Teaching Your Toddler

Theme for the Week June 15-19: Electricity

Ben Franklin flew his famous kite on June 15, 1752 and discovered the power source we can't live without! And on June 15, 1978, King Hussein of Jordan wed American Lisa Halaby who later became known as Queen Noor.

Letter of the Week: E - Find things that start with E to show your child, such as egg, edge, email, elephant, earth, elbow. Point to the object and say "E" and the word. Show them a picture of an E. Better yet, buy some of those bathtub letters and show them that letter.

Number of the Week: 1 - When you show your child anything say "One egg" or "One Elephant" and show them a picture of the number 1. Write the number 1 on paper. Show them 1 thing at a time

Songs of the Week: "Electricity" from School House Rock - click the words for link to the lyrics. And I can't resist "E Eats Everything" by They Might Be Giants - The link takes you to a super cute YouTube video.

Story of the Week: Good Night Moon - this story contains a "Light" which goes along with the electricity theme and is just a fabulous book for little ones. Read it every night before bed. Your child will come to appreciate the repetition. If he/she won't sit still for the whole book, just show them a couple of pages and let them turn the pages of the book on their own. Find it on Amazon at the link we've included or look at Target or Walmart.

Spanish Word of the Week: Electricidad which means electricity in English. You can begin to use Spanish words to your child, assuming Spanish is not your first language. I also recommend the BBC series Muzzy for introducing a foreign language to your child. Even the youngest kids will enjoy the big blue fuzzy Muzzy and the songs are so catchy!

Snack of the Week: Hummus in honor of Queen Noor's marriage to the King of Jordan in 1978. You can buy great brands at most grocery stores or make it yourself. Here's a link to the history of middle Eastern food and many, many recipes. I recommend dipping pita chips or carrots but only give this to your child if he/she is used to chewing things and can bite. Don't give your little one carrots until her/she is old enough - ask your doctor, first, please!

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Do-It-Myself Activity: Let your child turn on the light switch by themselves. Even my 13-month-old loves to do this and he says "Light On" when the light turns on. Please supervise your child doing this and make sure his/her hands are completely dry and there's no electricity build up to shock them when they touch the switch.

Yoga Pose: Vajrasana - Thunderbolt pose to go along with the electricity/Ben Franklin theme. Even if your child won't do it, you can do it and you'll feel better!

Character Component: Sharing - Ben Franklin started the first lending library. Even though sharing is a character trait that takes YEARS to master (my 8 1/2 year old is still working on it!) you can start the concept by introducing the word and giving and taking small things from your child. Be patient. It's a tough concept for all kids.

Holiday of the Month: Zoo and Aquarium Month - Visit your local zoo or aquarium and if you can't get out to do that, here is a link to a website with many animal-related activities.

Most of all - give your little one a hug and say "I love you" as many times a day as you can think of! You can never give them enough love. Enjoy!

Theme for the Week Jan 4th-8th - Bridges!

Bridges! We celebrate all things about bridges because this week in 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. We'll sing London Bridge (of course!), learn how to say bridge in Spanish and sign language, build a bridge in your living room and so much more! Enjoy!

It took four years to build and set a new safety record for the survival rate of the workers on the bridge. Even today, the Golden Gate Bridge employs 28 full-time painters and 17 ironworkers to repair rivets and other parts. This week, we'll have fun with bridges - learn the sign language and Spanish words for "bridge", create our own bridge, do the "Bridge" yoga pose and much more.

Letter of the Week: B - for Bridge - point out things that start with "B" - blue, boy, back, banana. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital B and a lower case b. Draw a B on paper, 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. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now - R, T, S, B, D, A, C and Y so far. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 3 - When you show your child anything say "3 bananas" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 3. Write the number 3 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 3 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1-9 now.

Songs of the Week: London Bridge - A classic! This link gives you all the lyrics as well as the history of the song and the real London Bridge. It was first made of wood and mud!

Story of the Week: Let's Try it Out with Towers and Bridges: Hands-On Early-Learning Activities - by Seymour Simon and Nicole Fauteux. These are rather sophisticated but we thought you could modify them for your toddler. If you can't find this book at your local library, you can click the link and find it at Amazon.com.

