Comparisons hurt, harm and are useful.

If I asked you what type of parenting style do you support with play. What would you say?

It wasn’t until I was in a different country in a totally diferent situation did I realise that I my idea of play was different. It was then I wondered am I doing it right?

We don’t all move. We often have the same friends and same circles.

Is there a right way to play? If there is, who do I listen to? What about my family and individualism?

Knowing your own mind takes time to develop. We come with all the baggage of our childhood and family relationships. Now we have a playful tot to raise and lots of decisions to make on important issues like TV time, electronic media, mobile media, organic toys, wooden toys, plastic toys, Montessori, Waldorf, classes, playgroups, the list goes on. Our mind isn’t just made up on all issues- just like that.

How do you develop your mind so you don’t just follow the crowd?

{Image credit}

Knowing your mind in 25 steps

1. Look at your children and learn how they work.
2. Go to trusted sources. You have to decide who they are.
3. Accept advice as just that advice- what worked for them may or maynot work for you.
4. Try new things
5. Share your ideas. Other people see things you may not see.
6. Have encouraging and supportive friends
7. Your children will make you cry and despair but they have the capacity to make you laugh and weep with joy if we create opportunities for that to happen more than once in a while.
8. Accept and reject things as the season changes in your family
9. Create plans.
10. Educate yourself in the areas you lack
11. Beware of bandwagons
12. Ask questions…..ruminate on ideas….feel free to adapt, transform or drop ideas….after careful thought.
13. Find and talk to people who have been there before you. It’s amazing how much perspective they will give you.
14. observe families who you admire. Try out what they are doing.
15. Sometimes you need to take a break and focus on other things like your marriage, home, work, career, goals, dreams or ambitions. Not just your kids will thank you for it.
16. Parenting is not a competition. Some are further along than I am. I’ll be further along than someone else.
17. Everyone has problems. No one is perfect
18. Discuss your ideas, opinions and direction with your spouse, friends and family- they know you and will often give you interesting advice ( some good and some not so good)
19. It’s okay to be different. Different isn’t automatically bad or good.
20. Have thought provoking twitter and facebook friends. They will challenge you in good ways.
21. Grow
22. Remember that sticking your head in the sand doesn’t work there has to be another way.
23. Encourage people who try things out- they are actively working on knowing their mind ( You can learn from their successes and failures)
24. Compare yourself less to those around you. Some comparison is good but be careful
25. We don’t need to know all the answers and get it right the first time. We can let many things just go and roll with it,however we have to decide which ones we do intentionally.

I’m working on No.21 this year. What about you I’m curious?

What are you doing to ‘know your mind’ on issues in 2012?

Are there any areas you find the hardest to do?

Click here to read the rest of the posts in the series, 31 Days to a more Playful Tot.

31 days to a more Playful Tot {Day Eleven} Know Your Mind is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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It’s probably something that most of us can relate to in the popular book, Too Many Toys by David Shannon, of the poor dad stepping on LEGO pieces.

LEGO this summer has come into its own with all the boys. With our age span from 3 to 8 now we have many different types.

On a recent visit to Jen of Muminthemadhouse the LO played with her boy’s LEGO Space set. It was a rare and not forgotten treat.

All the way home he talked about the “Plane” meaning shuttle. Other peoples LEGO is so exciting and it makes you think and create in different ways.

We’ve been happy to find huge tubs of it a car book sales lately. While I’m happy for the boys my heart aches for hoovering around that stuff. So far the grand finds have been at their Grandparents’ house so they are getting the pleasure of LEGO. I know in a few weeks though that all most of  that LEGO will be making it’s way back here.

What keeps me sane with LEGO?

Letting go!

I know that LEGO will be around the house. It’s really not the biggest deal. We live in our home and always have. I expect to see that kids live in a home and one of their things is that they drift and leave stuff. I love that active play in them to do this.

Listening

Have you listened to your kids, when they don’t know you’re there, playing with LEGO? It’s a joy! They so totally get into it and absorbed. The situations and scenarios they play out are long and complex. Yes some of them are based upon familiar characters but I’ve seen a lot of crossover from books, real life and just imagination.

Time

LEGO has been a huge hit this summer and 3 little boys have sat, squirmed and rushed around for huge swathes of time inside and out setting their own play. They’ve completely got lost in the play and can’t believe it’s meal time or anything else. That’s a great thing! It’s how I remember summer being.

