Kids Tickled Pink

Creative Play: Chairs

A while back I discovered attending a live webcast can be tricky when you have a two year old in your care.  The situation becomes even more knotty when you get your time zones mixed up and find out its already begun, and too late to plan or set up anything in advance for a little guy to do.

As I sat glued to my laptop and the webcast rolled into full gear, Nico’s sweet, brown eyes looked up expectantly at me.  Urgently, I scanned the room, aiming to find something to keep Nico occupied during the remainder the webinar.

Then it occurred to me that if I kept my neck permanently twisted to face my computer screen, I could manage to set up a line of chairs and not miss a second of my long awaited webinar.

And the chairs in line, well, they could be a tunnel for him to drive his trains under and around.

Or a train, bus, or plane on which to ride. It could be a long road winding through a forest, or a mountain range waiting to be climbed from peak to peak…

This successfully kept him busy for the rest of the hour and beyond.

The next day Nico made his own version of the same thing and several times since then he’ll put chairs together in different ways and make all manner of intended and strange noises which are a true sign of happy make-believe play.

A couple days ago we placed several chairs in a circle and threw a sheet over them to create a tent. He loved crawling in and out, and even stayed inside for a little play.

Chairs are some of the handiest blocks of all!

Make’m Laugh!

Laughing is sort of like fun: it can happen all the time, anywhere and in any circumstance; all we need is the “jonesing”.

Toddler life is all about having fun, and laughing is a huge part it.  I can’t think of a happier activity than making Nico laugh, or working on making laughs together.

He thinks impersonated foreign accents are hilarious, and the other day he cracked up when he heard me burst out “T-G-I-F!” He even comes up to his mom and me, and cheekily says a one word joke that he’s heard us telling each other in a certain “suave” tone of voice. I’m sure he has no idea what he’s saying, but he knows it will make us giggle and smile, which supports the concept that laughing is not usually about humor, but relationships.

What makes this really cool is that apart from the  many health benefits we all get from laughing, Dr. McGee tells us humor actually facilitates children’s social and emotional development. Another recent study done in the UK shows joking around with your toddler can even help them think “out of the box”.

Not that you needed to be sold on laughing,-hehe.

I remember when Nico was six months old, my sister told me that one of her parenting goals was to make him laugh at least once a day. Pure brilliance. This probably kept her on the lookout for funny situations, and definitely in a positive mood all day, creating happy memories of his childhood for both of them.

Want to start right now? Here is a silly video of Nico and I sharing a music lesson over a potty break…

…Yes, it’s on purpose.

…No, it’s not what you’re thinking.

…Yes, it was his idea, completely.

Creative Play: Toys on the Move

“Creativity is merely a plus name for regular activity. Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or better.” — John Updike

Apart from learning how to play creatively, children love to discover many options regarding where they can play.

Sometimes a change of scenery is just what the toy doctor ordered to bring the sparkle back to an old toy that has lost its luster. It can offer a new perspective on the toy, which frequently suggests a new way to play; it’s a creative backdrop:

Bring something to the library.

Move a play station to a new area of the house, or take it outside.

Take an indoor toy to your front/back yard.

Take an old toy to the park.

On a bed

Under a table

Inside the car

Behind your couch

Christmas Cheer

It’s nearly Christmas,-the season to be jolly! I believe, for children, part of the fun is “practicing magic” to transform everyday places into a wonderland of lights and colors.

Plastic bobbles might not be as pretty, but at two years old it’s all about being able to touch. Touch he does! He even took a bath with the bobbles, and carefully swings them on their perches to watch how they dangle and sparkle.

Unfortunately, 3 bobbles at the supermarket bit the dust; we’ve got to teach Nico that Home Wonderland is the only place where he’s allowed to touch.

Today Nico and I put up the tree. Excitedly, he passed me every single branch.

He helped mommy set up the manger scene on a toy shelf where he can reach the figurines and kiss Baby Jesus good night. Almost immediately a wise man fell and lost his hands and gift. Later Sheepy got a little owies which unfortunately let to decapitation. Nothing that superglue can’t fix.

Although Nico is learning to be gentle and careful, next year, we’re totally buying a toddler-proof manger scene.

First thing after a nap, he brought his friends to see the lights:

Golden Moments: Clouds

“I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.”—Percy Shelly

Before cell phones, internet or cable TV, I remember lying on the grassy hill behind our house, staring up into the sky at the clouds. It kept me entertained for hours.

Nico loves watching things move, clouds included.

Taking a pause on our way to the park.

Overcast days on a long weekend drive make looming rain exciting.We spotted a speeding jet slicing through the sky during a morning walk.

Watching the storm clouds roll in from a café window; then we watched the rain.

Playing “name that cloud”; can you guess?

Creative Play: Diapers

“Creative minds are rarely tidy” –John William Gardner

By disregarding the “right” way to play, we discover new ways to play right now.

I’m learning to let Nico play messy games, because I believe these are important moments when he is discovering, creating and learning on his own at full speed.

When I see him starting one of these games my instinctive reaction is to tell him to stop before things get out of hand and something breaks or requires extra cleaning. But sometimes, out of hand is exactly where they must go for him to fully develop his own ideas and assert his independence.

It all started with wearing a diaper as a hat.

Then he threw them all in a pile on the floor.

He ran through the fallen nappies like they were hot stones burning his feet.

Of course he made me participate, and then laughed at me.

He practiced his counting before taking “big jumps” over the pile.

Will you just look at that smile.

When he finished playing, he gladly helped me tidy up.

“ARE” You Following these 3 Steps for Happy Toddler Sleep?

Children between the ages of one and five years old need anywhere from 12 to 15 hours of sleep a day.

This “ARE” checklist is something I developed over the years after countless fails. It has helped deliver many happy bedtimes and creates healthy sleep habits.

1)      Attitude

Children are extremely sensitive to a caregiver’s moods. I like to remind myself that nothing else matters when I’m going to put a child to sleep; only her happiness, comfort and security. Inevitably, this is communicated in my actions, and as the child feels it, she reflects it, resulting in a peaceful transition to sleep.

Take a moment to relax and breathe deeply before heading towards the bedroom.

2)      Routine

Toddlers love repetition. It provides them with a sense of security because they know what will come next; it can preempt many struggles. Nico looks forward to the same routine each day before nap, and he follows a similar one with Mom at night.

Find a special activity, like a certain story, book, or action that your child loves; repeat each day before rest –especially when they’re tired or you don’t feel like it.

3)      Environment

Soft sounds, soft lighting and soft touches help to sooth and relax. Whether you are co-sleeping or not, by making a child’s environment as warm and welcoming as possible you are helping her feel safe, happy, and relaxed.

Speak in slow, soft tones when reading or story-telling before bed; play soft music. Add a soft teddy or some soft touches, and your child is likely to fall asleep quickly.

When Brushing Teeth Becomes a Challenge

We all avoid doing things we don’t enjoy. By stubbornly refusing to do what he doesn’t consider fun, Nico reminds me that everything, even tedious things like teeth-brushing, can be enjoyed.

Nico will do anything to avoid getting help with his teeth, -every single day.

Still, the fun must go on.

So one day we sing The Old Grand Duke of York, and brush the top and bottom accordingly.

Success!

By the next day, he has caught on and that doesn’t work. So we try a different song.

Failure.

Then story telling.

Epic failure – yelping included.

I default to videos. This always works with Nico. Like most boys of his generation, he came with an inbuilt magnet for anything with a screen.

But after his teeth are clean and I turn the video off to head over to bed: tantrum.

We repeat this scenario for several days, but I don’t think tantrums are fun for either of us.

So a couple days go by and Nico sucks on his toothbrush and swallows toothpaste while I give us both a break, hoping a brilliant idea will come to mind.

Another day I try several methods without success, so I let him “brush” for about 20 minutes while I attempt reasoning with him. I clean the sink and point to how shiny it looks after I cleaned it. He still won’t let me.

Finally, I tell him that he can choose to be happy or sad, but that I must clean his teeth. He wails, and I have to hold his head still with one hand as I brush with the other. Definitely not fun.

The next day, when time to brush rolls around, I hope that he will yield, now that he knows I’m sticking to my guns and will brush, regardless of what he does. He does not yield.

While singing a silly song over his howls, I spot his bear cologne on the sink and ask him to brush Teddy’s teeth.

Success. It’s been 3 days in a row now where Nico excitedly passes me his toothbrush.

I know this game will only last so long before he will get bored, and once again he’ll demand something fun in exchange for cheerfully letting me brush his teeth. And why not? It’ll be fun, I’m sure.

“If life doesn’t offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo

Golden Moments: Dancing Drapes

 “Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!”  —William B. Yeats 

On the days where I take a moment of silence with Nico first thing in the morning, we’re both usually much more relaxed and happy throughout the day.

During these golden moments, our full attention is focused on the same thing. Somehow, this brings us together in a special way, producing calm and joy.

This morning the wind was blowing hard.

We silently watched it dancing in the drapes.

…and gracefully blowing the awning.

We giggled when we spotted it pushing the empty swing.

Creative Play: Shadows

Don’t play what’s there. Play what’s not there. — Miles Davis

Although shadows are sticky fair-weather friends, they make up for it by being extremely flexible and as animated as you want them to be.

Summer mornings are a perfect time to get to know them, and enjoy their friendly company.

Hi-five!

Shadow, want a hug?

Reach farther, Shadow.

Hey, he can point just like me!

He walks right beside me and follows me everywhere.

Can’t catch me!

Colorful shadows.

Goodbye!

Finding Fun: Steam Trains

They move.

They make noise.

They pull heavy loads.

Every young boy I know luuuuves trains.

We have just returned from a magical journey on an old time machine named Puffing Billy. Proudly, he confided in me about the upcoming celebration for his 100^th birthday.

The track wound through a picturesque, fern-laden forest. Then Billy rattled over a rickety, old bridge and crossed roads where every looker-by would stop and wave.

Old and young sat on the window sills to catch a better view.

So many things can be observed, taught and enjoyed on an old steam train ride.

Why not enjoy a quaint ride with your family this weekend, or maybe, take them on a special North Pole expedition for Christmas?

See links below for rides in your country.

Australia:

VIC: http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/

NSW: http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/

TAS: http://www.westcoastwildernessrailway.com.au/

WA: http://bennettbrookrailway.org/

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