Two Weeks With Your Toddler: Are You ready???

As we head into a new universal experience; the next 2 weeks present a challenge for parents, grandparents and caretakers everywhere as we work together towards a healthier and safe environment for everyone.

With that in mind listen up:

You got this!

You can do this and with consistency, routine and some new ideas, the next 2 weeks might very well be a time you will always treasure. So grab your glass of wine, or maybe some coffee and cake and follow me…

Think about beginning the day with some Free Play:

Whatever set up you have in your home, think about creating some centers. You could have toys as you usually do; but look at your playroom or play area differently over the next 2 weeks. When toys are easily seen, children can get into play more efficiently. It is easier to choose and to play independently.

Some center ideas are: A bucket of blocks, books lined up on a lower shelf, a small table with crayons and paper, an area with kitchen items…you get the idea. Each day bring out one thing that is different, so you don’t have to buy anything new, just put away some toys and add some that are already in your home.

To increase curiosity and play you can also have a “what’s new table”. This simply means that each day a new activity, toy or item is showcased on the table. This creates new interest for old things.

The “What’s New Table”

Allow and encourage this free play concept for as long as your individual child or children are content. (This is truly different in each family) It also gives you time for that first coffee or tea of the day!

Sing a clean- up song while they help you put all the toys away. If you want a child to help you clean, be very specific. “You pick up the yellow blocks and I’ll pick up the red ones. “You pick up the books and I can pick up the trucks.” This helps children to feel less overwhelmed and tend to the task. If they pick up one item, thank them for helping you take care of the home, think “team building”.

It’s time to get ready for the special activity of the day.

Here are a few suggestions:

  • Sticker and stamping either in a book or on a box you happen to have lying around
  • Streamers and popsicle sticks: Attach to the sticks and they can fly around the room to music, make them go up and down…
  • Feathers in a bucket, make it rain feathers and then they pick them up and put them back in bucket- count to 5 and make it rain again. *This activity is a 12-24 -month old crowd pleaser!
  • Feelings Book: One of my favorite things to do. This is so good for helping children identify their emotions and it is a lot of fun.  Put together a bunch of pictures that show a whole range of emotions, you can put them in a photo album. You can cut them in advance and then as you show each picture to your children, they can help you glue them into a book. Together you will have made your very own Feeling Book.
  • What’s in the bag: Here is an all- time good laugh and very exciting for young children.  Put an object in a bag. Children should not be able to see inside. Tell them they can hold the bag, shake the bag, smell the bag, put the bag on their head but…they can’t peek inside. They need to guess what is in there. After guessing, you can tell them to close their eyes (no peeking) as you place another object inside the bag and play it again.
  • Water Play: Are you brave enough for water outside the tub? Standing at the kitchen sink (for those who have a toddler tower) can be a lot of fun. Squeezing sponges, filling measuring cups and spoons and you have a brilliant activity. Just be sure to have at least 2 big towels. Don’t be fearful, it is totally worth it!

What sinks and what floats: For those who don’t have the tower, a large tub at a table where children can play “what sinks and what floats”. Find the items around that will demonstrate this amazing concept. Some examples would be feathers, a sponge, a toy car, and whatever else you can find. Put in a few ice cubes and then you have a science experiment!

Cleaning with Sponges: Midway through the morning everyone is ready for a snack. Before eating, hand your child a special cleaning sponge and allow them to clean the table. Hand washing and cleaning are also an important part of the routine.

After snack, it is time for outdoor play if the weather allows for that and you are in the mood!

Remember that it is developmentally appropriate for a child to “stop and smell the flowers” and so if they notice a tiny rock on the ground, then discover that with them. Puddles are great for jumping in and so going on a “puddle hunt” is a great activity.

As you head into the lunch hour, children can help prepare even if it means mashing a potato. Allowing a 2- year old to pour and stir is life changing! You can also give your child a one cup measuring cup and have them pour from that into their own cup. This is a great fine motor experience and a real self-esteem booster.

If you aren’t venturing into the great outdoors, then it’s time to turn up the music.

You can dance, practice ballet movements, walk on tippy-toes or crawl on the floor. It’s also fun to set up chairs and pretend you are on an airplane or on a train and wave to the crowds. Put on your seat belts and press all the buttons (children love buttons) and then take off to far away lands. My personal favorite is riding the train and going for ice cream! All within the confines of your playroom! Have you ever taken off in a spaceship, walked on the moon and then come home to cheering crowds?

Exhausted, thankful it is lunch time and then off to nap. Hopefully you will have a couple of hours to rejuvenate.

After nap and the usual snack, it is time once more to get creative. You might need some screen time but if you do, be sure it is something you watch together and be on hand to make comments, point out what they are seeing, making it interactive.