Light flash!

Today I hit upon and idea that just works well for me. Hoovering is hard.I don’t want to suck up those little extra pieces but it happens, at times. So I found a box and as I was tidying the room for hoovering I dropped the pieces in there. I did this for two rooms. Look at the booty I found!

I think the boys will love me! More Lego is like ice cream- you just can’t have enough!

It’s a simple tip that perhaps you already did but it’s saved my sanity. I don’t feel so annoyed and frustrated at all these little pieces.

Sometimes WE choose the toys that suit US as parents for ease of use, lack of pieces, quick, expensive, electronic, no mess because it’s EASIER for us. It’s not that we do all the opposites of those listed we have our days too when we need to do differently.

What I’m trying to do though is find a way for the boys to participate in unstructured and the messy and make it work in our home. Intentionally finding a way to make play opportunities work that are ideal and welcomed because they allow the kids to shine and play in ways that will surprise.

This box…. sets me on the road.

Photo credit: justmalia

Do you have any LEGO storage tips for me?

P.S I would love to do this for the boys room. What a creative way to store LEGO!

Finding LEGO is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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Birmingham Public Library (AL)

Listening to audio is a skill that’s not confined to just car journeys. There are many times when we need to add some downtime or slow the pace down.

Listening is a very active form and a really easy way to provide imagination, inspiration and entertainment.

Here are 3 go to places for active listening

Listen and Play

This is part of the BBC school programming and is published on a Tuesday. They are available on demand for 7 days after broadcast.

Each programme includes familiar songs, rhymes, stories and sound discrimination games to develop children’s phonological awareness and confidence with spoken language.

Each show has kept my little one interested and we’ve subscribed via iTunes so can listen again to older versions. if you live outside of the UK access to the BBC iplayer is restricted but you can subscribe via iTunes and download as a podcast.

Listen and play

Playtime

P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E …It’s PLAYTIME! P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E………

With the current interest in letters and singing of the ABC song along with the phonic game on the fridge this show is perfect for my soon turning preschooler. It’s full of energy and emotion that he’ll stop to listen. We pretend together and with siblings as well.

Songs, stories and movement activities for pre-school children inspired by popular themes.

This is also part of BBC programming for schools.

Playtime

Barefoot books podcast

I’m a big advocate for diversity in book and literature with my family of boys we just love the Barefoot Books as they have a range of stories both traditional and from different cultures. We always have lots to talk about seeing the people and places in these books. Now you can read along or just listen to your favourite books.

Barefoot books publish a huge range of stories and many of them for the over 5s so watch out for the themes.

Barefoot books

We’ve been experimenting with audio and listening recently and have tried them at our family dinner time. Instead of the usual hustle and bustle we listened to a story and then discussed it afterwards. It was really a different way to celebrate dinner together.

We’ve tried the traditional sit down and listen but this doesn’t work as well for us . It’s been great tidy up ‘music’ and listen to in the morning music before everyone is awake.

Photo credit: Birmingham Public Library (AL)

When do you listen to audio and what do you listen to?

3 must have places to bookmark for preschool listening is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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When you look through your books do you see a diversity?

Do you have a range of many different types of books?

I had an opportunity this week to look at my bookshelf  and share some of them with my children. Yes lots of ladybird books and Mr. Men books. I never had though many non fiction books. What’s on your children’s shelf? Sure enough the books we buy are usually fiction. The books we borrow are often non fiction.

Let’s look wider. Do the books I have available show a diverse world? How do I share cultural hertigages from around the world or talk about friends in my neighbourhood who are different?

Poetry is a lot of fun but often not on many shelves. This week on Raising Playful Tots you’ll find some ideas about introducing poetry all in time for Poem in your pocket day in April.

Bookstores and libraries are better than ever now about displaying a wide range of books for the under 5s but they do put centre stage the most popular. This perpetuates the popular status. We notice the displays but what displays do we see?  We have spring- new life- Easter right now but I don’t recall seeing many displays on losing a pet or family member. All things that often happen during a young tots life. We have a display on people who help us in the community but children want to know why that person is holding a cane or walking with a dog or why that child is in a wheelchair.