Snack of the Week: Bridge Between Meals - This link is a list of all kinds of great healthy snack ideas for kids. Some of them may be not quite appropriate for your toddler - anything with small, hard parts such as nuts should probably be avoided or broken/chopped into small pieces before you give it to him/her.

Spanish Words of the Week: bridge = el puente, water = la agua, golden = de oro/dorado, gate = la barrera

Do It Myself: Stack Blocks - Your toddler may be starting to like the idea of stacking blocks versus knocking them over. Working with blocks supposedly helps teach children patterns and hand-eye coordination so it's always a good thing to try. Of course their favorite part will be knocking them down!

Activity of the Week: Build Your Own Bridge - Get creative here - put a blanket over two chairs and run the Matchbox cars over the "bridge" or get a collapsed cardboard box and put it between a couple of toy bins or other boxes and show your child their dolls or trucks going over the bridge. Make sure you say "bridge" when you are playing. When you are driving this week, point out any bridges and overpasses you go over/under so your child can see what a real bridge looks like.

Yoga Pose: Bridge Pose - This is a simple pose your child will find amusing and you will find to be a great stretch for your belly and chest. 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: Bridge, River, Gate, Golden. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Theme for the Week June 22-26: Camping! (or at least getting outside)

It's been really rainy in Colorado but that just means more beautiful flowers and green plants to enjoy. Usually by this time of the summer, everything is brown and dried up so let's get outside, no matter where you live and enjoy the summer!

If you can't get away for a night of camping, you can just go to the park for a picnic or take a hike, either on a trail nearby or just around the block! Point out all the things in nature that you see - birds, squirrels, rabbits, trees, flowers, etc.

Letter of the Week: C - Find things that start with C to show your child, such as cat, cup, cabin (or cab if you live in the city), cactus, and cacophonous for the truly exceptional child. Point to the object and say "C" and the word. Show them a picture of a C. Better yet, buy some of those bathtub letters or refrigerator letters and show them that letter. Or if you are outside, write the letter in the sand or dirt. Don't worry if they don't repeat it yet; they still hear your words.

Number of the Week: 2 - When you show your child anything say "Two Cats" or "Two Cabins" and show them a picture of the number 2. Write the number 2 on paper. Show them 2 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Home on the Range - a great song to sing if you do make it camping or you can sing it to them at naptime since it is a quiet song. The link is the lyrics and the tune. I also love SpongeBob's Campfire Song Song - It's catchy; you'll find yourself singing it over and over.

Story of the Week: Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - If he/she won't sit still for the whole book, just show them a couple of pages and let them turn the pages of the book on their own. Find it on Amazon by clicking on the title. You can find it as a board book or a picture book but at this age, I'd recommend the board book for pretty much any book you are going to show your child.

Spanish Words of the Week: el arbol = tree, el sol = sun, la luna = moon, acampar = to camp. If you need pronunciation, please google "Spanish dictionary" - I could not get the links I found to work so I'm not including any here. You can begin to use Spanish words to your child, assuming Spanish is not your first language. I also recommend the BBC series Muzzy for introducing a foreign language to your child. Even the youngest kids will enjoy the big blue fuzzy Muzzy and the songs are so catchy!

Snack of the Week: Trail Mix - age-appropriate, of course. If your child is too young, please don't give them peanuts or M&Ms since that's a choking hazard. I'd recommend a small mix of goldfish, chex cereal, possibly raisins if your child can chew them and chocolate chips or carob chips, if you prefer. Again, please be careful of any small food. An alternative snack would be marshmallows, in honor of the camping theme.

Do-It-Myself Activity: Pack a snack! Have them put the trail mix, or marshmallows, cheerios or goldfish into a sandwich bag or reusable container to take on your "hike", even if it's just a hike around the block. Even my 14-month-old son likes to put things in bags (and take them out too...)

Craft of the Week: Gathering things from nature - acorns, leaves, rocks. You can give them a paper bag to put these things in as they gather them.

If your child is a little older, you can help him or her make pinecone bird feeders. Gather a pinecone - the larger, the better - and smear some sort of nut butter on it, such as peanut butter or soy nut butter. Roll the pinecone in birdseed and tie a string loop on the top to hang it from a tree branch.

Yoga Pose: Butterfly - the link includes a description among other animal poses your child may enjoy. My older kids always liked the Yoga Kids series.

