Homeschool/Toddler Activities List 1

I REALLY need to be more diligent about this. I'm going to start listing the neat activities I find each week.

Create an Animal Safari

Active Child Activity: What Comes Next?

Active Child Activity: Rolling and Reading


Yes, I know...there are only 3 links. Next week I hope to have more, but I wanted to get those last two out for a special friend to use with her daughter! :-)

This is why we bought the house...

THERE'S A YARD! No, there's no grass yet (which is fine by Franklin as he loves to grab handfuls of dirt pour them on Mommy)

We spent 30mins outside in the warmer weather and sunshine yesterday. And you know what? He took a nap an hour later.

Sad Note: An ant got into his shirt and stung him repeatedly. He has three stings on his shoulder. Poor kid.

He spent most of the time running from the house to the fence...

...and back again.

He'd pretend to go inside and then rush back out.

No, not inside yet.

Every stumble is a chance to pick up rocks!

Like I've said before: My son is spirited. He has a ton of pent-up energy. Living in the apartment I kept noticing that around noon his behavior would go downhill and stay there until Daddy got home. I was disciplining him constantly and not seeing any improvement. So, instead of upping the discipline (like some parenting books will tell you to do) I reevaluated the situation. What did Daddy have that Mommy didn't? Well, Mommy was big and pregnant with horrible back pain and Daddy was getting down on the floor and wrestling or chasing Frankie through the living room...things Mommy wasn't physically able to do. We (Stefan and I) concluded that it was that pent-up energy that was causing the behavior problems. However, there wasn't much we could do in an apartment with nowhere to play outside! This yard is a huge blessing. We did the best we could with the previous small space, but having a big yard to just PLAY in has been amazing.

So, if you're noticing behavior issues in your toddler (especially your toddler BOY) evaluate how much space he has to play. Are you inside a lot? Maybe there's a lot of pent up energy causing the behavior problems. If you can't get outside try a really physical inside activity. Dance like crazy, run around, exercise, etc... I'm willing to bet if you try a different tactic you'll find more success.


Linking to:

   

Activities 21 and 22

We did some new things this week!

21) Drawing with Daddy

22) Fingerpaints!

I was hesitant to do it...one for the mess and I wasn't sure he'd like it. This is the child that makes me wipe his hands mid-meal so he can go back to eating! However, he liked it!!!

He used the very tip of his finger to paint...and ended up wearing as much as he painted. And he MAY have eaten some (because you have to taste things, right?)

Activities 19 and 20

19) Church Nursery!

20) Making Music

He has one of those baby piano things that he loves to just BANG on and make noise. He even created his own sign for it. (He does the "music" sign normally and for this one he taps his forearm)

Activities 17 and 18

17) Pouring Activity

It originally started as water...

But that proved to be a bit too much of a messy challenge...

So we switched to ice and were much more successful.

18) Coloring on a Box

Franklin isn't one for coloring. He doesn't hold the paper with his other hand so it doesn't work out quite so well. Today I had the brilliant idea to have him color the boxes we're using to move.

It was MUCH easier for him and he had a blast!

Activities 15 and 16

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Yesterday was my 4 year marriage anniversary...so I really tried to limit my posts.

15) Playing at the new house 

He was trying to put dirt on me

He was FILTHY when he was done. I know it's a picture of the future. I see a lot of sweeping in my future...

16) Walking on Cushions 
We did this before in Tot School (something I need to get back on top of...) Here's the vid in case you missed it:

 

Activity 14

14) Playing on the slide

He has one of those climb and slide plastic things. He finally started using it! A few months ago he would climb to the top, sit down, say "wheee" and then climb back down. It was so funny. Now he has no problem launching himself down.

I didn't get any photos...we're back to trying to potty train so he was naked all day :)

Activity 13

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Plowing right along!


13) Reading Our Bible

Franklin wanted to read his Bible today...for most of the morning. Of course, HE wanted to read it. He didn't really want Mommy to read it to him or anything. *shrugs* Whatever works!

Sitting on the couch reading.

He wanted to climb in the bed and read. I thought I was going to get a nap...I was wrong!

Activity 12

Today's toddler activity (along with running errands lol) was another simple one that we've done before on this blog.

12) Playing with Blocks

8 Blocks

9 Blocks

10 Blocks

He stacked the 11th block on but the precarious angle it's already in made it fall. Earlier, when I didn't have my camera out, he made it to 11 blocks! He probably could have stacked more, but he's not tall enough (and they don't stand up on the carpet) Of course, after the blocks fall it means it's time to throw them everywhere...

Activity 11

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I know I said I wasn't going to repeat activities...but this is one that's too enjoyable to only do occasionally!

