Tots and Me... Growing Up Together: Toddler Ideas

Showing posts with label Toddler Ideas. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Littles Learning Link Up: October 9, 2018: Torn Paper Autumn Leaves

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (usually toward the beginning of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child(ren).

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

What have we been up to?

Co-op has started back up for us! The children got to go on a field trip to The Little Red Schoolhouse, which is a nearby place that has some pretty exotic animals, some that they even got to hold.

Of course, seeing as it is now co-op time means I am again working in the preschool room, which is now the nursery. In the winter, after the field trips are done, there will possibly be a prek class that I will teach. For now, I just have the children who are 2 and under, as the 3 and 4 year olds (that would have also been in preschool) are going on the field trips. So, my crafts are all going to be appropriate for little ones. Last week I had two 2-year old kiddos. One of which really likes glue sticks, so I decided to utilize them in my craft.

Torn Paper Autumn Leaves

This was a simple craft to prepare for the children.

You will need:

White construction paper

Brown construction paper

Yellow, red, and orange construction paper cut into 1/2 wide strips

Scissors

Glue sticks

Pencil

First you need to cut a leaf shape out of the brown paper to use as a top frame. I looked online for a leaf template I liked, enlarged it in my word processing program, printed it out and traced it onto the brown paper. Then I cut out the center of the frame. I then, very lightly, traced the shape onto the white paper, so the children would know where they needed to glue the torn paper. I also used my paper cutter to cut the red, yellow, and orange paper into strips.

I love doing these torn paper crafts because it gives the children an opportunity to work on fine motor skills, i.e. tearing.

When we were all done tearing the strips, the children glued them onto the white paper.

I then attached the top leaf template frame.

Let's take a look at that review schedule real quick:

Last week I shared my review for Forensic Faith For Kids. This week I will be sharing my review for the newest season of The Brinkman Adventures. And later this fall I will be sharing my reviews for St. Bartholomew's Eve from Heirloom Audio Productions, and Math-Whizz from Whizz Education.

Here are a few things I would like to share with you:

How about a few more fun, fall leaf crafts:

Fall Leaves All Around Round Up:

Keepsake Hand and Fingerprint Autumn Trees

Fall Paper Leaf Mobiles

Bundled Cotton Swab Fall Trees

Fall into Nature: Fall Leaf Frames

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 9 wonderful post linked up. I will be featuring the most clicked on posts, plus one randomly selected post.

Please, don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Amber from One Hundred and One Pursuits shared Crafts: Trains.

This week's most clicked on posts are:

Ruth from Training Hearts at Home shared Fall Canning and Decorating.

Brandy at The Barefoot Mom shared Avian Egg Investigation.

Brandy at The Barefoot Mom also shared Homeschooling With a Toddler.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on one of my relevant boards, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Monday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

No button currently, and there won't be one until I can figure it out seeing as Photobucket has changed things. Feel free to still share the picture in place of the button. Just link it to my Littles Learning Link Up permalink please.

I am sharing over at

An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Littles Learning Link Up: Guest Post: Teaching Toddlers Self-Help Skills (Includes Free Printable)

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

It is time for this month's Guest Post:

Today I would like to introduce you to Amanda from Sicily's Heart and Home.

Amanda is the founder of Sicily’s Heart and Home where she helps mamas educate their youngest learners and plan a home education environment for toddlers and preschoolers. She has an 18-month old daughter and another little one due in February. Amanda is a former public education teacher with experience working with infants up to 5 th grade. You can follow Amanda in her Facebook group, Instagram, and Pinterest. She also offers a monthly Print and Play calendar with simple play activities every day of the week.

My daughter, Sicily (18 months), is very self-sufficient. I started teaching her how to be independent and using her self-help skills from a very early age. Today I wanted to share with you some of things we did to help Sicily with her self-help skills and tips for you to use as well.

Start Early

The best tip I can give is to start early. The later you start with self-help skills the more difficult it will be to break them out of the habit of relying on you for everything. As soon as Sicily was able to hold a paper towel, I expected her to help clean up her own messes. At first, she didn’t even hit the mess with the towel, but that’s not really the point. When first starting a new self-help skill, the point is to get them to help whether is actually helps or not. I praised her for just grabbing the towel and rubbing the floor.

Another self-help skill that I started early was throwing things in the trash. As soon as Sicily was able to walk steadily, I expected her to throw away her own trash and diapers. She actually really enjoys throwing away her trash and will purposefully find “trash” on the floor to throw away.

