Exploring with Sensory Tables for Outdoor Play

Wonder how to entertain toddlers while outdoors besides the everyday equipment like the swing or slide?

Now that Spring weather is inviting us to enjoy the outdoors more, engage with your toddler while exploring with his senses and imagination with outdoor play. 

 
Sensory tables have become popular

Art Projects with Toddlers & Preschoolers

Now that the Easter season is here, I wanted to share some tips on how to minimize the mess and maximize fun and creativity with your little one. Art projects can be even more fun with a playmate or sibling.

Spring Hat Art Activity

Here is a fun art activity for ages one and up. I did this activity with my child care toddlers to focus on the color blue and the season of Spring.

Scissor Cutting with Toddlers

At around age two (maybe 2 ½), I like to show them how to use blunt toddler scissors with my assistance. They usually can cut a few inches before their little fingers get tired. This is another fine motor activity to help strengthen their finger muscles.

Precious Years Leaps & Bounds

I’m Iva Dumas the author of Precious Years Leaps & Bounds.

What is this book all about? 
You are invited to click on this link 
Precious Years Leaps & Bounds You Tube Video

to watch a video about this wonderful resource for parents and grandparents.

Enjoy!

*Iva

Flash Cards with Toddlers ~ What’s All the Hype?

There seems to be a lot of hype about teaching toddlers how to read with flash cards. I personally don’t think that toddlers have the brain development to be able to read at their age. In my child care program, I use flash cards not to teach them how to read, but to teach them that each object has a name with pictured flash cards. This helps the little ones with their language development as they learn to use words when they have a need to express what they want.

When Tantrums Turn Stormy

Toddlers and preschoolers have days when they fall into a full stormy tantrum. When you feel like nothing you say or do is going to calm him down. He might throw things or hurt someone in his way. I know it can seem a little scary; however, know that this is normal.

Keep some thoughts in perspective:

They can easily sense your anxiousness by your face expressions and body language. Try to avoid yelling or showing your frustration by getting mad. This only intensifies his behavior even more.  Your calmness will reflect onto him. He needs you to be the rock or the calm one during his stormy emotions. Sometimes, I find the more attention I give during the stormy tantrum, the more the tantrum carries on. I encourage you to find what works for your child as each child has a certain level of temperament along his own personality. What I write here is merely suggestions from my experience with caring for little ones.

Musical Pillows ~ An Aerobic Exercise for All

I engage the little ones of my child care program with this activity. We always have oodles of fun. This is an ideal activity for ages 1 (or walkers) to preschoolers along with an adult for encouragement. I keep it simple and enjoyable.

This musical activity is also beneficial as it helps the little ones with their large motor or gross motor skills. Large motor activities are intended to help develop the abilities required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling, and other activities.

Bedtime Routine Struggles for Your Infant and/or Toddler?

For infants ~ usually, at the age of eight months (or sooner) your infant will start the routine of crying when you leave the room. This is after he had bath time, last bottle feeding, diaper changed, book read, and was placed in the crib. Make sure he has his favorite attachment with him (blanket, stuffed animal, or binky). Turn down the light, and allow a night light or a hallway light to lighten the room a little bit. Let him cry for a little while – anywhere from one to five minutes. Go back in and soothe him without picking him up. Leave again, and stay out for a few minutes longer. For example: The first night stay out one minute, then three, then five, and continue to go in every five minutes if he is still crying. The next night try

What to look for in child care

Looking for child care can be overwhelming for parents. Here is an explanation of the different types of child care and a checklist when visiting a facility:

Throughout the United States there are child care listings for:

• Department of Health Services in every state and could be easily searched online by using the keywords: Department of Health Services (with your state) 
• Department of Economic Securities in every state and could be easily searched online by using the keywords: Department of Economic Securities (with your state) 
• Child Care Resource & Referral in every state and could be easily searched online by using the keywords: Child Care Resource & Referral (with your state)

For local Arizona community: