I am fortunate enough to have a husband who is a very involved father. Like most mothers, I tend to be the one who worries about meals, bed times, laundry, discipline, structure and routines. My husband is the one who is more likely to fool around with our children being silly and creating laughs. This is probably why he came up with a fantastic way … Continue reading The Body Bath Time Song
The ability to read is a vital skill for everyone. Those who cannot read are at a distinct disadvantage. Reading is critical for achieving well in school and tertiary education. Developing a child’s love of books will open up new worlds and allow their imaginations to be unleashed without limitations. Reading is essential for most forms of learning, follow instructions and many ordinary day to … Continue reading It’s Never Too Early For Books
Fine motor skill development is a big focus for children age around 2 years old and older and surprisingly there are a tonne of fun games for helping children learn these skills. For this game you will need large (A4)cards with shapes drawn on them with colourful pens. A good starting set would include a circle, a square, a triangle, a straight horizontal line and … Continue reading Play Time: Fine Motor Magic
We have spoken about the importance of manners in previous posts, especially for older children, but at what point can we really start teaching our little ones the intricacies of manner culture? Of course we lead by example and aim to show courtesy in our behavior in front of children, which of course does ingrain in their young minds, but what and when can we … Continue reading Play Time: Manners Managed
Silly soup is a fun game which will help children from 2 years and older to enhance their verbal memory. For this game you will need a large soup pot with a lid, a large wooden spoon and a small basket of items. To start this game, tell the child you are going to make some soup and you’d like their help. Ask the child … Continue reading Play Time: Silly Soup
Toddlers love searching games and this one, suitable for children as young as 18 months old also teaches them the names of colors, objects and counting. To start the game, say to the child, ‘Shall we go on a treasure hunt?’. Give the child a bag in which to collect things in. Where the child is still quite small show the child an object that … Continue reading Play Time: Rainbow Treasure
Its a well known fact that routines help children to feel secure and children also love to mimic and most have a very caring nature about them. This wonderful game allows your little one to act out some of the routines day to day, mimic and practice the art of caring for others, while teaching them how they are cared for, simultaneously building language and … Continue reading Play Time: Routine Ramble
Sorting games are a wonderful way to improve our children’s vocabularies, as well as visual and verbal memories. These work spectacularly for children from the age of around 18 months and older. Our homes are full with possibilities to sort, resort, arrange and organize things while letting our little ones learn through participation in these activities. Get the kids involved in all the sorting chores. … Continue reading Play Time: Mix and Match
This is a great game you can play when you are out shopping to teach the little one in your care all about sequences. Great for kids over two years old, this game is almost guaranteed to get you past the sweet and toy aisles without the usual breakdown tantrum. Warning; playing this game may invoke rather strange looks from the occasional non parent type, … Continue reading Play Time: The Shopping Song
Did you know you can raise a child’s IQ simply by engaging him or her in regular conversation? Encouraging responsiveness and enjoying their company? Language is our main avenue to learning about the world. Talking and listening to a child is one of the most important intellectual forms of stimulation a child will ever receive. Music too has been shown to boost brain development. The … Continue reading Raising a child’s IQ through Language, Listening and Music
When babies spill food and start playing in it, using their fingers and palms, they are not just making a mess. They are exploring making marks and this is your child’s first step towards writing. You can encourage a toddler to make marks by giving them different surfaces and mediums to explore. Paint is usually a good place to start ( Click here for a … Continue reading Language Development: Scribble Time
Before reading a book to a child, try to find time to read it yourself. Familiarise yourself with the story and content. Think about how you can possibly add some acting. Do a little dance, if appropriate. Perhaps act the story for them, sock puppets can add tonnes of fun. Reading is about having fun and learning together. This way you can also spot things in … Continue reading Language Development: How to Read to Toddlers
Infants have a very short attention span. It’s best to look at books frequently for short periods. Start with short sessions of a few minutes at a time, spread at intervals throughout the day. As the child’s powers of concentration improves, gradually lengthen the time you spend reading together. From about 12 months, try to set up regular reading times. Maybe first thing in the … Continue reading Language Development: How to Read to Infants
Try to encourage babies to look at books on their own from an early age. Even if they only play with them at first. To give your child or the child you are caring for a sense that books are an essential part of life, it’s a good idea to put a favourite book in your bag every time you go out, so children always have something … Continue reading Language development: Make Books Essential
Your local library is a great place to start looking for books. The children’s librarian can help if your’e not sure which books to choose. By trying out different titles you’ll soon find out which ones your child likes. Joining the library is free and you can enrol babies as members from birth. Aim to take toddlers regularly and let them choose their own books as … Continue reading Language Development: Using Your Local Library
Sitters4U 