Praise

Praise your child for trying, even if they don’t exactly get it right. Praise is through words of encouragement, not rewards. Do not offer stickers, money, or candy for completing a task that is expected of them.

Rewards create a sense of completing a task just for a reward. Through self-help skills, you want to create a sense of accomplishment and a desire to do tasks for themselves. To nurture these feelings, you need to offer praise. We do lots of high fives at our house. Phrases such as “You are such a big girl,” “That was super helpful,” and “Thank you” really do give kids that boost they need to help them complete the task again in the future.

I believe that once you even start with rewards, you will have to continue with rewards because your child will expect it. So don’t even start them.

Be Consistent

Every child needs consistency in everything they do. Whether you are teaching a concept or creating a routine. If you expect your child to throw away his own trash, then you need to expect if every time. When we are consistent with self-help skills, we are teaching our children to be responsible. Eventually, they will do these tasks without having to be reminded, as long as you are consistent.

A fair warning, they will try the “I can’t” card on you multiple times. It’s a trap, and you can’t give in. Let them know that you believe in them and expect them to complete the task. Simple phrases such as “I know you can do this” and “You are capable of cleaning up this mess” are great ways to get over the “I can’t” trap.

Provide Visuals

When just starting out with self-help skills, we want to foster independence and responsibility. Young children perform best when given visuals to follow. I created this little chart for Sicily to follow for her morning and night routines.

First, you want to teach all these self-help skills independently before creating the chart. Your child needs to know how to do the skill before becoming responsible for the skill. Once they are proficient or can complete it will minimal help, then you can add the chart to help with responsibility.

I made two charts, one for her morning routine and one for her night time routine. I placed them on her bedroom door using Velcro. I wanted the charts to be removable for when she stayed at someone else’s house, like her grandmother’s or fathers.

Making the Chart

You can download the picture cues by clicking on this link. Use the ones that pertain to your routines.
Next, I cut file folder in half and used the bottom half for the chart. I cut it into the number of sections (tasks) I needed.
Glue the picture on the inside of the folder and add Velcro to the top of each picture to keep the flap up.
On the outside of each flap, write the word DONE.
Before each routine, I open the folder and we go over each task. Then as Sicily completes each task, she closes the flap to let me know that she is done.

Self-Help Skills

These are the skills toddlers and preschoolers should be working on. Remember to start teaching these skills as soon as they are capable.

-Throwing trash away

-Getting dressed (This is a slow process. Getting dress requires some skill. Right now I expect her to pull the shirt over her head and put her arms through. We are working on getting our legs into the holes.)

-Helping you wash themselves in the bath (I let Sicily start, and I finish by getting the areas she can’t reach)

-Cleaning up messes

-Putting dirty clothes in the hamper

-Drink from a regular cup

-Set their place at the table

-Use silverware

-Brush hair and teeth (Again, Sicily starts and I finish)

-Clean up toys

I would love to hear what self-help skills you are working on with your toddlers. Please share in the comments below.

If you would like to guest post on Littles Learning Link Up, please contact me via email. My email address can be found on my About Me page. I am scheduling posts for the next several months and would love to include yours. I ask that the guest posts focus on subjects relevant for young children (toddler through early elementary). This could be crafts, activities, recipes, or various tips and advice. I am always open to suggestions. Details will be emailed to those who are interested.

Now Onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 8 wonderful posts linked up. I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts.

Don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's randomly selected post is:

Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared 5 After 5, Top Tips to Stay Cool In the Summer Heat.

And here are this week's most clicked on posts:

Strength in Words shared DIY "Special Space" Parachute.

Strength in Words also shared Episode 25: A Community Sings - 25th Episode Celebration.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on my Toddler Ideas or other relevant board, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Sunday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Littles Learning Link Up: Toilet "Training" Success (Finally!)

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children (including occasional highlight posts where I share how we used ideas that have been linked up here on Littles Learning Link Up).

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

What have we been up to?

This week I would like to focus on something other than schooling for a little bit. We have been struggling with getting Harold to go potty for a while. If you were around when Littles Learning Link Up was still Toddler Idea Tuesday, you might remember that I posted about potty training early last year. We thought he was ready back then, had purchased some underwear for him. We had our good days and bad days. I even shared some tips that had been working for us. Unfortunately, poor Harold was having such trouble in the bowel movement department. TMI alert (feel free to skip the next paragraph)

It appeared that Harold was struggling to have a bowel movement because he was constipated. I would look over and he was standing with his legs crossed and seemed to be straining. But all there would be was a little runny BM. This could go on for days. Finally, one day he had eaten some chopped prunes and he had a decent sized BM. Unfortunately, after that we went right back to the same problem. And he was getting rashes.

