toddlerintow

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SHAPE SORTING

Checkout how great Owen has gotten at shape sorting.  Just a few days of practice and he already has it down.  So fun watching him grow and learn!

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EASTER EGG PAINTING

EASTER EGG HUNTING 

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BEING SILLY

Giggles!  I can’t get over how funny this kid thinks he is.  Our days are filled with laughter (most of the time) because he thinks just about everything he does is hilarious.  He must get that from his mom.  

His latest giggles come from yelling “Baby?” I answer by saying, “What!?!  There is no baby here.”  Then, he proceeds to crack up.  I love his smile, and nothing gives me more joy than indulging his ridiculous game.  Even if I’ve said “What?!? There is no baby here,” like forty times.

But seriously, how cute is this face?!?  :)

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HAPPY EASTER!

Our family had a blast celebrating Easter!  It wasn’t our typical Easter because we were celebrating without extended family.  They are coming in a couple weeks for another event, and it didn’t make sense to get together back to back weekends.  However, we tried our best to make the most of it.   Even though we were battling some sickness, Owen was able to meet the Easter bunny.  It was very reminiscent of when he met Santa.  Apparently anyone in a costume is scary to Owen, and we have all the pictures to prove it.  Hopefully this is just a phase.  Easter morning Owen was pumped to look for Easter eggs.  

It is crazy to think about how different Owen is from last year to this one.  Last year, he was JUST starting to crawl.  We laid eggs out on the living floor and he slowly made his way to each one.  This year Owen was running from egg to egg.  He took his egg hunting very seriously.  

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MY LITTLE DARE DEVIL 

Owen is turning into quite the daredevil!  He loves climbing on things and getting onto or into everything he is not supposed to.  This includes his bike.  I am all for riding a bike, but this kid doesn’t ride his bike, he stands on it.   His favorite way to stand on it is with NO HANDS.  He is only 18 months! I can’t even begin to imagine what the next 18 years will look like with this kid.  I also don’t know how to get him to make safer choices.  No matter how many times we talk about how dangerous it is or try giving him choices, he still goes back to standing on his bike.  

Any tips or tricks on preventing this behavior?  Do your kids have this same problem?  Comment below.

P.S- I do have to say I am SUPER impressed by his balance?   

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FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES 

I LOVE coming up with activities that support fine motor development.  Mainly because Owen’s gross motor skills are on point.  This little guy loves to run, jump, dance, climb, and move in anyway he can.  Helping him to slow down and do activities that require those small movements and coordination is not always as easy.  So, one of my latest activities for him is a scooping sensory bin.  

Using some montessori techniques, I give him two bowls (one filled with pompoms, ping pong balls, and other items).  Then, I give him a scoop.  I tell him to scoop up the items in the first bowl and move them to the second bowl.  

This activity may sounds super boring to an adult, but he loves it!  It gives him hours (more like 15 minutes-which is a lot in toddler time) of enjoyment.

So, if you are looking for a fun activity to do with your child that focuses on fine motor development, try this!  As they grow, shake it up and switch out the scooper for tongs or something that is more difficult to maneuver.

Happy playing!

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Painting with Sponges 

One of Owen’s favorite activities is painting! He loves using his fingers or brushes, and always seems to have fun creating something new.  While this can be a messy activity, it is totally worth it because it is great for sensory development and fine motor skills.  

I let Owen paint with a sponge brush designed for cleaning dishes.  I either add dots of paint directly onto his paper for him to smear around, or I place the paint directly on his brush.  Either way works well and then, I let him go to town!  

What fun things do incorporate into painting to keep your child engaged?  Comment below. 

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Fostering Creative Minds

Are you in need of some structured play for your little one that will instill creativity and allow them the ability to design works of art?  This is one of my favorite activities with Owen because it easy to set-up, but provides hours (or like 20 minutes) of entertainment for young ones.  

Tape a large piece of clear contact paper onto a wall or window.  Face the sticky side out.  Then, give your child an object or pieces of paper and let them go crazy.  In the picture above, Owen created images with tangrams.  He was able to maneuver the shapes and piece them together.  This activity is great for fine motor development.  It is fun and educational, while allowing your child to design in a creative way.  Help them to make flowers, robots, space ships, or whatever else interests them.  It is all about the opportunity to invent.  

Share some of your favorite structured play activities for your  little ones by commenting below. 