Character Component: Putting things away. In camping, you must always clean, dry and put all of your things away very carefully so the tent, sleeping bags, stove, etc. are all ready for you next time. You can teach this at the most basic level by having your child put his dishes in the sink after meals, putting her clothes in the hamper at the end of the day and putting the toys away when they are finished playing. You can help, of course (or it mostly likely will not get done exactly the way you'd like it!). Make it a game - "let's see who can put the socks away first!"

Holiday of the Month: Camping week!

Most of all - give your little one a hug and say "I love you" as many times a day as you can think of! You can never give them enough love. Talk to them, even though they may not talk back and read to them everyday - even if it's the cereal box at breakfast. Enjoy!

Theme for the Week January 11th-15th - Snow!

With this being some of the coldest temperatures and most snow for many parts of the world, this week we'll have some fun learning more about snow and things that go along with that. Have fun with a great book about snow, sing Winter songs, make a couple of snow projects and learn some new signs and Spanish. Have a great week!

Letter of the Week: S - point out things that start with "S" - sign, song, silly, sandwich. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital S and a lower case s. Draw an S on paper, 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. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now; he's got almost half the alphabet now. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 2 - When you show your child anything say "2 sandwiches" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 2. Write the number 2 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 2 things at a time and count them - "one, two" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1-9 now.

Songs of the Week: Winter Songs - We found this fun website that has many many short songs about Winter to sing with your toddler to familiar tunes.

Story of the Week: Snowy Day- by Ezra Jack Keats. This is one of the classics - it won the Caldecott Medal in 1963. It has bright illustrations your toddler will enjoy. If you can't find this book at your local library, you can click the link and find it at Amazon.com.

Snack of the Week: Snowman Face - This might be a little messy - spread some yogurt or hummus on a plate or on the high chair tray. Add raisins or olives for eyes, carrot slice for a nose and an apple slice for a mouth. If you don't feel comfortable with these items for your child just yet, you can use other softer items like crackers, cooked carrots, etc.

Spanish Words of the Week: Snow = la nieve, cold = frío, ice = el hielo, Winter =el invierno

Do It Myself: Make a Snow Ball - If your little one can't make a ball with his/her hands, use a plastic cup or small milk carton and put the snow in the container. Then let your little one throw the snow!

Activity of the Week: Snow Ice Cream - Only use freshly-fallen snow that you've collected in a gallon container or that you got from the very top layer of fresh snow. I remember making snow ice cream in preschool as a kid many years ago. Your toddler will remember this fun activity.

Yoga Pose: Rabbit Pose - My older kids suggested this since we have many, many rabbits running around our yard and you can see lots of tracks in the snow on the ground here in Colorado. It is a GREAT back stretch especially if you carry stress in your upper back. Your toddler will think it's funny trying to do this pose too! 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: Snow, Cold, Play. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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. Hope you have a wonderful week! PS - Last week half of you told us you made a New Year's resolution and half of you said you hadn't yet but meant to. Take this week's poll: What's your favorite kid's catalog?

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Theme for the Week June 29-July 3rd: Independence Day - July 4th

Fireworks, cookouts, parades - all kinds of fun things going on this weekend. Here are some activities for this week to help keep your toddler busy and begin learning a little about his or her American heritage.

Letter of the Week: I - For Independence Day - point out things that start with "I" - ice, ice cream, igloo, iguana, in, inch and incredible! Show them a picture of both a capital I and a lower case i. Draw an I on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 4 - When you show your child anything say "4 ice cubes" or "4 ice cream cones" and show them a picture of the number 4. Write the number 4 on paper. Show them 4 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" "four" - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Star Spangled Banner - even though they won't necessarily learn to sing this song, it is our national anthem and you can familiarize your child with it early. It became our national anthem in 1931. Another great American song is America the Beautiful, inspired by Pike's Peak, here in Colorado.

Story of the Week: The Story of America's Birthday by Patricia Pingry - If he/she won't sit still for the whole book, just show them a couple of pages and let them turn the pages of the book on their own. Find it on Amazon by clicking on the title. This book series tells very simply stories about historic subjects in very understandable language.

