Sorry I went missing for so long! I haven’t been on the computer much this week. In fact, I imagine that my RSS feed is up to 700 posts by now. Yikes! I’ll probably just clean the slate and start afresh.
The main reason I have neglected my blog is that I’ve been busy learning what to do with my toddler. She’s changing. And that’s good. But I don’t know how to change with her. Thus, I am learning–reading a lot and trying new tactics.
This week I found a pamphlet entitled Creative Family Times: Practical Activities for Building Character in your Preschooler amongst the books that Ruthanne sent me. Though my parenting style doesn’t match all the suggestions given by the book (it can be a little rigid), it had a great idea about making “mommy & daddy tapes” for your toddler. In fact, Evan and I are trying to figure out how to record audio on our home computer so we can make her a CD.
Here are some of the ideas in the book:
- Bible verses
- Songs
- Alphabet
- Godly character definitions
- Numbers
- Days of the week
- Months of the year
- Child’s name, address, and phone number
- Manners
It even has a sample script. I think it will be fun to gear this toward Emily and her many and varied interests. And I think it will be more constructive than even the best children’s television programs.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and any other ideas you have for keeping toddlers busy, challenged, and on track. Please! 
Also up for discussion: How do you create “more hours in your day?”
[EDIT: Jacob turned 3 months yesterday! Happy quarter-birthday to him!]
July 18th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I am encouraged by your post and challenged to get off the computer to work with the girls more.
I think , more often than not, when my kids are bored or ignored is when they’re at their worst. Nathan’s mom taught me a lot about how to relate to the girls in my day to day work. Instead of seeing them as a constant hindrance to the stuff I need to accomplish, she showed me how to involve them in as much as possible. Yes, it takes a ton more patience and twice as long to get the job done, but the girls are so much happier and creative when they begin to be a part of the things that have to be done every day. The girls help me scoop (they have to count the scoops) and grind coffee beans in the morning, wash dishes on the stool (with a towel under it), push buttons on the microwave (helps Claire identify her numbers), stir recipes, fold laundry, spray and wipe, vacuum…I do more of that type of thing with them than I do preschool type stuff just because I have to get all that stuff done anyway and I hate hearing myself say a trillion times a day, “Just a minute…”
One day the girls were just falling to pieces and fighting and I kept being pulled away from preparing dinner to see what the screaming was all about and realized the words that kept coming out of my mouth to my kids about 20 times was a desperate plea for them to “PLEASE let me finish cleaning the spinach! I just have to finish cleaning the spinach!” Then I realized how terrible that sounded coming out of my mouth over and over. What’s the most important thing? I sounded like a retard. When I step back and pull my head out of the crap of the day I realize those girls hearts are the most important thing, but I’m teaching them that clean spinach is the most important thing. So now they help me clean the spinach.
I try to let them help with as many jobs as possible and it entertains and teaches them that jobs are important but they’re more important to me. It totally changes their attitudes and makes them feel loved and involved, all the while I’m getting stuff done…eventually. I’m still learning so I’d love to hear what Creative Family Times has to say.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Mine used to love the rice or cornmeal in a baking sheet. I love the pictures of your little ones - they are so adorable!
July 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
You’ve not given us many clues as to what you need….. there’s lots of changes but if its occupying she needs then perhaps a mini version of the jobs your doing can help, remember though girls especially find seperation difficult so perhaps encourage her but rewarding her for doing something alone, and for mental stimulation how about a screen saver slideshow of famous paintings or moments of history? if its mood problems these are common when a second child comes along or they are taking bigger steps on there own, just try and identify where the frustration is coming from, sometimes they echo your frustration and don’t know why! hope this helps!
July 20th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hi Kristena.
I’m glad your’e enjoying Creative Family Times. When I sent it to you it had actually been a few years since I’d read it in-depth so I don’t remember quite all of their suggestions, I just knew that it had a lot of good ideas. The ideas that don’t click with you, pass on by, as you’ve done. (I have a favorite saying: “Chew the hay and spit out the sticks.” :))
As for the audio recording, that was our favorite idea in the whole book, too!
