Parenting Toddlers

For Christmas, we bought Peanut a LeapFrog Clickstart. Whenever I was doing work on the computer, she wanted to “work” too. (She espeically likes YouTube.) I thought a kid computer would be great - she’s a little young according to their age recommendation, but I thought she could struggle with it and learn better. Plus, it’d be around longer. Anyway, I decided on the Clickstart by LeapFrog. It’s a cute little computer. It plugs into your tv (buy an adapter too so you don’t have to use batteries). The keyboard is wireless, so you can sit with your toddler on the couch or the floor while she uses it.

The keyboard itself is really cute…looks like a dog and comes in green and pink. It comes with four games, two of which use the keyboard and two of which use the mouse. That’s my only problem with the computer. The mouse is really hard to use. I don’t mean only for two or three year olds…I had problems with it! The mouse pad is attached to the keyboard and is really small. Little hands that don’t have their coordination down have problems - the mousepad is smaller than a regular one you’d use on your own computer. It is hard to maneuver.

I thought the computer would sit and gather dust because both Peanut and I would get frustrated. She couldn’t handle the mouse well at all. But surprisingly, she kept at it. She sat in my lap at first. I put my hand on the mouse to control it and had her put hers on top of mine. This worked well. Now, a few months later, she can do the mouse games. It’s still tough for her and I wish the mouse pad was bigger, but she can play it on her own.

You can also buy other games to play on the Clickstart…Thomas the Train, Nemo, the Backyardigans, Dora, and others. I would love a Clifford or Curious George one - so hopefully, they’ll make more games.

You can buy Clickstart at Wal-Mart or other box stores or online. They’re easy to find and pretty affordable. They’re about $50, which is great if your toddler can use it for two or three years.
If your child is up for a challenge, I’d definately recommend this. At first, you’re going to have to spend a lot of time playing it with them…I had planned on turning it on for her and letting her play while I checked my email and things like that. That doesn’t really work. You need to be actively involved, especially until they get the mouse action down.

For those of us who live in the Northern part of the country, Winter is still in full force…it feels like January or February. My daughter has been looking forward to playing in the puddles for months, but they’re all frozen. So what can you do with your toddler to provide some fun indoors while waiting for Spring, or for you lucky people in other areas, while it rains or you just don’t want to go outside?

My friend Carrie gave me a deck of 52 activity cards that I can do with Peanut. I picked out five of my favorites - that can be done indoors.

*Goop. This requires a lot of mess tolerance, so a mat or a non-carpeted floor is great for this activity. You need cornstarch, water, spoon, food coloring, and a mixing bowl.

First, empty a box of cornstarch into a large dish or baking pan. Gradually add water, about one cup, until mixture starts dripping off a spoon. Add food coloring if you want. Adjust the consistency by adding either more water or more cornstarch.

The Goop should be runny when you try to pick it up but solid in the pan. You can form it into balls or pour it into cups. Playing with Goop is fun for kids, and stress-reducing for you. Playing with dough is a great tension reliever!! Get messy! Have fun!

*Silly Soup. You need a small cooking pot, plastic food and small toys, play bowls and spoons. My daugther loves to play tea party, and this is the next step up. You make soup with the above ingredients in her play kitchen or your real kitchen.

As she adds ingredients, “taste” the soup and comment…”Oh, this is good, but it could use another rubber duckie.”

Sit down and “eat” the soup together. Make sure you talk about how it’s pretend and fun and not for real eating. Toddlers are masters at the concept of pretend. Just in case, though, just make sure everything is clean!

*Freeze Dance. Physical activity can give you a real boost just when you need it, both physically and emotionally. Put on some songs (either toddler songs or appropriate non-swearing adult songs). Dance like crazy. Then pause the music and yell “FREEZE!” You can also use “Stop.” At first, pause in the same place in the song so she can learn to anticipate it as she practices the game and the concept. If you have a child-friendly CD player, she can pause it on you and yell “Freeze.”

You can use this in other situations once your toddler learns the “Freeze” idea and you need an immediate response. Like when she’s about to walk into the parking lot without looking first.

