Learning Walk
*This was originally posted 2 years ago, when Big Brother was the same age as Little Brother is now! Little Brother and I have been enjoying our “learning walks” whenever Big Brother is at preschool. I’ve peppered in a few…
Top 10 Apps for Toddlers
In my post on Apps for Preschoolers, I admitted that I have really fought against my kids using the iPad/iPhone. I finally conceded for a variety of reasons, but mostly because I want to use technology as a tool for…
Giant Shape Sort
A little masking tape and objects around the house can turn into a fun learning game for toddlers! This GIANT shape sort activity is perfect for teaching shape recognition…with the little cognitive development skill of sorting on the side! This…
Name and Sight Word Smash
I love activities that can be easily differentiated for the content/level of multiple children. Our “Name and Sight Word Smash” did just that–we worked on a few simple sight words with Big Brother and the letters in Little Brother’s name….
What to Do If You Think Your Child Has a Developmental Delay
As parents of babies and toddlers, we are constantly evaluating our child to see whether he/she is developing “normally.” What we quickly find out, however, is that there really is no “normal” as every child seems to develop at a…
Simple Sorting for Young Toddlers
Guest Post by Mariette of Mariette’s Meanderings Toddlers learn so much from just living and playing! If your toddler is anything like mine, they also like simple tasks and activities that they can feel successful at accomplishing. Aside from puzzles,…
Foil River
It’s Day 11 of our 30 for 30 Challenge! Today we made a foil river! Last summer my friend Mercedes posted this awesome idea for making a river out of foil in your yard! We finally tried it today and…
30 for 30 Challenge: Day 7 (Human Choo-Choo Train)
It’s Day 7 of our 30 for 30 Challenge! Today was one of those times when playing with something ordinary (sidewalk chalk) led to something extraordinarily creative! After handing Big Brother the chalk, he was determined to build a railroad….
DIY Bathtub Shapes
I’ve been trying to think of various ways to teach the names of shapes to Little Brother. As I mentioned in this post, he is not a big fan of structured learning activities like his brother is. He loves…
Learning Based on the Interests of Your Child
Learning in these early years is spelled P-L-A-Y. Although I love to share a variety of ways to “teach” your child various concepts, the best way your child can learn is by playing, and specifically when you play with…
Outdoor Sticky Collage
I’ve been seeing all sorts of fun sticky table ideas floating around the blogosphere and I was excited to them with our boys. The last few weeks have been absolutely beautiful here, so we’ve been trying to spend as much…
Kid-Friendly Christmas Tree
The idea for felt Christmas trees has been all over Pinterest recently, but my absolute favorite has been this version from Johnny in a Dress. I love the simplicity of the triangle for the Christmas tree as well as the…
Toddler Time: Sorting (and Counting) Ornaments
Before we go any further, let me preface: Do not use ornaments that are special or sentimental to you. And obviously, no glass. Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way… We used some drum ornaments that I…
Toddler Time: Touchy-Feely Activity
We used lots of items from around the house to talk about sensory descriptors like soft, rough, smooth, sticky, and bumpy. This would be a perfect activity for older babies and toddlers! Just be sure you don’t use any items…
Baby and Toddler Activity: Fun with an Emergency Mylar Blanket
Prince Charming ran a half marathon last Sunday. It was a relatively cool, rainy morning. At the end of the race, all the runners were offered one of these emergency mylar blankets to warm up (or at least that’s what…
Toddler Time: Sorting Cookie Cutters
Oh, the joys of simple activities! This was a huge hit and allowed Little Brother and me to spend lots of time playing, laughing, and singing together. For this activity, I used a giraffe peg hanger that currently resides on…
Toddler Time: Off and On
This is one of Little Brother’s favorite games. He pulls up the stool and turns the light on and off, all the while I’m saying “On” and “Off” respectively. Simple? Yes. Emphasizing language development and antonyms (opposites)? Yes and yes….
Toddler Time: Walk the Line
Balance is a tricky thing for a toddler. This one safe way to ease into learning to balance. Just lay a piece of masking tape (or painter’s tape) on the ground and encourage your little one to “walk the line”. At…