Fine Motor work is so important, just think of all you do with those little hand muscles!
If you really need a reason....Pre-Writing skills! You're little baby needs strong muscles to start writing all of those college essays! ;o) Plus, it's fabulous developmentally appropriate fun!
This Lacing Bucket is homemade...
I know, I know, it looks like a Melissa & Doug toy. (NOT.)
Materials needed:
1. Coffee tub, with cardboard sides, not the metal sides.
2. Thin rope. I found mine at the Dollar Store.
I like this better than yarn because it is stiffer and easier for his little hands.
If you DO use yarn, tape up the ends to make it stiff!!
How to make it?
1. Spray paint the tub...optional.
2. Make holes in it.
I stabbed it with a screwdriver...I was too lazy to find the screws.
3. Cut the rope into different lengths.
Threading is tough!!
Show them how and let them at it!
I was expecting and ready for some frustrated melt downs! But pleasantly surprise.
If they do seem a bit frustrated, help them out.
If a meltdown occurs, try again another day.
They may not be ready for the job and they are letting you know!
When all done, put the ropes in the tub, and lid back on! It stores nicely!
"You better watch out. You better not cry. Gog, is coming to town."
What animal says "Meow?".......Gog!
"Woof, woof!"...........Gog!
Gog=shark
Gog=monkey
Gog=fish
Gog=Lucy
Gog=flower
Gog=tree
Poor Carter.
He is in some budding stages of language development and everything comes out as "Gog!"
While, I love it and think it is adorable, I try to control my laughs as I often hear many "Rules" from teaching ESL (English is a Second Language) and Primary students roaming in my head.
What I love about the ESL and Primary methods is that they are just good in-your-pocket-tools for teaching language (and soooo much more) to anyone at any age! These came in handy in Norway, China and now on my 14 Month Old.
So here are some teaching tips that swirl in my head and how they can relate to encouraging language in your child:
1. Talk to and with your child! All. The. Time. and about everything you see.
2. Narrate what they are doing:
"Carter is in the tent!" "Mmmm....Carter loves to eat oranges!" "Awww, Carter is hugging Lucy." Give them the language that they don't have yet!
3. Correct by Modeling:
One thing you never want to do is "Nooooo, that isn't a gog, it's a cat." "Ha ha. Your saying it wrong. cat-t-t."
I've experienced this perfect example of what not to do while trying to speak Chinese. It can be very frustrating. I can't hear the difference in what they are saying and how I'm saying it. It sounds the same to me. And instead of learning how to say it properly, I think of how I can communicate without using that word. This is how the babes feel too.
What the good ole textbook say is that you should correct their language by modeling how to say it. A conversation will go like this:
C-"Gog! Gog!!!"
M-"Oh my, that is a cat!!! Look at that sweet cat! Do you hear the cat say meow??"
And with anyone learning a language...the more you hear it, the more you can hear it!
4. Read with you child! Keep it enjoyable.
They have very short attention spans, that grow with time. Stay at their limit. Then stretch it as their interest grows. Don't force it with a struggle! :)
Picture Walk:
If they only want to flip pages quickly. Do that and briefly talk about something in the picture. Right now, Carter has some books that he has been obsessed with for a couple of weeks. Those books we can read all the way through and he studies all of the pictures. Some newer ones he brings to me, we only flip through a few pages with me talking about the picture. This lasts all of 15 seconds until he is onto something new.
5. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
I'm sure every parent of a toddler knows this routine! There is no way around it! In every little thing they do, they like to do it over, and over, and over again. This is how they learn. Practice makes perfect.
So when you've passed the 100th tree and followed up his "gog" with a "tree" just know they are a bit closer to than where they started.
Here we are reading "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". Things to notice:
-I try to push him to read the Animal book but nooooo.
-He rejects sitting in my lap, so the video is upside down.
Jenni is an old college buddy of mine (Sarah)! She and I were both Chi O's at Texas A&M. She writes a fabulous blog about her precious family of three..errr four, including her Labrador, Aggie. She has an adorable son, Connor, whom I'm determined to make Carter's friend someday. I think one of the greatest things about reading long-time friend's blogs is watching everyone change and become "adults" with Big-People lives, like working, getting married, owning homes, moving, and parenting. Isn't growing up so much fun!?
Anywho, she is a really sweet mommy and I just love reading about so many of their sweet family moments.
With out further ado...(insert trumpet sounds!!) here is Jenni sharing a bit of how they love learning in the kitchen:
For several months now, my 19 month old, Connor, has loved to "help" do things. We regularly make Hummus in our house because he loves it so much! He has always been really interested in watching me make it, so why not let him help? He pulls a stool up to the counter and away we go. (Just be careful with your little one's fingers around the food processor blades!)
We talk about the different ingredients and using measuring spoons and cups as we put everything together. My assistant does slow things down a little and can sometimes make the recipe slightly messy, but the experience for both of us is worth it! Maybe someday he'll like to cook like his Daddy? His favorite parts to help with, of course, are pushing the button to blend and tasting the final product!
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed (reserve the liquid)
1 clove garlic (we use 2 tsp minced garlic in water)
1⁄4 cup olive oil,
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
a pinch of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
Optional: A couple of dashes of hot sauce (Mom and Dad like this extra kick, but we haven't tried it with Connor yet!)
Directions:
In a food processor, puree the chickpeas and garlic with the olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy.
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons reserved chick pea liquid as necessary to achieve the desired consistency.
Enjoy with crackers, pitas, fresh veggies, or if you are like my son, just with a spoon!
And here is a video of the little guy assisting with the final stage of our Hummus making during lunch one day. (He gets slightly distracted by the camera!)
If you haven't noticed yet, our kids (Sarah and I's) don't watch TV. We both know that there will be a day when they do watch TV, but that day just hasn't come for us yet. (Sarah, I hope you don't mind me speaking for you too!!) And please know, I am not judging you if your kids have their favorite shows and know their cartoon line up. It's inevitable, I'm just trying to prolong it for as long as I can.
My twins will turn 18 months old this week, and I love the fact that they don't point to the TV and shout Elmo, or Dora.
Instead they run to their CD player and point.
So we dance! A LOT
And the 2 second pause that comes in between songs really makes a certain somebody really mad.
They love to throw their hands up and twist! Hudson has even thrown in some new dance moves with Jumping to the beat. And Luke likes to clap along or shake his whole body. I even dance with them too. (With the blinds down, and the door shut!!) It really is fun!
It's kids Christian Rock. They sing short scripture versus to catchy tunes. I even don't mind listening to it in the car. I find myself singing along with it too!
I ordered it off itunes, for like 10 bucks. I think my favorite is Luke 11: 9-10, and the theme song of course!!
There is just something so sweet about Hudson getting overly excited EVERY time he hears He's got the Whole World.
Anyways, we have been really busy since we dropped our morning nap 3 weeks ago, so I feel like my blogging has been taking a hit. I just wanted to share some music that we love.
What music do your kids love?? I always need more CDs in my life!