*ABC Album. Your toddler should be getting aquainted with letters. To help with this, you can make a personalized, special ABC album together. You need a permanent maker, photo album, or binder and cardstock, pictures and photos, and glue.

Use the marker to wirte each letter on a seperate page in the album or binder. Together, find a bunch of interesting pictures in magazines, newspapers, or your computer. If you have a lot of family pictures, use those too.

Place or glue each picture on the correct page. When you finish, you can read through it together. If they can associate a person or loved one or favorite animal with a letter, it helps them learn it. For Peanut, A is for Aunt Annie.

*Bedtime Book. For this, you’ll need a camera and a small photo album.

Take a picture of your toddler at every stage of his bedtime routine…picking up toys, brushing teeth, reading stories, turning on the nightlight, etc.

Arrange the photos in the album. Write each step next to the picture. You can make it story-like if you want. Your child will love being in a book!

Start your child’s bedtime routine by reading the book together. It will help ease him into knowing he’s going to bed soon.

A little more about books: you don’t even need a photo album or binder. When I was little, my sisters and I made a book for our little sister using a paper bag and some magazine pictures. Twenty years later, she still has the book. It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy. Kids will love it anyway. The important thing is that you can take what you have in your house and turn it into a fun activity.

I think we’ll give the ABC album a try today on this cold, cold first day of April! If you have any activities that your toddler enjoys, please let me know. Good luck and have fun.

I’m serious! Would you like to see your toddler on television teaching other toddlers how to do things? Check out the tv show that is going to be airing on Sprout this spring - coming weekends on the popular toddler channel from PBS is The Sharing Show!

The Sharing Show is a show that shows toddlers doing their favorite things. For instance, if your two year old daughter loves to help you bake cupcakes in the kitchen, grab a video camera and get it on tape! Mail it into the company and they may show your toddler on tv! As of now, VHS, DVD, or MiniDV has to be into the company by March 3, so go grab a video camera and start recording!

I have to admit, I have Sprout through DirecTV but I haven’t watched it yet! We just got it a few months ago when we changed or package and the kids were pretty set in their tv shows already, but now that I know about this program I’m going to make the time to check out more about the programming. I do know that the website has lots of fun stuff for your toddler to do, from games to activities.

You can find more, including the signed release that you have to send with the tape, here.

All toddlers love to cook in play kitchens, but did you know that you can also bring them into your real kitchen and make their day by allowing them to cook? I was always hesitant about allowing my children to help me cook. When I’m in the kitchen, its my way and that’s it. I relaxed one day, however, when my boy was constantly underfoot while I was cooking dinner. I was always trying to figure out new ways to get him to eat different foods, so I decided one day that I’d have him help me to make the easiest meal ever…

Pizza!! I do occasionally make homemade crust, but I decided that I would use pre-made crust this time. I picked up some of that “already made” crust in the cooler at the grocery store and I grabbed some toppings. I knew that he wouldn’t eat sauce, so I left that off. The first pizza he made consisted of mozarella cheese and bologna.

Yes, bologna.

But he made it, he helped me to put it in the oven, and he scarfed it down like there was no tomorrow. I couldn’t believe how well he ate it! Ever since then I have made it a habit to make pizza with my children every once in awhile. Making pizza not only helped us to get him to eat more things, but it helped me to relax about my kids helping in the kitchen. Now we make everything from dinners to desserts together!

Playing in a play kitchen is fine, but let your child experiment in the kitchen with you - I guarantee you’ll be surprised at how well they do!

Why is it that parents are always overscheduling their children? I know of a woman who has her son (who is in elementary school) in every afterschool program available, keeping him busy until 5 p.m. every night, and then into Tae Kwon Do two nights a week. Her toddler is in daycare while she works, and then has a gymboree class on the nights that her brother doesn’t have Tae Kwon Do. These guys are constantly running around, and every time I talk to her older child he says how tired he is.

