Odds and Ends

I just wanted to share a bit of information with you, especially for those who may be new to the site!

First of all, I want you to know that we do not spend every waking moment of every day doing “activities”. I don’t want you to have this unrealistic picture of our lives. In fact, we typically do the activities I share here in 15 minutes or less each day! The rest of the time, we are playing outside, building blocks, meeting with friends for playdates, jumping off of the couch onto the cushions on the floor, or running with the push toys around the house and banging them into the walls. That’s life with two boys. It’s messy, loud, and constantly moving!

I tell you this because I don’t ever want you to feel “guilty” for the time you are spending/not spending doing “structured” activities. Though there is a time and place for these activities, the most important thing is that you are spending time with your child, talking with them and getting down on the floor playing with them. Young children learn through play!

I also want to make sure that you are familiar with the 7 Domains of Early Childhood Development. I recently updated this page with links to activities in each area of development. I hope this is helpful! With my own children, I have noticed that Big Brother’s strength is in language and Little Brother’s strength is in both gross motor and fine motor. As a parent, I want to make sure that I am encouraging their natural strengths while also creating opportunities for them to develop in their weaker areas of development.

If you are looking for specific activities for holidays or themes, you can either use the search box (top left of the page) or the labels (right side of the page, down a little ways). The tabs at the top of the page highlight activities for each of the specified ages. The “thematic unit” tab also has all of the links to the activities for that theme.

On another note, here’s a schedule that I typically follow each week, though there are no guarantees. I tend to be a “fly by the seat of my parents” type of blogger!

Sunday:  A Lesson Learned. I typically post a life-lesson I have learned on Sundays that may or may not be related to parenting. Very often these posts reflect on my relationship with God.

Monday:  Giveaways.  Although this isn’t always the case, I typically post one giveaway a week and it runs from Monday (when the giveaway is posted) to Friday (when the winner is selected).

Tuesdays-Fridays:  Activities, Crafts, etc. (normal posts)

Thursdays:  Toddler Time. This is an activity specifically targeted to toddlers, 12-30 months.

Saturdays:  Show-and-Share Saturday.  This is when I share a post, craft, or idea that I have found especially relevant from someone else’s blog. I will typically share the photo and link to that person’s site. These are not my ideas and I am typically “sending” you over somewhere else to take a look at an outstanding idea/post!

*I am looking to start featuring one guest every two weeks. If you are interested, please e-mail me at [email protected]. I already have a couple lined up for the week of May 16-20, when I will be a bit consumed with my little sister’s wedding. :)

I hope you found this information helpful! I would love to know what you would like to see more of / less of on the blog! Leave a comment with any helpful suggestions you have!