is deeper than inappropriate behavior, if the problem is the overflow of the heart, then the need for grace is established.

Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life and died as an infinite sacrifice so that children (and their parents) can be forgiven, transformed, liberated and empowered to love God and love others.

When we miss the heart, we miss the glory of God. The need of children (or adults) who have fallen into various forms of personal idolatry is not only to tear down the high places of the alien gods, but to enthrone God.

Children are spring-loaded for worship. One of the most important callings God has given parents is to display the greatness, goodness, and glory of the God for whom they are made.

Parents have the opportunity, through word and deed, to show children the one true object of worship—the God of the Bible.

We know that the greatest delights our children can ever experience are found in delighting in the God who has made them for his glory.



Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child's Heart (Shepherd Press, 2005), xii.

Phlegmatic - let's do it the easy way!

Phlegmatics desire to avoid conflict.  They are characterised with an even disposition, balanced and pleasing personality, contentment, kindness, diplomacy and a steady strength.

They can tend to lack decisiveness, enthusiasm and energy and avoid conflict at all costs. They have a hidden will of iron.

As leaders they tend to keep calm, cool and collected and don't make impulsive decisions. They are recognised by their calm approach and relaxed posture.

They are afraid of having to be the one to make decisions or major changes. They get depressed when life is full of conflict. They react to stress by tuning out.

Parents of phlegmatics need to not rush theses children and teach them to take initiative.

Melancholy - let's do it the right way!

The melancholy has the ability to organise, can set long range goals and has high ideals. They analyze deeply and complete tasks well and on time.

Melancholy types can be easily depressed as they remember the negatives and tend to be suspicious of others. They usually overprepare and become too focused on details.

As leaders they organise well, are sensitive to others, are deeply creative and want quality performance. They are afraid of making a mistake, having their feelings misunderstood and having to compromise standards.

They get depressed when life is out of order and when standards aren't met. Then they intend to withdraw, give up, get depressed and cry.

Melancholy nature is serious and sensitive and enjoys private time.

Parenting this type needs to focus on helping them get thier emotions under control and to speak words of life to others. It is also important that they have an area of their own that can be tidy and right.  

Choleric - let's do it my way!

The strength of the choleric is their ability to take charge, to make quick, correct judgements and to be goal oriented. They desire to have control and are full of ambition, energy and passion.

Weakness include the tendency to be bossy, insensitve, quick to anger, impatient and unwilling to delegate. They can be unwilling to give credit to others.

They have a natural feel for what we work and sincerely believe they can achieve. Their greatest fear is losing control of everything.

Choloerics get depressed life is out of control and when people won't do things their way. They react to stress by tightening control, working harder and yelling.

They are recognised by their fast moving approach to life, self-confidence and a restless attitude.

Parents of the choleric child need to ensure the chid has an area they can be in control of (e.g. one section of the yard, a portion of their toys) and will need to focus on self-control training.

Instructions need to be calm, firm (unmoving) and non emotional.

Sanguine - let's do it the fun way!

One of the many helpful talks from the recent Growing Families National Conference was called "What in the World Are They Thinking?: Understanding Temperaments".

Temperament refers to your God-given, inborn, emotional and behavioural pre-dispositions or inclinations.
It doesn't change.
Personality and character however can be altered by life experiences, environment etc.

Sanguines are extroverted, people oriented types, who love to have fun.

They are characterised by talking and a bubbling personality. They inspire and charm and recharge by having social time.

Sanguines can be disorganised, late and prone to exaggeration. They are worried about being unpopular or bored.

They are recognised by their loud volume and bright eyes.

To parent a sanguine child, provide lots of social interaction, time for talking and music for background when they are focusing and concentrating on a task.

Enjoy this God-given personality!

Chore Time for Mums - by Belinda Letchford

My kids do a lot of household chores – between the four of them


they keep the kitchen, bathroom, family room clean and tidy, they


do the family laundry and look after outside chores as well. They


are totally responsible for their own bedroom and ironing. They


each cook a few evening meals a month.






What is left for me to do you may ask!






My main responsibility is to train them in their responsibilities.


I may not be doing much of the actual chores, but I am training.


*Training in and of itself is a chore – it is my job every day. *






There is a downside to this though – your house may not look like


you wish it did, it won’t look like a magazine cover. As


homemakers ourselves, we have to come to a place of contentment


– that our home is a training ground, it isn’t a showcase.