How come parents believe that their children have to have some activity to fill up their every waking moment? Children do not necessarily need something to do every day! They need quality time to spend with their parents, as well as with their siblings. Toddlers especially need a lot of sleep and a lot of cuddle time. If a toddler, or any child for that matter, spends too much time on other activities, they will be tired, cranky, and may have behavioral problems.

Is it alright to put your toddler in an activity or two? Absolutely - but if they have more activities scheduled than they do cuddle and chill-out time, you might want to rethink your schedule a bit.

We headed out on Saturday to drive 3 hours to Maine. We were going to pick up our two newest family members - two Alaskan Malamute puppies we have named Takaani and Kamik. Wha was I worried about? THE DRIVE. I hadn’t taken the kids on a drive that was over an hour and a half one way…well…ever! Like many parents, I shy away a bit from doing things that will thoroughly break up our routine, and I was worried about what would happen when we took our 7 year old and our 3 1/2 year old on a car ride. Turns out that it was a great family adventure for all. Here are a few tips for bringing your toddler on the road with you.

Pack a toy bag - when you’re going on a long trip with your toddler, let them pack a bag full of toys that they can enjoy in the car. Crayons, makers, and coloring books are always a plus, and stuffed animals can have tons of usage in a car, from being something to snuggle with to being makeshift puppets!

Lots of snacks - even if you plan on stopping to eat, make sure you put some snacks and some drinks in the car. You never know when a toddler, or any child, for that matter, will become hungry. Try to bring small snacks that do not cause too much of a mess or are easily cleanable, such as cracker, granola bars, and raisins. And water is always a good thing for a drink, as it will keep them hydrated and it is very easily cleanable.

Video games - our children each have their own Gameboy Advance, and the ONLY time they get to play it is in the vehicle if we have to go for a long car ride. It gives them something to enjoy and is the perfect way to make things quiet for awhile. If your toddler isn’t big enough for video games yet, think about investing in a portable DVD player for those trips that seem to be endless.

Play car games - we played some great car games this weekend, from the rhyming game (one person chooses a word and the other rhymes with it, then you make up a silly sentence), to spot the color. We even did a bit of eye-spy, but we had to choose things that were in the car because it was constantly moving.

Talk about the destination - we discussed the puppies when we were about an hour away. We talked about how puppies act, how they like to play, and how they eat. We told the kids that we would need their help to teach the puppies how to be good in our home, and how to get along with everyone else. By the time we got there, the kids realized that they puppies were theirs to help train. Play up the destination a bit, but only when you are in fairly close proximity with your destination.

Potty time - no joking…we stopped five times total to allow our daughter to go potty. Be prepared to make some stops, and if you see a rest area about an hour or so after you’ve stopped last, you may want to stop and just try to go potty. It also gives everyone a chance to stretch out and to walk around a bit. If you will be going on a long trip where you may not have access to a bathroom (especially if you have a girl), you might want to invest in a portable potty. Make sure you bring along some water and some baby wipes to clean it out a bit when your toddler is done.

Have fun - bringing a toddler on the road can be a bit stressful, but I’ve always found that if you relax and try to enjoy it, your toddler will relax and enjoy it as well! We talked about the trip as an “adventure”. When we got home they were both excited to go to school and preschool so that they could tell their friends about the huge adventure we had on Saturday.

The puppies, however, are another adventure entirely…

So, do you celebrate Valentine’s day for your toddlers? My mother always celebrated Valentine’s day with me, and I’ve kept that tradition alive with my kids. Usually they get something small - this time around, however, they’re getting things a bit bigger…only because Daddy wanted to get Toad something so we had to equal it out with Babygirl. But in general, my children would get a cute little chocolate, such as a chocolate frog or a little box of kisses, and a small gift, like a stuffed animal. How about your children?

I do think that it’s great to do some Valentine’s day crafts with your little ones. At Babygirl’s preschool they made heart crafts - one of them has a large heart at the top, connected with a ribbon to a medium sized heart in the middle, and a small heart connected with another ribbon at the bottom. Yes - it’s a little heart mobile! Babygirl decorated each of the hearts and it is now hanging proudly in our kitchen. So what kind of Valentine’s day crafts can you do with your toddler?

