Our Toddlers |

We’ve gone through a few bath toys in our home. As my daughters get older, I buy new toys. In an effort to cut back on costs, I’ve started looking for other ways to entertain my toddler in the bath. In doing so, I’ve also discovered some great ways to teach her as well.

For some cheap and educational play during bath time, let your toddler play with some kitchen items. Things like funnels, measuring cups, ladles, and containers. While your child is filling them up with water and dumping them out, you can teach opposites like “full” and “empty”. You can also use a container and a ball and have your toddler try to toss the ball into the container. This is a great way to teach hand-eye coordination.

When you’ve emptied a plastic bottle such a soda bottle, poke holes in the bottom. My daughter has a toy car with holes in the bottle and she loves watching the water comes out. This give you the same effect without the extra expsense.

Another thing I’ve reused is a baby shampoo or baby soap bottle. My daughter loves to fill up the bottle, and pour the contents into something else. Also, if you use the bottle that you squeeze (versus the pump), fill up the bottle and put the top on. Your toddler will love squirting the water out on other toys. My daughter also likes to squirt mommy at times.

One last thing I do involves no cost at all. Sometimes, I’ll call out a body part and ask my daughter if she can point to hers. When I’m washing her, I also describe what I’m washing, being sure to point out right and left. When she’s surrounded by toys, they are a distraction. But I can squeeze this is sometimes.

I hope these inexpesive ideas can help make bath time fun and entertaining.

My daughter is going through the stage where is everything is “hers”. She’s also prone to just snatching and saying “I want it” or “mine”. These are the times where I find that counting to 10 (or 20) comes in very helpful. I have to remember that she’s not being mean, this is normal for her stage in development.

Toddlers generally lack the control to resist their impulses. They also do not really understand the concept of sharing and ownership. If they see something they want, they go with their first impulse, which is to take it. During this stage of development, you need to teach your toddler patience and the ability to share.

Firmly and consistently tell your toddler that snatching is not nice. Whenever my daughter does this, that is what I tell her. Also, if I see her about to grab, I move the object out of her reach and tell her she needs to ask for it since I’m currently holding it (or another person if that is the case). I do this repeatedly. She is learning to ask first if she wants something that I have or that one of her friends has.

Another thing I do is remind her that snatching isn’t nice when things are snatched away from her. I will then ask her to tell that to her friend. This has been a big help with showing her how her own behavior affects others. A recent playdate resulted in this scenario often, with snatching on both sides. With firm reinforcement, the playdate ended on a much calmer, politer note.

Stay consistent; don’t yell or snatch it back. That will only reinforce that snatching is okay. Remember, this is a stage of development that your toddler needs your help to get through. Be patient, your persistence will pay off.

If your toddler is anything like mine, you’ve noticed that she doesn’t eat much during one sitting. Not only that, but she’s up and down like a yo-yo in between bites. Toddlers don’t have the patience to sit through a whole meal. Plus, they have small stomachs and are done a lot faster than older children and adults. Since they don’t eat much at this stage, it’s important to make sure that what they are eating counts.

If your toddler will only eat one type of food per sitting, try foods that will give the most nutrition. If she’s old enough for peanut butter, peanut butter offers protein and fiber. Whole-grain breads offers iron and complex carbohydrates. If your toddler wants juice, mix it with water. If you give her milk while she’s eating, it may fill up her tummy. Try holding off until the end of the meal.

Toddlers like to snack throughout the day. There is nothing wrong with that and it even helps get up their energy levels. Just make sure the snacks are healthy. Offers low calorie, whole-grain cereals such as Cheerios. I keep some Cheerios in a baggie and my daughter snacks on that throughout the day. She also eats raisins, bananas, apples, and whole-grain crackers.

If your toddler’s eating habits are sporadic, don’t worry too much about it. So long as they are getting enough nutrients throughout the week, they are fine. Be sure to offer foods that will give them protein and calcium (dairy), vitamin C (fruits, vegetables), whole grains (pasta), iron (cereal), and healthy fat (unsaturated). These can be found in butter, cheese, and milk. Try to avoid trans fats, check the labels before you buy. Also, check the labels for “hydrogenated” oils. If you find this, it’s better not to buy. These types of fats can increase cholesterol. As long as your toddler is getting these important nutrients throughout the week, your baby will be fine.

Is your toddler turning her nose up at the green vegetables on her plate? Try using veggies of a different color. Sometimes, it’s just the color itself that is turning your toddler off. If won’t eat the greens, try the yellows, oranges, or reds. Corn, carrots, tomatoes, and red peppers are good options. Even if they don’t eat them all, just seeing the different colors may make them want to try one.

Toddlers should have a least three servings of vegetables a day. The serving size depends on your toddler’s age; one tablespoon for each year. Even though your toddler may not eat them, place them on the plate anyway. At some point, she’s bound to give it a try.

Be sure to add them to your plate as well. Children pick up on the smallest of things. If she notices that you aren’t eating them, she’s less likely to try. Make sure to eat your veggies at meal time. This way, she’s more likely to give them a try. The same goes for snacks. A healthy snack, such as celery sticks, is a good way to fill up the tummy without loading up on the calories.

Don’t forget the fruit. You should try to give your toddler a couple of servings of fruit per day. They are also a good option for toddlers who absolutely refuse to eat vegetables. Many fruits have the same nutritional value as vegetables. Offer a colorful variety such as bananas for potassium, cantaloupes for fiber, and kiwis for vitamin C.

When your toddler is big enough to make a mess but still too small to clean up after herself, picking up after her can be tiring. Sometimes it seems that she goes through an entire load of clothes in only a couple of days. And mealtime can sometimes be a disaster.

Once your baby is walking, that’s when the messes will increase dramatically. But soon, your toddler will be big enough to start helping you. The tasks will take longer when she is learning to do them. But this stage in your toddler’s development is the perfect time for teaching her responsibility. And chores are one of the best ways to accomplish that.

Good Chores For Your Toddler To Try

Start your toddler out with the simplest of chores. If you ask her to clean her room, she’ll most likely give you a puzzled look. However, breaking it down into small tasks so that she understands will be effective. Try asking her to pick up her dolls and put them in the basket. I break down all the tasks with my daughter, and it helps her understand what she needs to do.

Dusting with a feather duster is a favorite chore among chhildren.  It seems more like play than a chore. My daughter will also wipe up spills and put her dishes away.

Getting Started

When you first introduce a new chore, you will need to show your toddler what to do. She will learn much quicker if she sees you doing it. Children learn by example.

You may have to help your toddler during the process the first couple of times. Even after she has mastered the task, it’s a good idea to stay with her while she is doing it. You can get some of your work done as well, just be sure to be there to talk to her. Try singing songs or making a game out of the chore. This will make chores more enjoyable, and she may even start looking forward to them.

Rewards

Be sure to say thank you when your child successfully completes a task. If she does a really good job, consider providing a reward such as extra playtime or a trip to the park. This will let her know that her help is appreciated and give her the incentive to continue.

Getting toddlers to do chores is usually not difficult if you start early. Most toddlers love to help around the house. Remember to not push to hard and try to make chore time a positive experience. This way, you will gain a helper and plant the seeds of responsibility in your toddler.