Not ONLY was this weekend full of festivities and fun, but it was also Paige’s 18 month-day. That’s right, my little girl is turning from a baby into a little girl. While I’m sad and happy that nursery went SO well (not a problem for this chick)… it also is time to start another Erickson tradition.
Lessons.
I almost rolled my eyes into my brain as I said, “Come on P, let’s start our lessons” this morning.
Now, some of you are starting a giant eye roll too — honestly, I’m just not the best mom to get on the floor, roll around and play hippo or whatever we’re doing at the moment, but lessons are a way I have found to really engage with my kids.
This morning we worked on a wipe-off workbook about our bodies. I actually used this one with Spencer as well. It’s a great one to start off and and the kids can just go wild and crazy with their coloring (and you can wipe it off and re-use the book later) Mostly we’re talking about body parts which is a great way to start off lessons.
Then, we moved onto a few flashcards. P is VERY verbal, but not in a way that any of us can understand, so we’re working on her learning the actual names of some things.
Then, we blew-up a balloon she’d gotten for Halloween and she burst into tears because it scared her. Really.
So, then we played with a few balls, and I said the word ball about 5 million times and then she finally said it. Yay!
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Then, we read a book about going to the doctor and I related that to some of the body parts we’d learned about earlier and then we sang head shoulders knees and toes. Also, we are going to our doctor tomorrow for the ol’ check-up.
As you can tell, the whole thing takes, maybe about 15 minutes. It will stay that way til’ she’s 2, and then we may up it to 20 minutes. From names of things, we’ll take it to letters and shapes, it’s always a progression and luckily I saved all my stuff from the other two.
Anyway, does anyone do lessons like this with their littles? I put some playdough in our lesson box to work with next time. I know that using our senses is a great way to engage this age. Anyone else have ideas?
Of course, along with lessons comes the very grown-up thing of watching a little TV while she eats her snack in the AM (aka, I get something done). Nothing very long, just 15 minutes or so to take the edge of her early morning cranky-ness. In fact, I think it’s time for a little TV right now. Anyone have any shows I should be DVR’ing? Conner adored the teletubbies, I will have to admit, but they’re not on TV anymore and I have to also admit it’s been a while since I’ve been intimate with PBS, at least the shows for the tinys. Thoughts?
Kara says
My youngest loves Dinosaur Train or Super Why. When he was Paige’s age it was Curious George and Barney. I know Barney sometimes gets a bad rap but I love that it involves music as it teaches things.
Tansy says
Brilliant plan. When I get some littles, you need to share with me these awesome lesson-boxes . . .
Angie says
I hope to be better at this than I was with the others. I feel like I’m more of a roll around on the floor with them kinda gal, but even then I have a five or ten minute max.
We have always liked Backyardigans. The music is actually done well, and the characters are colorful. Emily watched that since she was probably two.
Lara says
No eye rolling from me. I always admire you doing this. I suppose I do it in my own way, but I do like the thought you put into it.