Spanish Words of the Week: Los Estados Unidos = The United States and la bandera = flag, and la estrella = star. You can begin to use Spanish words to your child, assuming Spanish is not your first language. I also recommend the BBC series Muzzy for introducing a foreign language to your child. Even the youngest kids will enjoy the big blue fuzzy Muzzy and the songs are so catchy!

Snack of the Week: Red, White and Blue fruit - cut up watermelon or strawberries, apples (small enough pieces for your toddler) and blue berries for a patriotic snack!

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Do-It-Myself Activity: Clean Up! When they are finished with their meal, give them a napkin to wipe up their area of the table or highchair tray.

Craft of the Week: Ice Cube Red, White and Blue - fill up an ice cube tray or two with water and in the slots add red and blue in some of the cubes and leave some clear or "white". When they freeze, take the ice cubes out, put them in a plastic bag and let your child play with the cubes. You can count the cubes, and name the colors to help them learn red, white and blue.

This craft is inspired by the book "Bright Start - Activities to Develop your Child's Potential" by Michael Meyerhoff, Ed. D. I believe it is out of print but you may be able to get a copy from Amazon by clicking the link

Yoga Pose: Eagle in honor of our country's national symbol. My 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: Please - If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. I have been asking for my 14-month-old to ask "Please" when he needs something and he's getting better about making the sign instead of shrieking at the top of his lungs!

Holiday of the Month: Fourth of July - Independence Day. Happy Birthday America. Here is a page about the United States Flag that you might find interesting. Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

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Theme for the Week July 6th-10th: Baseball

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and...fun with your toddler. The first Major League All-Star game was played in 1933 in Comiskey Park in Chicago on June 6th. FYI - The American League beat the National League 4-2.Here are some activities for this week to help keep your toddler busy and begin learning a little about America's favorite past time. If you can make a game this week, great. If not, here are a few activities to teach your little one a little more about the great game of baseball.

Letter of the Week: B - For baseball - point out things that start with "B" - ball, balloon, bright, brown, bread. Show them a picture of both a capital B and a lower case b. Draw a B on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 3 - "Well, it's ONE, TWO, THREE strikes, You're out!" When you show your child anything say "3 balls" or "3 balloons" and show them a picture of the number 3. Write the number 3 on paper. Show them 3 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Take Me Out to the Ballgame - This is a great song and your toddler will love singing "One, Two, Three Strikes, You're Out!" - Click on the title for a website that give the history of the song and several versions to play for your toddler.

Story of the Week: Berenstain Bears Go Out for the Team - a short and inexpensive book about the family of bears we all love. Click on the title for a link to the Amazon page or try to find it at your local library.

Spanish Words of the Week: la pelota = ball and el beisbol = baseball. You can begin to use Spanish words to your child, assuming Spanish is not your first language. I also recommend the BBC series Muzzy for introducing a foreign language to your child; they offer Spanish, French, German, Chinese, etc. Even the youngest kids will enjoy the big blue fuzzy Muzzy and the songs are so catchy!

Snack of the Week: Hot Dogs - in honor of going to a baseball game! Please cut up the hot dog into appropriately-sized pieces for your child as they can choke on a regular-sized piece. I recommend Hebrew National - kosher and pure. Someone who once worked in a meat-packing plant told me that's the only brand she'll give her son and that's all I need to know!

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Do-It-Myself Activity: Putting dishes on the sink. When they are finished with their meal, let them take their dishes to the sink to clean up. I'd recommend plastic cups and plates...

Game of the Week: Staircase Avalanche - sit up just a few stairs and roll a ball down the stairs to your little one. You might want several balls so you can send them down two at a time or all at once. Let your toddler watch each ball and talk about the sounds and the colors of the balls. I'd recommend soft balls...especially in case your little one decides to practice throwing!

This game is inspired by the book "Bright Start - Activities to Develop your Child's Potential" by Michael Meyerhoff, Ed. D. Here is the link for the book - I believe it is out of print but you may be able to get a copy from Amazon.

Yoga Pose: Downward Facing Dog - which is a fun one because you can play peek-a-boo with your toddler upside-down. My 14-month-old thinks this game is hilarious and it strengthens their arms and stretches your back. My 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: Ball - If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Theme for the Week July 13th-17th: Bastille Day

Vive La France! Bastille Day - July 14th - celebrates when, in 1789, France no longer recognized the monarchy as the ruling party. This week, we'll celebrate with a few special French-themed activities. This year, France celebrates it's 220th year since the French Revolution in 1789. So, we'll help them celebrate with a few French-inspired activities. Enjoy!

