One Minute Mama - Learning

One Minute Mama- Learning

Watching my granddaughter learn has been very insightful. Maybe it’s because I’m Grandma and I can look at things from a different perspective than a busy Mom. In every waking moment a child learns and reacts, some are good responses and some need adjustment. Anna R. from New Jersey has some great advice to new Moms. She states, “Try to look at things through your child’s eyes when you are feeling frustrated with them. They are constantly growing and changing, and pausing to remember that they are still learning how to cope with the big world puts things into perspective.”

This straight forward advice is key to remember when raising toddlers.

Active Play

When playing with blocks or another manipulative, build and sort the colors. Sit and play with them, even if it is only 5 minutes and explain your thinking. If your child throws a block, redirect the focus back to building. Then, if the throwing continues, tell your child, “we do not throw blocks” and switch gears to cleaning up the blocks. This will distract from throwing and teach them how to clean up after an activity, which is a great skill for kids of a busy Mom to have.

Prioritize Reading Books Daily

Try to make a habit of reading books to your child, morning, noon and night. When your child is small, board book pages are shorter and sturdier, preventing pages from being ripped. However, introduce paper pages as well so your child can transition into longer text on a page. If the book is wordy, just pick a couple of sentences to read on each page and paraphrase. Eventually your child will be able to sit through the entire book and grow in their vocabulary development, as more words are introduced. Don’t ever stop reading books to them. Just shorten and change books to redirect. Start reading to a child from infancy. The benefits from early literacy directly influence reading success in the future.

Sing Songs and Dance

Your toddler loves to be with you! There is no better way than dancing and singing with your child. It is amazing how a simple song of praise can interrupt a rising frustration level and diffuse any situation. Not to mention, you may find yourself singing these same songs to your grandchildren one day.  I know I do. They stay engraved in your mind for life. So, start singing and dancing with your child today. You will be amazed how it changes behavior and brings joy.

You are a busy Mom, there is no doubt. Take some time today to play, read and enjoy music with your child. The laundry and kitchen will still be there when you are done. You and your child will reap the benefits of this special time together.

Proverbs 22 : 6 (NIV)- “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”