Children love to have books read to them by mom or dad in person, but that’s not always possible and hearing mom and dad’s voice is the next best thing, especially at bedtime (if it doesn’t end up keeping them awake too long). We’ve done a few recorded things for our younguns, but not nearly as many as I’d like. I really want us to do some more but we’re having some exasperating problems with our sound equipment. Not sure if it’s the mixer, the microphone or something in the wiring of the house. Doing those little recordings after being inspired by that book is actually what has given our family a strong interest in doing audiobooks and voice acting. We’ll see what the future holds.
Anyway, I’m truly rambling now…
I’m excited you and Evan are trying to do some recording. Emily will LOVE them, I’m sure of it!
Another great book came to my mind, Kristena. I’m not sure if you’re dealing with behavioral/discipline issues with Emily or mainly developmental ones, like knowing how to keep her challenged and learning. Regardless, Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready by June Oberlander would be a GREAT book for you to have! I found it at a homeschool conference *years* ago, upon the recommendation of Gregg Harris, father of Alex & Brett Harris of The Rebelution. (Have you heard of them?)
Anyway, it’s a book that has 260 weekly developmental activities, for children from birth to age 5 — things to help the little one learn and explore, while bonding with mom and dad at the same time. I probably would have sent you that one, too, except that I gave my copy to someone else a long time ago and never got myself another. But it’s a good one! I’ll bet Evan’s mom would like it, too.
Well, okay, I’ll admit there was one little activity I chose to skip and that was allowing your child to tear up scrap paper. I chose to skip that because I didn’t want my younguns to think it was okay to tear up books and magazines! At such a young age they’re usually still unable to differentiate between an old phone book or trash paper vs. a book, Bible or hymnal! (They don’t need anyone to teach them to tear up books… that happens quite easily on its own, as you know. We’ve had more torn up books than I care to recall. *snif* CLOTH books are awesomenal until kidlies are truly old enough and have been trained to be trusted with real books on their own. I don’t even let our babies/toddlers tear up paper napkins, LOL.) Just like with Creative Family Times, using the ideas is, of course, entirely up to your personal preference and judgment.
But back to the book… Here is a link that gives you a good look inside:
http://books.google.com/books?id=oxWzt6mYfLcC&dq=slow+and+steady+get+me+ready&pg=PP1&ots=JDtnVa2WI5&sig=o6ropgoH2ZPWpgOyWsFzdq5xDN0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPP1,M1
(I hope that link translates properly.)
Well look what happens… It’s a Sunday afternoon and everyone else is either napping or playing board games upstairs, so here I am and it’s quiet and I end up writing a short story in your Comments section!
Hope I didn’t get too preachy(?).
Love you guys!
~ Ruthanne
July 20th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
P.S. Wouldn’t it be great if you could somehow get the grandparents set up to do some recordings, too? Oh, that would be SO great.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Kristena,
A couple of comments. First of all, ask Evan if he can still sing the address and phone number song I made up for them when we lived in B-burg the first time. A tune is a great way to get them to learn that info…and in my case, I can still remember it though we left that address 16 years ago.
And when I worked nights, I would sometimes tape stories for Jillian to have when she went to bed. We had those tapes for quite a while, but I don’t think they survived the move overseas and back. I’d love to read some of our kids favorite books for Emily if there is a simple way to record them using current technology. BTW, have you introduced her to “Best Friends for Frances?”
July 21st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I’ve heard the audiotape idea before and I think it is so clever. As for creating more hours…no great nuggets of wisdom here…we just stay up Way. Too. Late. Have fun with your burgeoning toddler and just follow her lead and make up fun little games and activities that will help her explore her new interests and develop her new skills. And have fun!
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Hey Babydoll…
Remember the things you used to like most of all….Drawing, writing…of course, you do have to be right there with here, taking the lead…then let her do her own thing, be it right or not, soon she will catch on. F.e. …. draw a phone…write the number, saying it as you go…. so forth…
I love you!! Did you get the phone audio of Mary on the violin? Let Emily sing to that!
xo Mama
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I don’t know what to tell you about growing with emily because of course I have no kids..(not yet)! I just wanted to comment on how cute Jacob is and how much his aunt angel wants to hold him!!! love you!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Congrats on Jacob turning 3 months! I loved that milestone, because I like to think of it as when the baby *really* turns one year old (if you count the time in utero). So cool.
Good luck with toddler-hood. My 16-month old changes more each day… I’ll have to look up that pamplet.