Here are a few links for some good Valentine’s day craft sites for your toddler.

PomPom Heart
Dozens of different crafts for Valentine’s Day
A different heart mobile
Fold and Snip Valentines
Site full of activity ideas and little crafts - with videos

You can also make any time that you are home with your toddler during Valentine’s day a really special time. Here is a link to a site with tons of different little fun ideas. Make cupcakes and frost them with pink frosting - draw hearts all over the place! Have fun with it! There are plenty of Valentines day specials both on Nickelodeon as well as on Playhouse Disney scheduled for Thursday, so if you need a little break in order to make your loved one a special Valentine’s day dinner, you will have the perfect opportunity. Remember: just have fun. Valentine’s day should be a stress-free holiday where you all just enjoy each other and rejoice in the love that your family has for one another.

This evening the hubby and I have to head to the tax mans in order to pay our dues to the federal government once again. The only problem is that we’re going to a new tax man because I have NO idea how to do my own taxes now that I’m a freelance writer. This means that the kiddos are not coming with us. So where are they going?

Yup, Grandma and Grampa’s house. I’m one of those parents who believes that it is vital that your child interacts with your close friends and family. I don’t, however, believe that it is a good thing for your parents to be parents to your children. After all, they have earned the right to have their own lives. I do think, though, that it is good for your toddler to spend some time with Grammy and Grampa now and again. Usually my mother sees the kids once every couple of weeks and every three or four months or so they spend a night. I’d like it to be more, but it just hasn’t happened yet.

Tonight, though, Grammy is taking them for supper! She loves to feed them, and so it works out perfectly. They get to have a mid-week (or almost mid-week) treat, and we get to know that they’re having fun and getting a bit spoiled with Gram and Grampa while we are getting our taxes done. And I may just slide over to the store while they’re busy and grab a few little Valentine’s treats…more on Valentine’s day tomorrow!

A little mid-week treat for all of us!

I’m so sorry!! I had this HUGE post set to go about moving into a new home and tricks to try with your toddler, and then the entire site crashed, and I’ve had problems getting it working since then!

BUT! We’re back, and we’re good to go! I will have a post every day from now on (barring emergencies, illness, and stupid internet crashing).

Anyway, my topic for today? Renting toys.

What, you think I’m crazy?

Well, they don’t think I’m so crazy over at Baby Plays!

Baby Plays is a new website that is sort of like Netflix for toys - you sign up to receive a few toys a month. When the month is over, you send the toy back and get new toys that are on your list. It is not only a way to keep the toys fresh, but it’s a way to experience new toys without having to buy them. After all, what’s worse than buying a new toy for your child and having them hate it? This way you can rent a toy and they can play with it for as long as they want (you don’t have to send it back after 30 days - you can keep it as long as you’d like), and you will know if they love it or not. If you find that they play with it almost every day, you can send it back and buy your own.

I like the idea behind Baby Plays, but I’m not quite sure if I’d rent toys from them or not. I don’t even have Netflix because I really don’t quite get it. I mean, I get it, but I don’t know if it will truly save me money or not. My daughter is old enough now that most of the toys they have for rent I’m not sure if she’d really play with. I think this would be a great site for parents of children between 0-3, but older than that? I’m not sure. What do you think about renting toys?

Sorry I wasn’t here for a few days! I took a little time off this weekend to enjoy the kids. It always amazes me how quickly we can forget to enjoy our kids! It gave me a good topic, though! The hubby and I realized the other day that there were tons of things that we haven’t exposed the kids to. Now we live in a very small area, but there are still things that we’ve avoided, such as the local museum. About a half an hour away from my home there is a museum. The main focus of the museum is on nature, so there are TONS of stuffed wild animals. It gives you a good idea of the kinds of animals you’d find right in our area, as well as the animals that exist around the world. We had avoided the museum for a long time - first because we forgot all about it, and then becuase we thought Babygirl would have a problem with the animals. Last weekend we chose to give it a shot.

Boy, was I wrong.