Letter of the Week: F - For France - point out things that start with "F" - fun, front, finger, french fry. Show them a picture of both a capital F and a lower case f. Draw an F on paper, or use their finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show them this letter as well.

Number of the Week: 5 - When you show your child anything say "5 french fries" or "5 fingers" and show them a picture of the number 53. Write the number 5 on paper. Show them 5 things at a time and count them - "one" "two" "three" "four" "five"- so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Frère Jacques - This is a very simple song that you can probably figure out how to play on your toddler's play piano. The link opens a website that gives you the lyrics and the song to sing to them.

Story of the Week: Anatole - a series of books about a mouse and his family who live in Paris. They are a little bit long for the really young toddlers, but you can abbreviate. You may have to find them at a used book store or at the library because I do not think they are in print anymore, unfortunately. There are several stories of Anatole and his adventures. This website Curled Up with a Good Kid's Book has reviews of all kinds of children's books. You might enjoy checking it out a little more if you have time.

Snack of the Week: Croque Monsier (aka Grilled Cheese) - This roughly means "crunchy sir" and is basically a grilled cheese sandwich with sauce on top. I found it in Emeril's There's a Chef in my World on page 78. They make it with Dijon and ham. I'd say just make a grilled cheese sandwich for your little one. I slice cheddar thickly and put it on bread, put a piece of bread on top then spread the face-up side with butter, flip the sandwich into the pan so the butter side is down, butter the face-up side and watch until the butter melts- probably about 5 minutes. Keep checking the crustiness of the bread to see if it's getting toasted but not too burned. Then flip the sandwich and repeat the same until the underside is toasted too. Cut in quarters and let it cool a little before you give it to your toddler.

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Do-It-Myself Activity: Drinking from a cup/Pouring. Depending on how old your toddler is, start practicing having them drink out of an open cup. It's best to start with the smallest cup you can find. I tried Dixie cups but my little one thinks it's funny to crush them. Only put a tiny bit of milk, water, whatever in the cup at a time when they first start out. If your toddler already knows how to drink from a cup, you could have him/her try pouring a drink for themselves. The best case would be if you can find a small pitcher or even a creamer from a coffee set. Just put a small amount in the pitcher and let them pour into a wide cup, while you hold the cup.

Game of the Week: Garden Hose Symphony - Since it's summer time, I thought this would be fun but I'd suggest putting your toddler in his/her swimsuit for this one - don't forget sunscreen or a hat! Put several large objects in the yard such as a big pot, a cookie sheet, a milk jug, etc and let them spray these with the garden hose. If you have a sprayer attachment, this would work best.

This activity is inspired by page 84 of the book "Bright Start - Activities to Develop your Child's Potential" by Michael Meyerhoff, Ed. D. Here is the link for the book - I believe it is out of print but you may be able to get a copy from Amazon.

Yoga Pose: Triangle - which reminds me of the Eiffel Tower and it's a great stretch that kids will think is fun and is a slight twist to make your back feel better. My 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: Sorry - A very important sign. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate.

Theme for the Week January 18th-22nd - Bears!

While we would have loved to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, we simply could not think of a good way to celebrate the great things he did with a toddler so we chose bears since they are easy to recognize and there are many fun things to do regarding bears. We hope you have fun learning more about bears. Have a great week!

Letter of the Week: P - for Polar Bear since we just recently did "B". Point out things that start with "P" - plate, purple, play, plane . Show your toddler a picture of both a capital P and a lower case p. Draw a P on paper, 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. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now; he's got almost half the alphabet now. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 7 - When you show your child anything say "7 purple planes" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 7. Write the number 7 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 7 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three, etc" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1-9 now.

Songs of the Week: Bear Went Over the Mountain - This is a cute repetitious song we found the words and music on Kididdles.

Story of the Week: Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See? - by Bill Martin Jr. Another great classic with illustration by Eric Carle. The repetition will amuse your toddler and it teaches colors too. If you can't find this book at your local library, you can click the link and find it at Amazon.com or Target/Walmart/etc.