Let’s take a wider look at our books and actively find new genres and styles for our little ones in April.

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Here’s a new place to me that I wanted to share!

“Passion For Knowledge is a non profit organisation whom aims to inspire young people, particularly those from inner-city and minority ethnic backgrounds, to read more.We provide an array of topics and themes to reflect today’s diverse society. Our aim is to promote a love of reading and an understanding of the world we live in, and to inspire young people to live their dreams. ”

Passion for Knowledge “have complied a recommended reading list for key stages 1-4 which offers you the chance to purchase 25 books in each key stage that have been picked by our celebrities and a panel of members that are in touch with today’s “Multicultural Britain” to select and provide young people with titles of interest which they can relate to enabling them to explore and enjoy reading. Books can be bought as a bundle or individually.”

Find out more about their book bundles and choose a new title for your Key Stage 1 ( 4-8 year olds) child.

Click over to Passion for Knoweledge

Have you found some unusual books or found a new genre this week?

How do you choose which books come into your home?

Share your ideas in the comments

Diversity in books is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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We had fun playing shoe shops.

It was a spontaneous activity that just evolved as we played.

As with most things with my LO; it started with a pair of shoes and as usual he gathered them together.

I grabbed a chair and began to serve him.  He chose his shoes and we tried different ones on.

Before too long I grabbed some paper to draw around his feet to mimic the foot measure.

We did pretend the door and sign but it was fun to design a real sign. He then tried to serve me………… lots of laughter.

Play activitivities don’t always have to be planned. They can like this one and evolve.

Nurseries and preschools are well known for their play corners and theme corners.

They are easy to do at home with a little bit of fun.

What play corners have you created at home?

Make your own Shoe Shop is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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It’s been almost a month now since you got your shiny new smartphone/ipad/ipod. You’ve got to grips with some features but you know it can do so much more.

You’ll be wanting to listen to shows that help you as a parent or maybe you need some light relief.

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How to find shows?

iTunes

• Ask your friends and bloggers. Kara from Simplekids.com shared her favourites recently.

• Download iTunes it’s a free piece of software that holds a vast directory of podcasts, as well as music, movies and radio.

• Once you have downloaded iTunes visit the podcast section in the iTunes store. There’s a search bar in the top right corner.

• Look at your favourite radio shows most have a podcast version so you never miss them again.

Smartphones

• Blackberry has a podcast directory where you can find shows.
• Stitcher is a free application you install on your smartphone. You can listen to content right from your phone without needing to be syncing your computer and ipod.

Podcasts to try

The (Over)thinking Mom

This is a recent find for me and I’m loving digging into the archives as Meredith has some great topics.Meredith talks about interesting and topical subjects around parenting. She loves researching and investigating- which is good for us as she shares it all in this podcast. I’ve really enjoyed her range of episodes and just like “MPR”  ( NPR), I found myself listening to topics I didn’t think I would be interested in and totally got hooked. Cost : Free

Tweet with The (Over)thinking Mom on Twitter | Like The (Over)thinking Mom on Facebook

BAM- Body, Mind and Child

BAM is a radio network of many channels that caters to parents, educators and leaders in Education. The show I listen to the format is the host, Rae Pica putting questions to two or more guests with opposing opinions. It often makes for a lively discussion.   Deborah of Teachpreschool.org was a recent guest. These shows are 10- 15 minutes long and are packed with lots of information and background on children. It’s the one that plays in the right sidebar of this site. Cost: Free

Like BAM- Body, Mind and Child on Facebook

Apple Juice Radio

This a fun husband and wife podcasting duo talking about the parents guide to children’s books and films. This show is based in the UK. I really enjoy the reviews as they are not sugar coated and always with a positive spin neither do the couple  always agree so the discussion is spirited and you can totally get the point the view. There’s a lot of laughter and you really feel like you’re listening into a conversation in their 15-25 minute show. They are show notes that give more information about the book and the film. Cost: Free

Tweet with Apple Juice Radio on Twitter | Like Apple Juice Radio on Facebook

Classics for Kids podcast

All the previous podcasts were for parents to listen for themselves or to learn for the children. This podcast is one that was recommended to me by a homeschooling mom who uses the podcast as part of her curriculum. It’s a short podcast that illustrates a classic composer and is full of music.  At 6 minutes it’s perfect “setting the table” listening in our house to keep everything moving along. Each composer lasts 3-5 podcasts but with the bite sized child friendly language and chunks it is totally accessible as an easy listen. Cost: Free.