Babygirl LOVED the museum! She kept pointing at all the birds and she wasn’t even scared of the large animals, like the bears and the huge moose. She still says that the peacock is her favorite, and she was even able to connect the Peacock to the character in Barbie as the Island Princess. Toad, at seven, enjoyed it as well, and now, thanks to the upper level of the museum, he wants to own a sabre.

The lesson? Don’t avoid things in your area because you’re worried how your children will react. Also, don’t look for places that are made JUST for kids. This museum is NOT a children’s museum, but the kids loved it! We didn’t try the planatarium that was attached to the museum yet (it get really, REALLY dark in there and we didn’t want to press our luck), but it’s definitely on our list! So look around your local area - I’ll guarantee that there is something you haven’t tried yet that your kids will love!

A few years ago my husband was begging me to get a game for our son. It was a little thing called Whac-A-Mole. I used to LOVE the real whac-a-mole at the fair, and it was impossible for me to see how they would be able to make a good version for a child that fit into a box.

This Whac-A-Mole is a bit different than the carnival style. It doesn’t pop all the way back in the hole (which still kinda bugs me). It is, however, the PERFECT game to play with a toddler. You pick a color mole, and whenever the light flashes on that mole, you whack it. The first to get to 100 points wins! The moles make funny sounds, and there are quite a few variations. If, for instance, your mole makes the “woo hoo” sound, it will make that sound the entire round. The next round, however, it may make the “woof woof” sound.

I’ve only seen one toddler who didn’t have the patience for this, which made me appreciate it all the more. She was one of those “run around and never stop moving” types of kids, and I think that our son may have been that way if we wouldn’t have made it a point to sit down with him every once in awhile and play games like this. Whac-A-Mole teaches patience, recognition, and even helps with reaction timing. Best of all? It’s under $20!! If you’re looking for a great game to play with the whole family, check out Whac-A-Mole!

I’m one of those parents that believes that video games, if played in moderation, can actually bring a family closer. My seven year old son, Toad, is allowed to play a video game for a half an hour a day as long as his homework is done and he’s been good, which, generally, is every day. He’s also allowed to play a bit longer during the weekend. Babygirl, my three year old, is allowed to play as well, but she’s not quite as interested in gaming as my son is.

For Christmas we managed to snag one of the elusive Wii’s. My first thought was to find a game that we could all play and enough, even Babygirl! I stumbled upon Elebits. Elebits is a very inexpensive Wii game that you can find just about anywhere. The purpose? Basically it’s like a game of hide and seek. These little elebits are hiding and you have to find and grab them with a capture gun. When you point the wiimote at something and click either the a or b button, you can move it! Basically, you can destroy a room in record time.

Babygirl LOVES playing elebits, and she especially loves the bedroom level. We can play together, with me controlling where the camera looks and with her picking things up in the room and flinging them around. It’s a way to be really destructive without harming anything! Better yet is when Toad and Babygirl sit together and play, filling the house with their giggles. If you’re looking for a Wii game that even your little one can manage, check out Elebits!

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Thus far in this series on toddler development, I have covered imaginative play, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills. Today is toddler language development.

The chasm is wide for typical or normal language development in toddlers. Each stage from 12 months to 23 months has its own set of milestones. The range of typical development becomes more restrictive at 24 months, but not by much if a toddler is developing well. It’s more to raise red flags for children at risk for language delays and disorders so they can receive the help they need at the early in their development. (more…)

If your toddler is beginning to walk, she is already working on her gross motor skills or large muscle movement. She may even be climbing and will soon add jumping and dancing to her repertoire. Before you know it, your toddler will be running through the house. Large motor skills are important for balance, endurance, strengthening muscles and bones, and helping your toddler be active and healthy. (more…)

Recently I had some interesting conversations with my older children’s Kindergarten teacher and with Drew’s preschool teacher. Both of them commented to me that they have a higher number of children in their classrooms who have little or no experience using scissors. Some are even unaware of what to do with Play-Doh. At first I was surprised, but then I realized that in this digital age, young children know more about Pokemon, video games and computers than they do about coloring, cutting and forming shapes in Play-Doh. (more…)