Here are a few more activities:

  • The Screaming Box: Decorate a cardboard box. Everyone might need it as the days progress. It is okay to place a scream inside a box and then move on.
  • Bath timecan be a great way to pass the time, go for it.
  • Picture Frames: If you want to make your own picture frames, children can help by gluing popsicle sticks together.
  • “Bumblemoms” Check out this group on Facebook created by Tami Zuckerman. There are over 2300 members and they post so many amazing ideas.
  • Celebrate the Family Meal: Since this will be remembered as a special time together where everyone helped the planet to be healthy, it is a perfect time to celebrate the family meal. If you have some picture frames around, children can create art and frame them to be put on the dinner table.
  • Flower arrangements: A nice idea is to buy some dried flowers and the foam blocks used for flower arrangements. It is super easy for children to glue on shiny paper or stickers and stick the flowers in for a beautiful arrangement. Have some different dishes if you can on some days and on other days put a tablecloth on the table just to dress things up. Children love to help in the kitchen so be brave, hand them a spoon and get to work in any way you can.

As the day comes to an end, talk about the best parts of the day and what to look forward to tomorrow.

Remember that consistency and routine will help everyone survive the day. Mean what you say and follow through, children feel so safe and loved with rules and boundaries and most of all firm but fair guidance. If you need any help, if you need behavior tips to manage the day, don’t hesitate to write in, we are here to walk through the next 2 weeks with you.

Do you want my all – time favorite play-dough recipe, better and more lasting than anything you’ll buy in the store? Send me a message and I’ll send it your way!

Cheers!  Sharyn

 

Coming soon: How to turn The Very Hungry Caterpillar story by Eric Carle into an amazing activity your toddlers will love!

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Celebrating Cousins

Have you ever thought about a cousin who has helped shape your life in some way? Do you have fond memories of playing together? Remember the days when your relatives came visiting with cousins in tow and suddenly the day shaped up to be more exciting? It was like having an instant day camp in your home!

CousinsI always thought that my cousins had better toys than I did and so visiting them was as satisfying as a trip to the toy store, even if I didn’t get to bring anything home. A visit to my cousins meant new adventures, playing in ways I didn’t do at home. Like spending endless hours creating a “show”, something we could then present to the adult audience- our aunts and uncles.

My cousins had a beautiful bannister that was so much fun to slide down. We didn’t have a bannister like that and if we did I am sure the rule in our house would be no sliding down the bannister!

Is there a significant one who has achieved sibling status? The one that you stayed close to through all the significant “firsts” in life, who has seen you at your best and worst moments and still admires you anyway?

We read plenty of articles offering insight and advice about siblings, birth order, one child families, blended families and broken ones too. When was the last time you read about the value of having a cousin?

Some of the people I grew up with weren’t actually cousins by birth but were called cousins simply because of their important place within our family. This was completely acceptable and looking back, I would not trade them for anything.

Why cousins make a difference in your children’s lives:

  • Cousins extend your family. We all want to know our children have as much support and love as possible and cousins offer that, sometimes in many different places in the world. When my eldest was traveling to the Arctic, he drove there from Montreal. My cousin in Edmonton was a much needed stop along the way. How relieved I was to know he would have a hot shower and a steak! They enjoyed each other so much he stayed an extra day.
  • Cousins bring in another dynamic of social play. Children are exposed to the importance of co-operation and acceptance within a larger variety of ages. There are new challenges as everyone grows and the dynamics of personalities come into play. These are valuable hands on learning experiences. We have a tendency to be on top of how our children are playing or socializing. While we do want to be available, it is also of great value to allow children to work things through. Some of my best growing years came from the hours we were left to play in the “extension room” of our house in the Laurentians. Today we still refer to it as “the back room”.
  • Cousins make family gatherings so much more fun and interesting. As a child my holiday memories are irreplaceable. Today we are making memories for our own children through every holiday and event. Think about the people you may be inviting over during this season or any other and if you have included cousins for your children. Go for it, you won’t be sorry and your children will thank you one day!
  • Cousins can bring siblings closer together. If you have a big age difference like I do (my sister and I are 7 years apart) children close that gap easily. My children and their cousins have given my sister and I endless years of memories together.
  • Cousins experience a lot of the same losses that you do. So if a Grandma gets sick or passes away, you can share this grief with a cousin. Again, children’s support system is increased.
  • Cousins give you something to look forward to. There is something very special about attending a wedding when you are surrounded by relatives. Dancing with cousins is definitely an advantage. You can be silly and they will laugh along with you.
  • Cousins are like first best friends. They know your food preferences; share the same joy for Grandma’s chocolate cake or Bubby’s chicken soup. They have details about your life and your other relatives that no one else is privy to.

If your child is a cousin, let them know that they can feel really good about that. Teach them about that title and the privileges and responsibilities of a cousin. Share your own cousin stories with them and role model so that they can be proud to be somebody’s cousin.

I am so glad that I am a cousin. Recently my cousin Heather and her family came to stay with us for a few days. In the time we had together, we retold many stories, sometimes more than once, shared our passions, our beliefs, our businesses, our children and most of all ourselves. No conditions, no judgements attached. Just pure joy in being with someone who understands you, who knows where you have been, what you have accomplished and is 100% invested in who you are today.

 

 

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