What do music CDs, a funnel, and an empty pencil box have in common? They are all regular household items that do double duty as toys for our son. Add to that list an empty oatmeal carton, some measuring cups, and some books, and you have endless hours of entertainment! Sure, he has a few toys that were given to him as gifts, and more than a few stuffed animals, but our home certainly doesn't look like the fun zone he sees on play dates, that's for sure.
On more than one occasion, I've left a little friend's house feeling like a bad mom. Lucas would be in toddler heaven, playing with a seemingly endless selection of toys, excitedly moving from one to the next. We'd return home to his one laundry basket of makeshift toys, and I'd wonder if I was doing the right thing in keeping his toy selection so limited. I mean, in theory, it makes sense to encourage his imagination by allowing him to create his own fun with common objects. And I like the fact that we're not contributing to the waste going out to our landfills from all the discarded plastic toys and their overzealous packaging. There's certainly no denying that it saves us money when we just don't buy all the stuff, and that keeps my stay-at-home status safe for just a little bit longer. And yet … what if my idealism was limiting his fun and enjoyment of life?
We'd return home, and he would immediately run to the stereo and ask, "Music? Please, nice?" Sometimes he'd request jazz, perhaps The Brecker Brothers or Pat Metheny. Some days he'd want The Doobie Brothers, Jack Johnson, or James Brown. I'd put on a CD and he'd start dancing, completely uninterested in toys. He'd grab his small guitar (his best gift, ever!) and pretend to play along, ordering me to "sit back, feet up" on the couch so I'd be sure to watch him without distraction. Here is Lucas in action:
Somehow, I think I've made the right choice.
Life Without ToysRUs
My Toddler Can Read!
Yes, it's true. If you don't believe me, you can watch my video clip at the end of this post.
I was skeptical of the idea, at first. After all, how early is too early? Is it not enough that we have kindergarteners taking finals, for crying out loud? These were my first thoughts when I was asked my opinion on an early reading program called, Your Baby Can Read, by Dr. Robert Titzer. I'll have you know right up front that I haven't tried this product, nor am I not endorsing it one way or another here. However, after exploring the site, I have to admit, it got me thinking that he might just have a point.
The point is simply this: Infants and toddlers have a huge capacity for learning language. This we all know and accept. But why do we assume that this facility is limited to spoken language? Why wouldn't it extend to written language, as well?
We don't teach infants how to speak by saying letters, and then sounds, then blending them into words, do we? No. We just talk and they pick it up. Written words can be taught in the same way, according to Dr. Titzer, and are just as easily and happily learned during this prime window of opportunity from birth to age four.
I was intrigued, so I decided to try a little experiment with my 20-month-old son. I made some flash cards of common words in his world: mommy, kitty-cat, guitar, and so on. There were no pictures on the cards. Starting with a set of four words at a time, I would read a word, pointing with my finger from left to right quickly as I read, and ask him to say it and go touch the object. After a couple of times, he pretty much had it and could read the words on sight.
These reading sessions lasted all of two minutes, and I've only done it twice a day for two days now. So, in a total of about eight minutes, he's learned to read six words consistently, and is enjoying our fun game.
Check him out:
What are your thoughts on this? Have any of you tried this program? I'd love to hear from you!
Kale and Applesauce – A Surprise Hit!
Wondering how to get your kids to eat their green, leafy, healthiest-thing-on-the-planet vegetables? My son won't drink milk. In fact, he's not too fond of most dairy products, so finding healthy sources of calcium has been a challenge. He'll eat green vegetables, but they aren't his favorite thing. My friend Debbie suggested I mix kale puree with applesauce. I tried it this week, and I am astounded at how well it went over!
Here's exactly how I did it:
- Steam some organic chopped kale in a steamer basket. (I discarded the hard stem first, steaming just the leaves)
- Puree it in a food processor with a bit of the steaming liquid
- Mix it in equal parts with organic, unsweetened applesauce
After the first taste, Lucas began scooping it into his mouth by the handful, creating this mess.
He asked for more until the entire bunch of kale was consumed in one sitting. Well, that was easy! I'm going to try it with other green, leafy vegetables as well!
I want Lucas to know what he's eating, so I told him it was kale mixed into his applesauce. Hopefully, this culinary experience will help him develop a taste for kale so he'll eventually enjoy it on its own.
If you decide try this out, let me know how it goes!
Best Use of Toddler Meal Time
In balancing the needs of my family with my attempts at entrepreneurship, I have to admit I rely on multi-tasking more than I'd like. Sure, I'm good at it, and I can fit a lot into my day, but it has its costs. After all, if I am going to claim that one of my greater priorities is to practice being present, then doing more than one thing at once is really counter-productive in the scheme of things.
I was reminded of this last night by my son (and muse), Lucas. While I know it's a great idea to sit with him while he's eating, I often succumb to the temptation of taking care of other things in the kitchen - like cooking our dinner or emptying the dishwasher - while he's safely restrained in his high chair. Don't get me wrong - he seems perfectly content to nibble away while I chat with him from across the counter. But I realized last night (again) that I was missing out on a key opportunity to connect with this very important little person who will one day, all too soon, be a grown man.
Last night I had leftovers planned, the kitchen was clean, and there was nothing else that immediately needed to get done, so I pulled up a chair in front of Lucas' high chair. We chatted and laughed while he ate. He absently rubbed his little bare feet back and forth across my knees while naming each little piece of food he picked up. I marveled at his dexterity and vocabulary. He made silly faces, fake swallowing noises and funny hand gestures – all guaranteed to make both of us giggle. He stretched forward over his tray for kisses – butterfly, nose and the regular kinds. What a lovely way to bring another day to its close.
I know it won't happen every meal, or even every day, but this was another beautiful reminder of the preciousness of these moments. For my own sake, I'll be making it happen more often.