Snack of the Week: Bear Snacks - This link takes you to a page of all kinds of fun snacks from Perpetual Preschool. It was hard to choose just one with all the cute ideas on here.

Spanish Words of the Week: bear = el oso, polar bear = el oso polar, paw = la pata, teeth = los dientes, brown = marrón, café. Also check out the BBC's Muzzy from Early Advantage for teaching Spanish (or many other languages) to your child. They are fabulous!

Do It Myself: Hug - Teach your toddler how to give a hug to you, to their teddy bear, to their big brother or sister.

Activity of the Week: Bear Activities - Here is a whole bunch of fun printables and ideas for you surrounding bears as a theme from First School. It was too hard to just choose one so check these out and see which ones sound fun and appropriate for your toddler's skill level and attention span.

Yoga Pose: Mountain Pose - (Since bears live in the mountains and there's no "bear" pose). Besides Corpse Pose, this is about the easiest pose we know of in yoga - it's basically standing up but you stand as tall as you can to stretch your back. It's the first pose in the Sun Salutation series which is a great way to wake up your body in the morning. Thanks to Yoga Journal for these links. 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: Bear, Brown, Hug. All of these signs are from My Baby Can Talk. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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. Hope you have a wonderful week! PS - Last week you told us 50% of you love Hanna Andersson best and 50% love mini Boden as your favorite kids' catalog.

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Theme for the Week January 25th-29th - Telephone!

Telephones! In 1915 Alexander Graham Bell in New York and Thomas Watson in San Francisco make a record telephone transmission. So this week we'll have some fun with saying "telephone" and "hello" in Spanish and sign language, learn our phone number, eat apple "rings" and much more.

Although your toddler is probably a little young to actually use the phone - maybe to say "hi" to Grandma - we thought it would be fun to do some activities around the phone - things having to do with ringing, saying hello, learning a phone number rhyme and so on. Have a great week!

Letter of the Week: T - for telephone. Point out things that start with "T" - tooth, toy, train, table. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital T and a lower case t. Draw a T on paper, 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. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now; he's got almost half the alphabet now. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 15 - When you show your child anything say "15 toys" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 15. Write the number 15 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 15 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three, etc" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1-9 now. Don't worry about talking about 2-digit numbers; your toddler needs to learn them sometime! I caught a few minutes of Sesame Street the other day and their number of the day was 19.

Songs of the Week: A Ring O Roses - This is the old "Ring Around the Roses" with a little bit different words we found the words and music on Kididdles. We thought you might like to see a new version of this old traditional children's song.

Story of the Week: Hello Hello - by Fumiko Takeshita. This is a cute simple book about the telephone. It's a 32-page paperback, versus a board book so you may need to simplify when you are reading if your child won't sit still. If you can't find this book at your local library, you can click the link and find it at Amazon.com.

Snack of the Week: Apple Rings - This link takes you to a recipe for making a "Shake a Sack Apple Snack" from Reader's Digest. We thought if you want to elaborate on the Apple Rings, you can try making this version of trail mix that might be fun for your toddler to shake up.

Spanish Words of the Week: telephone = el teléfono, hello = ¡Hola!, to wave = agitar, bell = la campana. Also check out the BBC's Muzzy from Early Advantage for teaching Spanish (or many other languages) to your child. They are fabulous!

Do It Myself: Dial 911 - While you wouldn't try this on the home phone (or do so with the phone unplugged) it is a good time to teach your child that if you are ever hurt or sick, they can call for help. It's a little bit of a nebulous concept so you will need to gauge how you talk about this. Here is a link from Teach Kids How about how to teach your child about dialing 911 although it's more for preschoolers. For your toddler, you can at least show him/her the numbers on the phone and show them how to dial 9-1-1. They may not understand why but at least you have started the conversation.

Activity of the Week: Learning Phone Number - Here is link to a fun activity that helps to start teaching your child their address and phone number by making a placemat for when they're at the table.

Yoga Pose: Easy Pose - (Since phones make our lives easier). Thanks to Yoga Journal for this link. 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: Telephone, Hello, Bell. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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. Hope you have a wonderful week! Take this week's poll: What kind of Lovie (transitional object) does your toddler use?

