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March 14th, 2008
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I’ve been reading the excellent series of posts by The Mentor Mom. Learning tip 3 really clicked for me.
The big guy has so much energy after preschool in the afternoons I was having a hard time containing him. He was so tired he went into overdrive. He was a whirlwind of rolling, jumping, running, leaping all over the house. A trail of destruction around him…with his little brother not far behind.
The clash is this is the time I want to be making dinner, and cleaning up the house but this was also the time tempers flared quickly.
With the warm sunshine one day this week, I threw caution to the wind and took the boys out on their bikes. I sat and read, whilst the little guy finally managed to pedal his trike. The big guy cycled up and down the horseshoe many times zooming past his brother. They both played together going downhill backwards on a trike………..with helmets to shrieks of laughter. In fact they put the bikes away themselves and wanted in.
Once in, the big guy checked his chores list. Did them. Got out some paper asked me to write something to copy. Copied a few lines and repeated it when the i and the l looked the same.
Drew a few pictures and then asked could he help me cook. The little guy got out the playdough and played on the table for 15minutes before joining in the drawing.
Getting up and moving around outside using those large muscles really helped them sit. The big guy needed this the most at around aged 2. When my husband called and said he was rolling around what do you do? I used to say “He needs to run around to stay still.” It soon became our shorthand and helped with his attention span. As he got older he learnt to self regulate more and reading the article reminded me of those times.
Dinner was later…..always seems to be in our house….especially that night but the tension of getting things ready certainly wasn’t high. The kids were calmer and happier doing sedentary activities there is no way they could attempt earlier.
Just like we get up and stretch, walk around, go for a run- it’s important we teach our kids how to self regulate so they can work well. Whether you child is a toddler or in school finding what works for them can really make the difference between getting things done and getting things done well.
Why not pop over and read the others in the learning series?
Learning tip 1: Drink water
Learning tip 2: Chew gum
Learning tip 3: Get up and move!
Another great place to learn about the link between movement and learning, visit Rae Pica’s The Pica Perspective.
Technorati Tags: The Mentor Mom, self regulate
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March 10th, 2008
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Welcome to the 8th edition of Carnival of Parenting Podcasts
It’s a place to share and find some new parenting podcasts from the podcaster and recommendations from those who listen to podcasts.
Top 10
Send in your favourite podcasts of the fortnight.
- Today’s Special :Wish list ( Thanks to Terri M of Parenting Special Needs Guide About.com)
“In a perfect world, parents of autistic kids would have every need met.”
“This chocolate-crazed story should get you in the mood for an easter-egg hunt.”
“Are you a grief virgin or simply uncomfortable talking about it? Suzanne and Sharon discuss on grief and some of the myths.”
- The Parents Journal-098-Dr. Meg Meeker
Dr. Meg Meeker, M.D. Pediatrician and author of Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters offers tips about Dads caring for their toddlers and preschoolers.
- The Household helper: Episode #11 – Effective To-Do Lists
“..joined by Sarah Zeldman from SolutionsForBusyMoms.com. Sarah gives us so much information to do lists. We go over what we do wrong when creating our lists, how to create a working list, and how to stay motivated.”
- Special Needs Talk radio: Our first show!
Technorati Tags: Parenting, podcasts
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March 7th, 2008
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I found this and bookmarked it before Christmas. I think I even twittered about it, on Twitter. My memory was jogged when I heard about it again on the Jumping Monkeys podcast when they interviewed one of the co-owners in January.
Well with a birthday coming up in February it was the perfect time to try it. Here’s what we found.
Tessy & Tab reading club. We signed up last week, end of February, and unlike most subscriptions that can take 3 months or more to start we received ours in less than a week.
In the issue we received there was a booklet with a story called “Play in Puddles”
Section on vocabulary “P” and number “8″.
We had to look through the story to find 4 objects and what I really like that stretched my little guy was he had to also find two words. He’s used to looking through’ I Spy Treasure Hunt (I Spy (Scholastic Hardcover)
to find objects so it was good he had to focus on the letters of the word and the whole word and find it in the story. Something I don’t think we’ve ever done together.
The last page has a part for colouring.
I hope you’ll check it out.
Tessy & Tab reading club is recommended for ages 2-6. It comes in the mail- our was addressed to my son so he’s happy to be getting mail and it’s not his birthday twice a month!
It’s recommended in the February 2008 Parenting Magazine and I can see why.
The magazine comes with a parent’s magazine that will follow-low stock. I’m looking forward to reading more about reading.
To find out more, visit their website bursting with activities and subscribe. Click on the above banner; Give the gift of reading or the following link.
The PERFECT GIFT FOR PRESCHOOLERS – the gift of reading. Develop early literacy skills with a fun magazine. Issues arrive twice a month and are just $2/issue!
We can’t wait for the next one. I just restarted the Wild animal baby for the little guy. I love this one too but it’s going to be a while to see that subscription come through.
**********With World book day just yesterday- What are you doing to encourage reading with your kids? **********
Technorati Tags: Jumping Monkeys, Tessy & Tab reading club, activities, PRESCHOOLERS, magazine, Wild animal baby, World book day, reading
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