I am not sure how long we allowed this to go on before switching him back to diapers (which I swore I would never do and talked against in my post last year). However, we didn't keep switching back and forth, I just completely gave up. So, we continued allowing him to wear diapers, even though he was way past the age of the older girls when they went potty and older than I wanted him to be. I took heart in remembering that they say boys are harder than girls, figuring he would go when he was ready.

So, a couple of months ago, he asked for underwear again. We went out and let him choose some underwear. . . Spiderman this time. He seemed to be doing well at first, but still only one instance of poopy in the potty (which we praised immensely). Then we started having the same issues mentioned in the TMI paragraph above. I was determined to keep him in underwear this time, I mean, he had just turned 4 recently. I was constantly washing out undies. I ended up getting angry a few different times and yelling at him (one time was after he had just sat for a while with no results and promptly pooped his undies right after getting off the toilet). I felt awful when he cried because I yelled at him. A week and a half ago, I was at my wits end. I asked for some advice on the homeschool boards I am on on Facebook.

My husband and I liked this one lady's advice of using rewards. Another thing I had sworn I would never do and had even included in my previous post as one of my tips. Anyway, I had to eat my words and we told Harold he would be getting to go to the store to pick out prizes that he would receive after going poopy in the potty. After church last Sunday, I headed to the dollar store (not something I like doing on a Sunday, but I was desperate). Here is what we purchased:

He was promised that he would get to choose one little toy every time he went potty and would also earn a sticker on his chart. If he filled up the row he would get to go shopping for a bigger prize.

I didn't expect such instantaneous success! As soon as we walked in the door he asked to go potty. He was successful and immediately was given a sticker and a little man (yes, even before I could get pictures taken he had done this, as you can see in the picture above).

Now I had a new problem. He filled up the first line of the chart the first day! I figured it would be a few days at least. But he was determined to get those toys and stickers, and to go shopping. He would go in to the bathroom, have a tiny BM, which I would praise, and happily go to get his prize. Mommy and daddy decided we would go broke with this strategy. So, the next day, we told him it was day 2 and things were going to change up a bit. He would still get a sticker every time he went poopy in the potty, but he would only get a toy at the end of the day if he had not had any poopy in his diaper. He was still successful. I had to take him to go get a couple of prizes because he had filled up both rows of the chart.

We then decided we couldn't afford to keep getting him these toys. So, we changed it up again. Each time he went potty, he would receive a jelly bean or spice drop. Much cheaper for us. And still enough of an incentive for him. He has since earned almost all of his toys and hasn't been asking for them. He does NOT go poopy as often as he did the first few days. I hesitate to say the following for fear of jinxing things, but he has not had one accident, even while we have been out and about. And, while we are away from the house, he goes without asking for candy when he goes potty. I had actually taken a bag a jelly beans with me just in case, but he never asked for them, and I surely didn't offer.

He was most definitely ready, he just needed a little bit of incentive. This was my Mother's Day gift to myself (as that was the day we started this).

Moral of the story: Every child is different. What works for one child will not always work for another. I still stand behind my thoughts on allowing a child to be ready. But, I will admit there are strategies that may have to be applied for one child that didn't have to be applied for another.

Moving on...just a little look at our review schedule:

I recently posted my review for Zeezok Publishing. My reviews for Poetry Memorization with the Institute for Excellence in Writing and Greek Myths with Memoria Press will be going up this week. The reviews for Science Shepherd and Sunya Publishing will be posting next week. In June, you can look forward to the following reviews: Essential Skills Advantage, Shiloh Run Press (a book called The Glass Castle by Trisha White Priebe and Jerry B. Jenkins), Forbrain, the Hey Mama! Planner, Veritas Press, Laurelwood Books, LearnBop, and ArtAchieve. I'll be sharing a little more information about those products next week, so you know what they are all about.

As you might be able tell, our review products are continuing to take up a lot of our schooling time. Which could explain how we have fallen behind in our core curriculum. Though, we have been catching up a bit. Fortunately, the children are learning lots of great subjects, and we are so thankful for these great review products.

A few somethings I would like to share with you:

As Father's Day is right around the corner, I invite you to check out my Round Up from last year: Father's Day Gift and Card Round Up.

