This little video goes with the previous post. Normally I don't talk so much and just let the Little Guy do his work. This day though he was doing the activity at my request and we had a running dialog going basically from sun-up to sun-down. Some days he just loves to talk!!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
ABC Recognition and Matching
Here is an activity that the Little Guy initiated and I've taken a step further to formalize.
He saw the ABC play mat and wanted to do something with it. I suggested we find the ABC magnets since they were both ABC things and he took it from there! The place mat went to his little table in the kitchen where he promptly began matching the magnets to the letters on the place mat.
He noticed a few things that I hadn't really thought about. Did you know that small "z" turned on it's side matches the big "N"? Or how confusing the small "d" and small "p" can be?
After the Little Guy went to bed I got down to work. Matching on the place mat inspired me to create a sheet to match with the size and shape of the magnetic letters that we have.
After writing it all out in pencil I went back with a pen and then erased the pencil lines. Each step was also scanned into the computer so in the future all I'll have to do is print off the sheet.
The set of ABC magnets that we use for "work" has the consonants in blue and vowels in red. This is originally a Montessori idea to help kids learn about the two different kinds of letters and how they work differently. While the Little Guy isn't focusing on that yet it doesn't hurt to start out using the set.
Here's the new and improved activity. It was much easier because the letters in the bowl actually match the font used for the ones on the mat/page.
After the Little Guy went to bed I got down to work. Matching on the place mat inspired me to create a sheet to match with the size and shape of the magnetic letters that we have.
After writing it all out in pencil I went back with a pen and then erased the pencil lines. Each step was also scanned into the computer so in the future all I'll have to do is print off the sheet.
The set of ABC magnets that we use for "work" has the consonants in blue and vowels in red. This is originally a Montessori idea to help kids learn about the two different kinds of letters and how they work differently. While the Little Guy isn't focusing on that yet it doesn't hurt to start out using the set.
Here's the new and improved activity. It was much easier because the letters in the bowl actually match the font used for the ones on the mat/page. Saturday, June 19, 2010
Preparing to be a Brother
One of my jobs for this summer - and perhaps the most important one - is helping the Little Guy grasp what it is to be a big brother.
He loves babies in my Baby Signing Time Classes and looks forward to playing with them each week.
He also is very in tune to what we do at the regular doctor visits. Having an ultrasound at every visit (Japanese standard of care) helps him to see how the baby grows. He's likes to listen to the heart beat and see the baby's growth chart. Of course the 3-D pictures of the face always help too!
He loves babies in my Baby Signing Time Classes and looks forward to playing with them each week.
He also is very in tune to what we do at the regular doctor visits. Having an ultrasound at every visit (Japanese standard of care) helps him to see how the baby grows. He's likes to listen to the heart beat and see the baby's growth chart. Of course the 3-D pictures of the face always help too!At home he has always paid great attention to his "babies" carrying them in a sling, feeding, rocking, and inviting them to play.
This has all been topped off with a selection of books that talk about babies which we read regularly, by his request. Here are some of our favorites:
Baby Blessings Series - These 3 are from the same author Alice Joyce Davidson:
- God Bless : Baby's First Family Photo Album
I'm a Big Brother - same book, different edition
I'm really not worried about the Little Guy liking the baby. He already tries to play with her a few times a day. They do sumo, poke each other and give hugs. My concern is more about who gets to be "in charge" after she is born.
In my mind I'll be the main caretaker so feeding, rocking, diaper changes will fall on my shoulders. I get the feeling though that the Little Guy is thinking of the baby as "his" so we might have a difference of opinion over the daily care!
Either way we are headed for the start of another fun adventure!
Friday, June 18, 2010
More Puzzles
My little helper was at it again... I opened the closet door to find something and he dove right in to find a thing or two himself!
When we went to the US last summer I picked up the Infantino Matching Colors and Textures Puzzle. At 18 months old it was a great activity when used by category (color, texture, etc.) but what a difference a year makes! Now the Little Guy can take on the whole pile of pieces at one time!The other big change is that last summer he used signs to tell me what most of the pictures were but now he does the puzzle with a running dialogue complete with his own ideas of what various things are/could be.
We also have the Where's my Tail puzzle. Again, it was a challenge at 18 months and it is easy now at 2.5 years old. I really love the Infantio puzzles and if we were headed to the US again this year I would pick up a few more. They are durable, age appropriate and have great artwork!
We also have the Where's my Tail puzzle. Again, it was a challenge at 18 months and it is easy now at 2.5 years old. I really love the Infantio puzzles and if we were headed to the US again this year I would pick up a few more. They are durable, age appropriate and have great artwork!Sunday, June 13, 2010
Shodo
Since we have unpacked but not everything has found a home yet the Little Guy is finding new things to try that I wouldn't normally think of giving to a 2.5 yr old!
This is a mini shodo (Japanese calligraphy) set that I got from a Scholastic order a few years back. It is rather realistic in that you have to grind the ash stick and add water to make the ink. I have things for regular shodo but this is better fitted to little hands.
Once we got everything set up and the ink made the drawing fun began! WE started out with careful attention being paid to style and procedure. After about five minutes though the writing turned into free painting. I think this is a new favorite activity because at least twice today I was asked about doing it again. Perhaps tomorrow?
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