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week February 1st-5th - Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day! Since Tuesday, February 2nd is Groundhog Day, we thought we could have some fun with the loveable furry little creature. Also, if you were wondering the difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck, check out this link for some fun facts. Enjoy!

Who knows if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow or not but we'll have some fun making and decorating Groundhog cookies, singing Groundhog Day songs to familiar tunes, learn the signs for "shadow" and "Spring" as well as many Spanish words for this special week. This week also marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox and February 2nd is also the Christian day of Candlemas. Have a great week!

Letter of the Week: G - for groundhog. Point out things that start with "G" - grape, go, girl, goat. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital G and a lower case g. Draw a G on paper, 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. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he recognizes them now; he's got almost half the alphabet now. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 2 - When you show your child anything say "2 grapes" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 2. Write the number 2 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 2 things at a time and count them - "one, two" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1-9 now.

Songs of the Week: Groundhog Day Songs - Here are a whole bunch of cute songs for the day from Preschool Education that are all sung to familiar nursery rhymes. They're so short we've included links to all of these for the week.

Story of the Week: Groundhog Day Books - Here is a whole list of Groundhog Day books for toddlers and preschoolers. If you can't find them at your local library, you can try Amazon.com.

Snack of the Week: Groundhog Cookies - This link takes you to a recipe for making cute groundhog cookies from Penzey's Spices. You'll need to find a cookie cutter or you can try to form them on your own. You'll need to make the cookies but you can let your toddler decorate them after you bake them.

Spanish Words of the Week: groundhog = la marmota, wood = la madera, shadow = la sombra, Winter = el invierno, Spring = la primavera. Also check out the BBC's Muzzy from Early Advantage for teaching Spanish (or many other languages) to your child. They are fabulous!

Do It Myself: Find Your Shadow - Take your toddler outside either early in the morning or in the later afternoon or go into a dark room with a flashlight and let them see what a shadow looks like - either on the sidewalk or on the wall. You can show them how to make funny shapes with their hands too. This link is actually for Groundhog Day from Apples4TheTeacher!

Activity of the Week: Help Groundhog Find His Shadow Game - Here is link to a fun matching activity that you can print.

Yoga Pose: Legs Up The Wall - This is a big stretch since there is really nothing close to this week's theme. We thought maybe it's like your legs are shadows on the wall...yeah, it's a stretch. But it's also very relaxing so try it! Thanks to Yoga Journal for this link. 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: Shadow, Spring. We could not find a specific sign for Groundhog - the sites we checked said to finger spell it. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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. Hope you have a wonderful week! From last week's survey, 60% of you said your toddler uses a blanket and 40% of you said they use a stuffed animal for their "lovey" or transitional object. Take this week's survey here.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week February 8th-12th - Valentine's Day!

Did you know over 200 million Valentines will be sent this year? This is the second-largest card-giving holiday behind Christmas. Let's get the week going by making a fun keepsake handprint craft, learn how to draw a heart, learning the signs for Heart, Friend and I love You, learn how to say "Heart" in Spanish, and much more. Have a great week!

Letter of the Week: V - for valentine. Point out things that start with "V" - van, violet, violin. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital V and a lower case v. Draw a V on paper, 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: 14 - When you show your child anything say "14 violet conversation hearts" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 14. Write the number 14 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 14 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three..." - so your child gets used to the pattern.

Songs of the Week: Five Pretty Valentines - This is a cute, short counting song that you use your toddler's name in while you sing. There are a bunch of others on this link from The Holiday Zone.

Story of the Week: Valentine's Day Books - Here is a whole list of Valentine's Day books for toddlers and preschoolers. If you can't find them at your local library, you can try Amazon.com. 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.

Snack of the Week: White Chocolate-Dipped Pretzel Knots - Since pretzel knots look like hearts, we thought this would be fun - but it's messy! Buy a bag of mini pretzel knots, either white chocolate chips or melting chocolate, and red decorators sugar. Melt the chocolate, dip the pretzels in, place them on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, sprinkle them with sugar and put the sheet in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Store them in an airtight container.

Spanish Words of the Week: heart - el corazón, Valentine's Day - el día de San Valentín, chocolate - el chocolate (cho-co-la-tay). Also check out the BBC's Muzzy from Early Advantage for teaching Spanish (or many other languages) to your child. They are fabulous!

