Most household injuries involving small children occur in the bathroom and kitchen.
By never allowing my toddlers into the kitchen we avoided any kitchen incidents.
As they began to crawl, I would calmly and consistently turn then away from the entrance to the kitchen with a quiet but firm"That's a no". I would simply pick them up and return them to the other side of the lounge room that contained their toys. One child needed three reminders, another three days worth, and another about three weeks of patient training before they understood that the kitchen was off limits.
As they grew, they enjoyed special baking, mixing and creating times with mum in the kitchen, never alone.
As they grew a little more, they enjoyed learning how to put simple meals together and how to manage basic chores.
Now every week they each cook a whole family meal - and clean up!!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Games Games
What can I do with my toddler all day?
One of the most enjoyable times of my day with my toddler was our special one-on-one time.
My toddler enjoyed having mummy play with him, and I enjoyed all the teaching opportunintes I could incorporate into this time, as well as all the hugs, tickles and kissess!
Puzzles were a daily event. Starting with the wooden ones, and moving to the cardboard framed type which we would do line by line. I would take out the bottom row for a week, the the bottom two rows the next, and so on, until my 18 month old could manage 48 or 64 piece puzzles.
Memory games were another favourite. We would start with 4 cards, then 6, then 8 and by age 3 they could manage the full set. Flash cards were fun for lining up, repeating and sorting. Blocks were great for tunnels and towers, as well as teaching colours and counting. Cars and trains were just for fun, although focusing and concentrating skills were developed as we would put together the train set, or move all the cars into the parking station.
Hide-n-seek, chasings, races, musical marching band, dancing, tunnel (made from sheets and blankets) play, play wrestling were all active games greatly enjoyed by us both, especially on rainy indoor days!!
One of the most enjoyable times of my day with my toddler was our special one-on-one time.
My toddler enjoyed having mummy play with him, and I enjoyed all the teaching opportunintes I could incorporate into this time, as well as all the hugs, tickles and kissess!
Puzzles were a daily event. Starting with the wooden ones, and moving to the cardboard framed type which we would do line by line. I would take out the bottom row for a week, the the bottom two rows the next, and so on, until my 18 month old could manage 48 or 64 piece puzzles.
Memory games were another favourite. We would start with 4 cards, then 6, then 8 and by age 3 they could manage the full set. Flash cards were fun for lining up, repeating and sorting. Blocks were great for tunnels and towers, as well as teaching colours and counting. Cars and trains were just for fun, although focusing and concentrating skills were developed as we would put together the train set, or move all the cars into the parking station.
Hide-n-seek, chasings, races, musical marching band, dancing, tunnel (made from sheets and blankets) play, play wrestling were all active games greatly enjoyed by us both, especially on rainy indoor days!!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, January 28, 2008
eXtreme eXcitement
Plan and enjoy moments of excitement for your toddlers.
Our teens still fondly recall the 'midnight' snacks which involved a 30 cents icecream drive-thru (only ten minutes after they had been put to bed) but quite dark in winter!
The inside picnics for dinner on the lounge room floor was also a highlight.
Most exciting of all was being allowed to sleep in their makeshift tent of blankets and sheets in the lounge room, with dad for safety!
Treasure hunts (with pictures as clues) to find a gift, sock wars, trains, tea parties, obstacle courses for ride-ons or prams and new arts and crafts are so special to your toddler.
Excitement and fun that is long remembered and cherished.
Our teens still fondly recall the 'midnight' snacks which involved a 30 cents icecream drive-thru (only ten minutes after they had been put to bed) but quite dark in winter!
The inside picnics for dinner on the lounge room floor was also a highlight.
Most exciting of all was being allowed to sleep in their makeshift tent of blankets and sheets in the lounge room, with dad for safety!
Treasure hunts (with pictures as clues) to find a gift, sock wars, trains, tea parties, obstacle courses for ride-ons or prams and new arts and crafts are so special to your toddler.
Excitement and fun that is long remembered and cherished.
Nightly Nightmares
The first thing to look at is your daily schedule. Do you have a balanced, flexible routine that includes focus time with mum and independent play opportunities? Is the toddler receiving adequate naps and healthy meals and snacks? Is the daily environment peaceful and calm or noisy and disorderly?
Next look at possible sources of fear.Books, TV, movies, unexplained situations, words or actions of older sibling, children or even adults that can be misconstrued.
Role play how your child could respond to their fear. We would give our toddler something to do (eg turn on a night light or have a sip of water), something to say (eg one siple phrase or one sentence prayer) and something to think ( a new dream about butterflies and flowers or bears and trucks.
This will help you nip this issue in the bud before it develops into a sleep problem. More importantly you are giving your precious little one the skills and self-control to hande their fears.
Next look at possible sources of fear.Books, TV, movies, unexplained situations, words or actions of older sibling, children or even adults that can be misconstrued.
Role play how your child could respond to their fear. We would give our toddler something to do (eg turn on a night light or have a sip of water), something to say (eg one siple phrase or one sentence prayer) and something to think ( a new dream about butterflies and flowers or bears and trucks.
This will help you nip this issue in the bud before it develops into a sleep problem. More importantly you are giving your precious little one the skills and self-control to hande their fears.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Holiday Hiccups
Holidays are busy, crazy times.
Lifelong memory makers.
Enjoy the moment with family and friends.
Relax your routine and your expectations,
especially if relatives are visitng from afar.
I would keep nap times in place (nicer for all!)
but tried to be flexble as needed with most
other 'usuals' in my toddler's day.
Once life is back to normal, it will only take a
week (or three!) to get tehm back on track.
The memories are worth it.
Lifelong memory makers.
Enjoy the moment with family and friends.
Relax your routine and your expectations,
especially if relatives are visitng from afar.
I would keep nap times in place (nicer for all!)
but tried to be flexble as needed with most
other 'usuals' in my toddler's day.
Once life is back to normal, it will only take a
week (or three!) to get tehm back on track.
The memories are worth it.
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