Introducing Colors to a Toddler

Yesterday, Baby Bear had her 24-month doctor visit. She is 25% for height, 50% for weight and 75% for head circumference. Her communication skills are right on track, and she is only a little behind in gross and fine motor skills. They can barely tell she was a six week early premie.

Mommy's Big Girl

And since she is communicating so well and currently in the "What's that?" phase, I have decided it's a good time to start teaching her colors. I'm sure we will be putting her markers to good use very soon, but for right now, we are starting with a book. 

Red Car, Green Car

Years ago, my first grade teacher told me that books were the gateway to learning, and  I plan to pass that knowledge onto Baby Bear. We have read Red Car, Green Car 4 times today. Hannah loves pulling the tab to make each car change to the color featured on the next page. I like that there is a little story to go along with the colors and not just a list of random objects. 

For the next couple of weeks, we will be primarily focusing on the color red. I will be sharing our favorite books and activities, so that you and your toddler can follow along if you wish. For now I am off to work, and she is off to bed. 

Have a great night,
Kristie 

Sensory Play with Goop

Baby Bear has been fighting a cold for the better part of a week. I blame this horrible cold front that forced us all to remain indoors. By the end of the week, we should be experiencing warmer than normal temperatures again, and able to get back outside, but until then, we will be playing in the house.

Actually, we are going to be playing in the kitchen today, because it is a great place to make a mess. Our mess is going to be called Goop. If you have never experienced Goop before let me enlighten you. It is very similar to slime, but does not contain glue. At 19 months, Baby Bear still puts everything in her mouth, and I want her to be able to play without worrying about poisoning my child. So here is the recipe.

Goop
Ingredients

• 1 container of corn starch
• 2 cups of water
• food coloring

Directions

1. Pour the corn starch into your play container. 
2. Add the water and stir with a wooden spoon until all of the corn starch has combined with the water. 
3. Food coloring is optional. Adding it with the water will give you a base color, while adding it after gives a more marblized look. 

As you can see, Baby Bear was quite curious about the new textures in her tub. She had fun mixing in the food coloring and feeling the Goop change from a solid in the container to a liquid in her hands. For easy clean up, I just picked her up and put her, clothes and all, into the tub. After she was clean, I popped a lid on the container so we have it for nest time and mopped the floor. Not too difficult at all. 

I hope this inspires you to get messy with your toddler. Let me know how it goes. I would love to see the pictures. 

Thanks, for playing with us. 

Kristie

Mommy Snuggles

My toddler is super into books. When we go to the Meijer, I have to avoid the book aisle unless I am either buying Hannah a new book, or prepared to have a full on toddler meltdown. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that she is enjoying books this early in life, but it gets expensive to buy board books once a week.

Our current favorite book it Mommy Snuggles by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben, which we found on Amazon.  Each page shows a different animal with her baby. The dialogue explains how the animal transports her baby, and as a bonus teaches children that baby animals have different names.

I am adding an extra lesson to reading the book and teaching Hannah some body parts that she has in common with these animals. She has learned where her mouth is, like the tiger carrying her cub, and where her belly is, like the otter carrying her pup. We are also working on back and arms.

Mommy Snuggle Time

Arms are where the human mommy at the end of the book carries her baby. This is my favorite part, because when we get here, Hannah launches herself into my arms and gives me the best toddler hugs, while I snuggle her close and rock her back and forth. I highly recommend this book to any parent looking for a book that allows bonding time and learning to go hand in hand.

Tell me what your favorite book is to share with your toddler in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by,
Kristie