Fianal Toddler Tip

Here is its folks. March has come in like a lamb and gone out like a lamb. And I have faithfully brought you a new toddler tip of the day. But now it's time to search your own Google web site and ask your mommy friends for those great tips. Or me, I've always got a few more tips up my sleeve!
So here is my favorite recipe for make your own play dough. I'm going to wait just a bit to use it with Gianna, because she still eats everything!
But when you see a kid "playing' with play dough remember all the things they are learning:
Building up hand muscles for writing
Increasing hand strength for fine motor tasks like tying shoes and buttoning.
Being creative and expressing themselves
Getting to work out all that tension. And let's face it- toddlers have a lot!


Play Dough

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.
I also like to add vanilla or cinnamon or maybe almond flavoring to add to the sensory experience as well.

The High Chair

Today's tip comes from Mindy.
She says that she uses her high chair to hold her son for biomaintenance. What is that?
You know- where you have to keep up with nails, toe nails ,and everything for a human.
She pops him in the high chair and trims his nails.
I'm thinking about using it for hair cutting too.
I already use it as a great place to put Baby G in when she colors or does crafts for the grandparents.

So let your high chair be your new BFF!

Computer 101

Toddlers LOVE buttons. They love flashing lights and they LOVE whatever you are working with.
But for them they don't see it as work- it's all PLAY!
Dad flips with the remote- a cool toy to touch.
Mom talks to friends with her cell- A chance to be like mom and chat.
Working on the computer- FUN FUN FUN

So let them play with you. Teaching how to use the computer is a great skill. It's another chance to practice using soft hands. If you just can't stand your toddler playing with your stuff- Try it. Look at it as a chance to learn. Everybody has to learn how to be nice to other people's things and treat them with respect. Now those are pretty big orders for a toddler, but it has to start somewhere and it has to start sometime. What better place to learn than with you and what better time than now!?!?!?!
(Cool Bonus parent points if you know where the quote is from!)

So open up a word doc. Show a picture slide show of them selves as a baby and teach them how to "touch soft." It's OK to give a few chances and then put the "toy" up.
All they want to do is walk like you, talk like you, and be JUST LIKE YOU!

Hands Down

This tip I have learned by personal experience. When I taught 3-5 year olds we always liked to do crafts/ gifts for parents and such for holidays. They love it. I love looking at Baby G's hand and amazing how much it has already grown. Give a gift of a hand print to Grandparents too. They love them!
We have a paint your own pottery place in town and last year I put Gianna's hand print on everything. I do have to come up with new ideas, but hand prints are always a hit.
Some things to keep in mind:
If you have a wiggly toddler- strap them in the high chair first.
Have EVERYTHING ready before you begin. Extra paper, paint brush, LOTS of baby wipes with in hands reach, an apron for you, and a cover up on the clothes for the toddler.
Go fast.
Do one hand at a time. Paint it. Put it down. Move the paper. Clean hand . Repeat.
Expect to get dirty. Expect your toddler to get dirty.
When putting the hand down. Hold it firmly, and I usually put a finger in her hand to hold so I can place the heal down first and then move my fingers up as I put her fingers down.
It's OK to go back and touch up if a finger did not imprint all the way. (Use your own I won't tell!)
As much a possible try to kept the other hand out of the way. Give them something else to hold onto with the free hand.
Use these tips and you will have treasured artwork for years to come!

Toddler Tip

We only have a few days left in March. So our toddler tips will soon be drawing to an end. Only 5 left. I know you are all giddy with excitement.
So here is today's tip:
Subscribe to a magazine. Not Glamour or Cosmo. One of those parenting magazines.
They have lots of good ideas. Amazing ideas. And ideas that are fun.
I keep getting offers for free one issue, or less than a dollar an issue. I decided to use my fun money for a subscription and I really enjoy it. I got Parenting as a gift and I am now getting Parents combines with another subscription. My sis-on-law gave me Family Fun for Christmas. I enjoy them all.
I know that some are on a tight budget. And I am too. That's why I love subscriptions as a gift. I also trade with my friend around the corner. We get 2 or 3 or 4 subscriptions for the price of one. And we recycle the mag when we are done. I also have gone to the library and checked our magazines there, but my personal favorite is going on weekend afternoon to get some coffee at B&N to read some while John takes Gianna to the kid section.
So if you don't know of anyone who is going to give you a toddler tip of the day for the month of April you might want to go get a magazine!

Travel

We're back!
Today's toddler tip is pack some new toys for the trip. I dug out some toys from the back of the toy box and got a few new toys from the dollar section at Target. And we had a lot of "new" toys for Gianna to play with.
I also brought a few favorites so we were covered on all bases.

Travel Tip

We are leaving for a trip today. Now, John and I love to travel, but we have not done as much as we would have liked with a baby. I have some friends that can tell you all the ins and outs of toddler travel. Some suggest getting bulkheads, some getting on the plane at the last minute, and some are handing out ear plugs to your fellow travelers with a smile and a candy bar.
Some of the ladies in my play group have even rented baby gear in the place they are traveling.
My tip is this: If you can travel light- DO IT! We are going to visit friends who also have a baby. They already have a high chair so we don't need to bring our travel one. Nice- one less big bulky plastic thing to have to pack up. Now don't get me wrong. I would gladly pack the entire contents of my house if it meant and easier time with my toddler. But less plastic is always good!
Baby G also has a Lovey, that she well.. loves on when she sleeps. This is her comfort no matter where we are. So that's another thing we can borrow their- a pack 'n play.
So travel my dear friends, and travel light!