Don't forget to check out this month's round up: April Showers Brought May Flowers.

And finally, don't miss last month's Guest Post: Using Crayons to Learn About Rocks.

I know I plan to do this activity when we reach our Rock unit next year.

I am lining up my guest posts for the new year. If you would be interested writing a guest post for Littles Learning Link Up one of these months, please leave a comment or contact me via my contact info on my About Me page. I will need to have your email address so I can contact you. I am looking for posts that have to do with young children: crafts, activities, foods/snacks, tips, or other ideas. I am open to suggestions.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 19 wonderful posts linked up!

I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts

Please don't forget to stop by other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's Randomly Selected Post is:

Jen from Though Shall Not Whine shared 7 Ways to Keep the Littles Busy {While the Bigs Do School}.

Now, for this week's Top Clicked-On Posts:

Shecki from Greatly Blessed shared Our Week With a Surprise Doctor Visit.

Shecki from Greatly Blessed also shared Doodle Across Multiple Subjects with Kwik Stix.

Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared Latticed Learning: Week 30.

Join the Party!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Littles Learning Link Up: October 13, 2015 Leaf Mosaics Toddler Style

Each month you will find:

A seasonal round-up (toward the beginning of the month)
A guest post featuring crafts, activities, tips, snack ideas or other early childhood topics. (toward the end of the month)
Posts where I share what I have been up to with my preschoolers and/or early elementary children.

Each week, I will host a link up, where you can share either what you have been up to recently, or old posts that may go with the theme. Feel free to link up more than one post.

Each week I will continue to feature a couple of posts from those that have been linked up.

I hope you will continue to share your wonderful posts, and I hope you will find something new to try with your child.

It would be great for everyone to stop by and visit the other linked-up posts as well. Check them out, leave some comments, pin those that interest you. Let's make this a real party and socialize with each other.

What have we been up to?

Last week I shared a little update that included our My Father's World Kindergarten L:Leaf unit. As the leaves continue to change and fall in our neck of the woods, we have continued having fun in the leaves and with leaf projects, though we have moved on in our lessons. Last week I came up with a simple craft for the preschool class at our homeschool co-op. This is similar to the Paper Mosaic Pumpkins we made last year.

Leaf Mosaics Toddler Style

I printed out a leaf outline that I found by searching on Google Images. Then I cut fall colored construction paper into 1 inch squares. All the children had to do is glue them onto the leaf. When they were finished we (myself and the other preschool teacher) cut out the leaves and had the children glue them onto a piece of construction paper.

Now onto:

Littles Learning Link Up Features

On my last Littles Learning Link Up post, there were 24 wonderful posts linked up!

I will be picking one randomly selected post to share, plus the top clicked-on posts.

Please remember, for this to be a successful linky party, we really need to be visiting some of the other posts that are linked up. See what catches your eye, stop by, pin the post to a relevant board, and perhaps leave a comment to let the author of the blog know you have been by for a visit. I know I appreciate others commenting and letting me know they have read my posts, so I am sure others do too.

This week's Randomly Selected Post is:

Kelly from Raising Samuels Homeschool shared M is for Manger by Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley (Book Review)

Here are the top clicked-on posts:

(Yes, there are 5 this week!)

1- Michelle from Homeschool-Your-Boys shared A Vital Ingredient for Successful Homeschools.

2- Debbie from Blogger Loves the King shared 31 Days - Day 3 - Autumn Lunchbox Printables, Fall Festival Cards, Game and Coloring Pages.

3- Lisa from Syncopated Mama shared 31 Days of Phonics Cards: Introduction.

4- Tara from Embark on the Journey shared 15 Space Books That Are Out of This World.

5- Susie from Busy Toddler shared Cool Whip Painting.

Join the Party!

I would love to have you join in this week! What sort of activities do you do with your young children? Do you have some favorite activities you would like to share? I invite you to link up below. I will be pinning posts on my Toddler Ideas or other relevant board, and I would love to feature some of the activities each week from what is linked up.

Please know I may share a picture from your post and link back to it, along with sharing how we used your idea in our school time. By linking up you are giving me permission to use a picture from your post. I will ALWAYS give credit and link back. Additionally, if you choose to try out any of the ideas with your child, please make sure you give credit where credit is due.

Linky will be open through Sunday night, to give me time to check out all the posts and get the Features organized. Please take the time to visit some of the other wonderful posts linked up.

An InLinkz Link-up