Theme for the Week May 2nd-May8th - Mother's Day!
week, we'll make a handprint wreath for Mom, learn Mommy and I Love You in sign
language, make a yummy "flower" snack and learn a relaxing yoga pose. Here is a great
Mother's Day website with mom humor and how to say
The current version of Mother's Day started first in England where the servants
were allowed to go home to see their mothers one day of the week called
"Mothering Day", to the United States, where one woman, Anna Jarvis persevered until Congress declared an official day in 1915.
Letter of the Week: M - for Mother. Point out things that start with "M" - mommy, milk, mirror. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital M and a lower case m. Draw an M on paper and let him/her trace over it, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well.
Number of the Week: 5 - When you show your child anything say "5 balls" (or whatever you are counting). Write the number 5 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 5 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three, four..." - so your child gets used to the pattern. If nothing else, hearing the number is good for him/her.
Story of the Week: Mary Engelbreits Merry Mother Goose - A board book with Mary's beautiful illustrations and familiar rhymes. Also check out Mommy Hugs by Ann Gutman. Recently, I searched my local library on-line and placed holds on all the books I wanted and in a couple of days, they were ready to pick up. Instead of trying to browse the shelves with a busy toddler, I picked them up, checked them out and was on my way. Here's a link to public libraries in the United States if you'd like to see if your local branch is here. Let me know if you use this link. I don't even browse anymore; I just hold books and go get them when they're ready.
Snack of the Week: Food Flower - This flower makes eating veggies fun and your toddler will have a blast arranging the cut up food into shapes. If your child prefers fruit to veggies (as mine does) here's another idea for a Fruit Flower. Both are from Family Fun.
Spanish Words of the Week: mother - madre, child - el niño, la niña, I love you - Te amo. Also we discovered 123TeachMe - it is a fabulous resource for Spanish - kid's activities, a verb conjugator, pronunciations - tons of great stuff. Check it out.
Do It Myself: Set the Table - Of course don't give your child the fine china but he/she can carry the plastic ketchup bottle to the table, or his plastic bowl or plate. Anything to give him/her the idea of helping out.
Activity of the Week: Handprint Wreath - If you've been reading our site for a while, you know we're big fans of handprint crafts. It's just such a great way to memorialize their tiny hands. I read recently about a mom who keeps a file folder of all the handprint/footprint crafts so she can see her children's growth over time.
Yoga Pose: Legs Up The Wall Pose - This pose is really more for Mom. It seems so simple but is incredibly relaxing for your back and hips. If you get a couple minutes of quiet time, try this pose. This link is from Yoga Journal. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.
Sign Language Sign of the Week: Mommy, Love, I Love You, Mother. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for him/her to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.
Remember to give your toddler/preschooler a hug and tell him/her you love them. Hope you have a wonderful week!