11) Outdoor Play

And he's just too cute!!!

Activities 9 and 10

;I have been such a slacker! This last month of pregnancy is really kicking my butt!

Today we did two activities to make up for none yesterday.

9) Playing with Ice.

I have to remember to limit this one because this child will play with ice until his hands hurt...and then try to play with it even more (even while crying in pain)

10) Laundry Help

Mommy is too big to get things out of the dryer properly. I usually wait for Stefan to get home and have him do it for me...but Franklin was a good helper today and helped Mommy do it! He's so sweet!!!

Tomorrow we start decluttering! I want to spend the weekend getting rid of AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE so we don't move a bunch of stuff we don't need. I hate that. You move and as you unpack you get rid of things and wonder "Why did I even move this??" or you declutter a few months later and ask the same question.

Activities 7 and 8

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Okay, we didn't do an activity yesterday...Mommy cleaned the kitchen and then we chilled the rest of the day (almost literally, it was cold!)

Today's activities:

7) Silk Leaves and a Laundry Bin

We don't have a yard yet so there are no real leaves to play with right now! The apartment complex cleans them as soon as they fall. No fun!!!

8) Vacuuming

Yes, it takes 3 times as long to vacuum one spot...but he loves to do it AND it's a life skill. As he gets bigger and stronger I'll let him control the vacuum more until he can do it himself. (I have a feeling my independent child will LOVE that)

He's also taken to "riding" his dump truck...adorable.

At this very second he's sitting in the laundry bin surrounded by leaves.

Activity 5 and 6

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Sorry for no update yesterday! We were buying a house...yes, a house. We went to just talk to the guy and he showed us the PERFECT house. He offered to pay our reletting fee to get out of the apartment...if we bought that day. Honestly, there is no downside to this story! It's an awesome house. It has everything I wanted... hardwood floors, big kitchen, big bathroom, and a HUGE backyard.

So, there was no activity yesterday. We spent most of the day doing house buying stuff. To make up for it I'll list two things we did today.

Today we:

5) Put away laundry (seriously, he loves to do this)

6) Went for a walk. Franklin in his NEW stroller (so much better than the other one) and Mommy got some exercise.


Has anyone else been participating with me?

Activity Three

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We spent the day out at the ranch where we buy our raw dairy.

That means today's activity was: Outdoor Play!

Franklin had a blast running through leaves and playing with some of the "toys" they have sitting around. He also got to pet the dogs (this child loves animals).

The photo quality is low because it's a phone picture...but at least there's a picture, right?

Activity Two

Franklin is 19.5 months old

Sorry this blog is coming so late! It's been a busy day (I had a chiropractor appointment today and we went to buy a carseat and stroller...after a bit of grocery shopping)

So, today's activity was a shapes puzzle.

After he mastered the small spaces activity (toothpicks in a salt shaker) we decided to get him something a bit more challenging. Yeah, that lasted about two days. Now he can complete the puzzle with minimal help. (Like, he knows where each piece goes and only needed my help to turn it just right for it to fit)

Activity One

This morning our activity was unloading the dishwasher!

I didn't manage to get any photos, sorry!

Franklin stepped up and wanted to help me this morning. It originally started with him wanting to play with the silverware. So, we started saying "Thank you, Franklin" all excited and taking whatever he was holding. It didn't take long for him to get the idea. He started wanting to hand us silverware all the time (with the sharps removed of course) A few months ago he moved on to wanting to help with the rest of the bottom rack. I helped him "be careful" and use both hands and now he's a really great helper! (Especially considering that Mommy is getting too big to bend over successfully!)

As he gets taller we'll move on to the top rack. 

Now, he doesn't always want to help...but we don't pressure him. After all, we want this to remain something FUN. So, when we're unloading we always ask if he wants to help and bring him in the kitchen. If he stays, cool. If he leaves, that's cool too!

The key to this activity is patience. It takes twice as long to let your toddler help. (I get handed silverware one at a time usually) So, do this one on a day when you're not rushing!

What was your activity?

December 31 Day Challenge

'm challenging myself (and YOU of course) to join me this December in my challenge

What does this mean? Simple, if you have a toddler you come up with AT LEAST one activity a day in the month of December. No repeating activities during the month (you can use past activities but it's more fun to be creative)

Encourage your toddler to help around the house (it's funny how "chores" are "play" at this age)

Build fine motor skills with stacking activities or small spaces activities.

Build gross motor skills by running and throwing a ball back and forth.

Encourage creativity with music, dance, song, and art!

The list is endless.

If you decide to join me please LINK UP below and grab the button to put on your blog.


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