When my kids were little I of course did these tasks, but I had my


children working alongside of me; learning, not only the skills,


the how-to, but also the heart for work, for serving and for being


a team. Doing household chores is a very good heart training


ground. If we aren’t careful though we forget the heart and just


get the house clean.






So the important things to teach are:


-A heart for work – a work ethic, and an ability to do the tasks


-A heart to serve others – we live in this house together - we do


each other’s laundry, we wash each other’s plates, we clean the


bathroom so it is nice for the next person.


-A heart for the family – we are a team and we work together, play


together, and pray together.






As I have said in the past, a key motivator for me is that I want


my children to have the skills necessary to look after their own


responsibilities as an adult: their time, possessions, money, and


self. I also want them to have the skills necessary to look after


other people – to be able to help people outside of themselves.






It is important that we know, deep in our heart – that we are


convinced, *why* we are teaching our children these chores. Once I


know my ‘why’ I can start to work on ‘what’ I’m going teach,


‘when’, and ‘how’. If we don’t know why then we will feel bad when


our children challenge our decisions.






Training really is a full time job. Remember training our kids


involves


-Showing them how it is done – being a model


-Teaching them – breaking each skill down, talking it through,


-Letting them practice – don’t walk away and leave them to it


after you’ve taught them, continue to be by their side, guiding


and adjusting their efforts


-Let them be responsible – once they are doing a good job


consistently, walk away and let it be their responsibility –


don’t hover but do make them accountable. Get them to report back,


you go and check it and either praise them for a job well done, or


get them to repeat it if it hasn’t been done right.






Sometimes it is just easier to get in and get it done yourself –


but you are short changing your kids if you do this. Training is


emotionally draining as well as time consuming. But you and your


children will reap the benefits. If you want to increase what your


children are doing around the house – spend this week observing


all that you do and ask yourself the question – which one of your


children could do this task? Or - Which one of your children needs


training in this task? Take notes and start to prepare for a time


of training and adjustment. They may or may not need training,


they may need reminding and encouragement, but bit by bit get your


children to do the things you know they are capable of doing, then


move onto training them to do a little bit more.






As a wife and mother we wear many hats – now you can add Trainer


to the list!



Read more on Belinda's website:
” http://www.lifestyle-homeschool.com/

What Every Child should know Along the Way
is a very helpful book as it gives a list of household

responsibility (aka chores) that the authors consider age

appropriate. You may tweak them (as I have a little) but it does

give you a guide and a starting place. It also has a great section

on Character training.

Belinda blogs during the week over at Live life with your Kids Blog

http://livelifewithyourkids.wordpress.com/

.

Maybe This Year

Maybe This Year



2012 at 7:49 pm
by Nicole Whitacre


Filed under Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Growth


Each year we make New Year's resolutions for things we want to change, but we also have New Year's hopes for things we can't change, but wish we could. We long to receive certain desires of our heart that seem elusively out of reach. And maybe, just maybe, we will see those hopes fulfilled this year.

When I was single, I hoped for a husband. Maybe this year, he will come. I imagined myself married by the following New Year, or at least engaged. Maybe the New Year was holding my future husband in the wings. God eventually gave me an amazing husband, but new hopes still sprang up with each New Year's Day. When we lived in a teeny apartment, I wanted to move to a bigger place. When I experienced secondary infertility, I wanted to have another child. Maybe this year.

I'm sure you have hopes for this year. They are probably whatever you are thinking about right now.

But in her book, Keep A Quiet Heart, Elisabeth Elliot encourages us to focus on the most important of New Year's hopes:

“Will the young woman find a mate? Will the couple have a child? Maybe this year will be the year of desire fulfilled. Perhaps, on the other hand, it will be the year of desire radically transformed, the year of finding, as we have perhaps not yet truly found, Christ to be the All-Sufficient One, Christ the ‘deep sweet well of Love’” (page 49, emphasis mine).

This year, let us ask God to dissolve all our hopes (however good they may be!) into a single hope: to know Christ and to be found in Him. May this be a year of desire radically transformed, a deeper, truer, knowing of Christ as our All-Sufficient One.

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8a).



Article taken from
girltalksblogs - conversations on biblical womanhood and other fun stuff.