Do It Myself: Draw a heart or identify a heart. Show your child the shape of a heart and say "heart". If he or she likes to draw, you can help them trace around a heart you've cut out or you can guide their hand to draw a heart.

Activity of the Week: Handprint Heart - This is the cutest heart made from two handprints on top of one another. You'll need two colors of paint - the example has purple and pink. This is a great keepsake to send to Grandma as her Valentine or for the refrigerator.

Yoga Pose: Fish Pose - While this doesn't seem heart-related, it is what is called a "heart-opener" pose. It is also a great chest stretch. My older kids used to love this pose. It feels fantastic. Thanks to Yoga Journal for this link. 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: Heart, Love, Friend, I Love You. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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.

Hope you have a wonderful week! Take this week's survey here.

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com

Theme for the Week December 21st-January 1st - Christmas!

We'll do a double week of fun for the holidays this week. This whole month is filled with special days - Winter Solstice on December 21st, Boxing Day/Feast of St. Stephen on December 26th, St. Basil's Day on January 1st, St. Lucia's Day on December 13th and many more. We think of Christmas in North America with snow, and cold and fires in the fireplace but in places like Brazil and Australia, it's summer time. They have picnics and go surfing to celebrate this most wonderful day. Of course the real reason we celebrate is because God gave us his ultimate gift- his presence (presents!) on Earth - Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Letter of the Week: C - for Christmas - point out things that start with "C" - Christmas tree, cup, cold, carrot. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital C and a lower case c. Draw a C on paper, 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. I've been showing my toddler letters in the bathtub - he has started recognizing them now - R, T, S, B, D, A, C and Y so far. You can even use flashcards a little at a time. We recently saw a link about how to teach your toddler the alphabet on Twitter, brought to you by the website www.toddlerinterpreting.com

Number of the Week: 12 - For the 12th month of the year. When you show your child anything say "12 carrots" (or whatever you are counting). Count to 12. Write the number 12 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 12 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three" - so your child gets used to the pattern. When I have been counting to my son, he now points to things and makes sounds like he's trying to count and he can identify 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8.

Songs of the Week: The Chipmunk Song - Not exactly what you would call a traditional Christmas song but the kids LOVE it because of the funny voices and when Alvin gets yelled at. This link has the words and the song.

Story of the Week: Twas the Night Before Christmas - by Clement Clarke Moore. It is impossible to chose exactly the right story because there are SO many. If you go to the library, there should be a display of holiday books to choose from. The first link here is a fantastic audio reading of the poem and the second is a link to the words and a biography of Clement Clarke Moore.

Snack of the Week: Sugar Cookies - We try to give healthy ideas for snacks but this week we just couldn't resist giving you some decorating ideas for Santa's cookies. If you don't have time for scratch cookies, slice and bake work great. This link has SO many cute cookie ideas - we especially love the "Snow Globe" cookies - we've never seen anything like them. Don't forget to leave some out for Santa with some milk! In Denmark, the kids leave out milk or rice pudding for the elves who help distribute toys and in Spain, the kids leave their shoes on the window sills with hay and carrots for the Three Kings' horses.

Words of the Week: Feliz Navidad = Merry Christmas, el árbol = tree, la chimenea = chimney, la media = stocking

Do It Myself: Distributing Presents - On Christmas (or whenever you open gifts) you can tell your toddler who gets what gift and they can help by handing the gift to the right person. Good luck :)

Activity of the Week: Pom Pon Christmas Tree - You can cut out the shape of a Christmas tree from green construction paper. Then, you can let your toddler decorate the tree with sequins, pom pons, ribbon, tissue paper, and glue. Also, if you are feeling adventurous, you can let your child help decorate a Gingerbread House - click the link to take you to a link for over 400 pictures of gingerbread houses for inspiration!

Yoga Pose: Tree Pose - for Christmas Tree. There are variations that make it more balance-friendlier; you can put your foot on the opposite ankle or on your calf muscle. 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: Merry Christmas, Tree, Stocking, Jesus. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them 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. Hope you have a wonderful week! PS - in last week's poll, 100% of you said you tell your kids about Santa!

Please email subscribe@teachingyourtoddler.com if you would like to receive this update weekly! You can also read our blog at www.teachingyourtoddler.blogspot.com