Parents’ Perspective

One of the first podcasts I subscribed to in the mid Naughties and still a favourite today. This is a co-hosted show where the topics are on parenting and offer a wie range of material, not just focused on the Early years. The host starts with a senario and ends with the interview  of a special guest expert that attempts to answer the question. With each show approximately 27 mintues long the time goes really quickly as you listen to stories and information. Cost: Free

Like Parents’ Perspective on Facebook

The Because Show

All the previous shows were information about development or parenting ideas whereas these three women from Los Angeles talk about a subject each week. It’s not a parenting show and it is a parenting show as all three are parents. They have occasional guest but usually we have girlfriends answering questions, sharing stories and commenting on life. It’s a refreshing  to listen  to parents who can talk about and experience other things other than children and perfect listening during the day. They do have an explicit tag to some of their material which is useful when you have little ears who would love nothing better than to repeat what they hear. You can check each show and they usually say beforehand in the intro. They really are like a magazine with the diversity of subjects and views. They have long and short shows. Cost: Free

Tweet with TheBecauseShow | Like TheBecauseShow

Raising Playful Tots

My show.

Raising Playful Tots (RPT) is a weekly podcast and Internet Radio show for mums who want to make the most of Early Childhood playtime. We offer tips, suggestions, guest interviews and conversation about how to keep appropriate play central in the under 5s in our care.  Time: between 20 and 30 minutes. Cost: Free

Tweet |Facebook

Carnival of Parenting Podcasts

Why Podcasts?

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What do you do once the children go to bed of an evening? Slump in front of the TV, grab a book, watch a movie, study for school, go to club, Facebook or Tweet? We all have our things we do. There’s a podcast out there for you too.

::Ones for parents to learn and grow

::Once for parents to be transported

::Ones for parents to laugh and groan.

So many different types.

As a parent who is interested in playing with their child there’s got to be time for the parents to play. Fun for your ears.

What’s a recent podcast you’ve subscribed to?

Dusting off your new ipod or smartphone is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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How are you getting on with your New Year resolutions?Try these 11 resolutions to start you thinking about play in 2011.

1. Stop and think do they really need that new toy or gadget? Marketing and peer pressure aside how will it really benefit my child? Sometimes they will and sometimes it won’t.

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2. Stop and play with the kids each day. Schedule it, mark it on the calendar do whatever it takes. One on one with each child with them directing the show. Start with moments and build up your stamina. It’ll be worth it.

3. Find like minded friends and grow together.

4. Read about play and share with your friends

5. Allow the kids freedom to imagine, create and be totally bored. Turn off screens and substitute with things your family will love, grow to love or will at least experience together. Trial and error is a great teacher.

6. Ask the children what is their favourite things to do with the family and do it more often

7. Find a rhythm for your family of clubs, activities, freetime, downtime that allows everyone to benefit from the richness that each brings.

8. Let them have experiences that leave them in awe, surprised, dirty, singing, shocked and determined. Childhood is richer if there are many elements to it that are unpredictable.

9.Share and swap games, toys and ideas with friends and neighbours. You’ll find out new places to visit and things to do when you actively talk about play.

10. Have playdates that promote physical exercise: out in the garden- whatever the weather, change of clothes would not be too difficult; time in a local park; going for a walk/hike riding bikes. Resist activities that solely mean you staying stationary for the entire playdate

11. Comment or give back to your playmates who inspire you to keep on playing

What play resolutions are you planning for 2011?

11 play New year resolutions you can keep is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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Great big thank you to all of you new and those that have been around since 2007. Thank you for all the comments, email messages and Tweets about play. Here are the top 10 posts, after checking my statistics of posts that you loved to visit during 2010.

Top 10 posts you loved in 2010

DIY Toy money Sensory play- an introduction

Sensory touch Sensory smell

Create thumbprint pictures Teaching young children responsibility

Shaving Cream Incy Wincy Spider pretend play

Have you started your babies’ treasure basket? 9 ways to encourage imaginative play

What are you looking forward to in 2011 in play?

Thank You is a post from: Play-Activities.com
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