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Choices

We all want them, including our toddlers.  I have learned that the “terrible twos” are really just toddlers in need of choices.  When young kids act out, it is often times because they feel like they have no control.  This is a completely natural need that even as adults we can relate to.  

To stop fighting with your toddler and gain some control back, try giving them choices.  When your toddler wants to do something you don’t, like play outside when it’s below zero, try telling them the following. 

1. “Outside is not an option.” 

2. “How about you make a choice?  Would you rather build a tower or read a book?”  

3. If they refuse to choose- say , “If you don’t make a choice, I will make one for you.” 

Nine times out of ten your child will make a choice to avoid losing control.  The trick is to make sure you only offer two choices that you will be happy with as well.  

Owen loves to push boundaries.  He is definitely in the “terrible twos” stage.  However, choices make his tantrums easy to bypass.  Have you found a trick that works well when you child seeks control?  Comment below with your mom advice. 

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Activity Central- 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I never sit still for very long.  Neither does my husband.  Our free time usually consists of being on the go or planning some sort of activity to enjoy.  I “mom” the same way. 

I am OBSESSED with planning different activities for Owen to do.  Some are play-based.  Some are designed to allow him the opportunity to explore something new and some are education-based.  Most of them are ideas I have found by exploring the magical depths of Pinterest and some I have designed myself after teaching preschool for a few years. 

Last week, Owen’s caregivers (who are awesome by the way) mentioned that he was showing an interest in shape sorting, but struggling to get the shapes into the appropriate spots (a totally age appropriate problem).  Since he was showing an interest, I wanted to make sure we spent some time figuring out the shape sorter together.  

It didn’t take long for Owen to catch on!  I would move the ball and he would attempt to place each shape in the hole in front of him.  Once he realized the shape wouldn’t fit, he would say “No” (his favorite word of the week) and direct me to move the ball to the next opening.  

After a handful of attempts together, he took ownership of the entire process and started figuring it out on his own. Just look at his hyper focus in the picture above!  

It was so fun to watch him become engaged in this activity.  It was awesome practice in developing fine motor skills and helping him to identify different shapes.  

One of my favorite aspects of being a mom is watching the excitement and joy Owen has as he discovers the world around him and learns new skills.  

What’s your favorite part about being a mom? Comment below. 

#shapesorting #finemotor #focused #learning #toddlerintow #momblog #momlife 

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Haircuts-

Ugh. I was dreading taking Owen to get his haircut.  It is always so sad to see his little curls go, but his hair was WAY too long and needed to be dealt with.  

So, I sucked it up, and we took him to get his haircut over the weekend.  We decided to actually style his hair vs. the quick trim we did last time. I had no clue how he was going to react to the trimmers, but the hairstylist was AMAZING!  She mentioned she had an 8 month old at home and it showed.  She was so sweet and gave Owen time to warm up to her and the tools. 

Needless to say, it paid off!  He sat still for the whole process and listened when he was asked to look down or turn his head a particular way.  I was shocked and clearly didn’t give him enough credit.  We went from a tearful, squirmy baby the first time to a grown up little boy. He even sat on the chair by himself. It was a proud mom moment for me. 

His haircut is adorable.  I love it!  But, I can’t get over how grown up it makes him look.  Seriously, I need time to slow down.  How did he get so big?  

#haircut #toddlerintow #cutestkid #growinguptoofast #momblog #proudmom 

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Welcome To Toddler In Tow

September 2, 2016 is the day my whole world changed.  It changed in ways I will never truly be able to explain in words, but it changed for the better.  

While motherhood can be exhausting, test your limits in new ways, and require you to find patience you didn’t know you had, it also brings a joy that is unimaginable.  It brings an overwhelming feeling of love that is indescribable to someone who has yet to experience it because the magnitude of what you feel when that little person is placed in your arms is unreal.

The baby that changed my world, is hardly a baby anymore.  Owen is now 18 months!  He is moving out of his baby phase and into a full fledged toddler phase. He has the attitude to prove it. While he can mischievous and rambunctious, he is also a charmer and unbelievably empathetic.  He makes parenting feel easier than it should be (most days) and with one quick smile can melt my heart.    

I am hoping to use this blog as a way to share my experiences and document these days that often times feel so fleeting.  So, thanks for tuning in to see what life throws at me next with a TODDLER IN TOW.