Lil' Red

TOT SCHOOL: Tot Trays (the basics)

November 9, 2012 By Thaleia 5 Comments

What are Tot Trays?

Where Do You Find them?

I heard about Tot trays from Counting Coconuts and 1plus1plus1equals1 when Lil’ Red was still too young to use them or need them. (Boy, do we need them now! He is a smart little whipper-snapper.) We have been using them off and on.

Tot trays are activities placed on a tray for your children to do. Very similar to Montessori Work Trays, (cute video about 1 1/2 yr olds) but tailored to your child or a theme you want to explore with your child. If you have girls you won’t want to miss Playing House in Maryland‘s tot trays and if you have boys check out The Princess and the Tot’s tot trays.

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Tot Trays-10 Fall Trays & Activities

November 6, 2012 By Thaleia 23 Comments

10 Fall Tot Trays and Activities

One last hurrah for Fall while Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost upon us. I always think way ahead that it’s too early to get out such and such then the next thing I know that month/season/holiday is upon us. Where does the time go?

These Fall Tot Tray ideas will help keep your little learner busy while exploring some fun seasonal trays. Feel free to make substitutions for materials you already own or head to the local craft or dollar store for some inexpensive supplies.

Here are 10 last-minute ideas to do with your tots and preschoolers. Maybe you have the supplies on hand or maybe you can pick up a couple of things at the store. Halloween clearance may prove good for a few things.

1. Acorn & Paint Palette Spooning– plastic acorns from Dollar Tree, melon baller, paint palette and tray!

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Parentese- Weird Things We Do As Parents

October 18, 2012 By Thaleia Leave a Comment

The Weird Things We Do For Our Children

Those of you who know me and read this know I am not a cutesy voices type of person. I do not read books with characters very well. I can do high and low and maybe a little sing songy, but just not character cutesy! I’m not one very parentese, haha.

UNTIL LAST NIGHT when Lil’ Red refused to ~~brush his teeth~~ allow mom to brush his teeth. He wanted to “do myself” and “I do, I do!” Well, me being the mom that I am decided that just isn’t good enough when all he does is suck off the toothpaste and doesn’t really move the toothbrush around.

(Yep, all my kids have done it, but we were able to stay on top of the others pretty well. This little guy is a different story. He was super great about letting us brush his teeth or help brush his teeth until sometime this year. Some nights we let it go so a major fight/meltdown did not ensue waking him up and keeping him wired for an extra 30-60 minutes.)

Back to last night, Lil’ Red had his Elmo toothbrush and did the clamped lip routine. I held him on my lap and laid him across trying to hold his arms and gently wiggle the toothbrush in. Then I thought I might as well capitalize on his love of Elmo.

I TALKED IN A SQUEAKY little ELMO VOICE!! and it WORKED! He opened his mouth so Elmo and mommy could clean his teeth. I only had to talk a few more times like Elmo letting him know which area of his mouth needed cleaned next.

Tot School Oct. 7-13 (29 1/2 mths.)

October 14, 2012 By Thaleia 3 Comments

This week was just as busy as the last! Lil’ Red had lots of seasonal experiences and just plain old fun for tot school. We did not have a lot of “traditional” tot school or tot trays, but we were barely home this week. We started the week with nature and ended the week with nature!

Nature program- petted a Grass Spider and Collected Hickory Nuts

Homeschool Gym Day- got to learn some gun safety and take a hike. Big brother and big sister got to play kickball.

Pumpkin Patch– he got to ride in a hay wagon and pick HIS VERY OWN PUMPKIN! His first time at a pumpkin patch:)

Grandparents stopped by, so he got to see both sets in one day!

Tot School table time-He got a little wild with his markers! He took his dry erase marker to the wall next to his table area. I cleaned it up and he did it again. I took the markers away for that day. Next he wanted to work on his notebook, but ended up drawing on the wall and shelf again!

Cut Broccoli for soup– we put him in his seat to help make some yummy cheesy broccoli and carrot soup!

New Hair-do-He got a haircut by grandma and looks like a little boy- no longer a baby!

Scarecrows at local festival-Lil’ Red helped put up scarecrows made from recycled materials for a local festival. He waited patiently while mom and dad were busy securing the scarecrows (for a little while anyways)!

Outdoor time Tricycle Riding-He learned to peddle his tricycle! This was a big accomplishment. I thought he wouldn’t be tall enough until Spring. I guess we will need to clean the house up even more so he can ride around the kitchen and livingroom this Winter!

Nature Time-We went on a Nocturnal Wetland program looking to catch frogs and insects. We did not catch any, but got to see some!

Each day he amazes me at what things he knows and has picked up. His vocabulary is increasing especially if he can repeat a “bad” word or phrase that he hears others use. He thinks it is hysterical if he repeats something that drives the rest of the family nuts! That’s just a typical 2 1/2 yr. old.

LINKING Up With:

Recycled Materials Scarecrow Tutorial

October 12, 2012 By Thaleia 4 Comments

How to Build a Scarecrow from

Recycled Materials!

Toddler Scarecrow 101- scarecrow tutorial

Supplies:

OLD/OUTGROWN CLOTHES: Tennis Shoes, Jeans, Long Sleeved shirt or Sweatshirt

Socks- that fit youth shoe sizes 1-4~

Bamboo poles- the skinnier the better 4′ tall

Masking tape, Clear Packaging Tape or Duct Tape

Recyclables- Hugs Juice, soup cans, milk jugs, butter tubs,etc (make sure they are washed and dried)

Hammer, Awl, Screwdrivers

PLENTY OF Imagination!

Gather ALL supplies that you THINK you may need. (you’ll probably scramble around the house as new ideas emerge.)
Start off with bamboo poles and clothes. Lay the clothes out and see how it looks.
Poke holes through soles of shoes. Use hammer and awl. Then use various sizes of screwdrivers to make hole big enough to slide onto bamboo pole.

With soft plastic like the Hugs juice, you can use an awl to poke a hole and then a couple of screwdrivers that increase in size to make the hole large enough to slide onto the bamboo pole.

Poke holes through your containers and then poke holes through socks and shoes. Thread stuffed toed socks onto bamboo poles. Be sure to tuck toes into shoes and then thread shoes onto poles. Put soup can or bottles onto poles and pull socks up. Drop pants onto poles and proceed to thread containers increasing in size onto the poles.

Find a fat container (bucket, ice cream tub, Easter basket, etc) for the waist to hold pants up. If pants cannot be tightened to hold container then hot glue waist onto container. Add a couple large containers for torso. Drop on shirt.

Create arms by using skinny hugs or water bottles for arms. Use applesauce or greek yogurt or easy mac containers for shoulders. If threading on bamboo angle the holes on the shoulder containers as shown in pictures.