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A Dr. Seuss Celebration!
March 2 is a day for celebration. It is Dr. Seuss’ birthday (He would be 113 this year!) and Read Across America Day. In celebration of the day and the 44 books Dr. Seuss has written, I have put together 5 toddler-friendly activities paired with a Dr. Seuss book for each day of the week. Monday: Start the week by reading a Dr. Seuss classic, Green Eggs and Ham. I love that Dr. Seuss wrote this book on a bet that he couldn’t write a book with fifty or fewer distinct words. Then, make a tasty breakfast of green eggs and ham. In lieu of food coloring, check out the blog Family Food…
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Learning Body Parts with Goldfish Swim School
As a Speech Language Pathologist working in early childhood intervention, I often evaluate a young child’s receptive language (what spoken words she understands). Part of the assessment process examines if a toddler can identify body parts upon request. Typically, the ability to identify body parts begins to emerge between 12 to 18-months old. Around this age, a toddler will identify anywhere from one to six body parts when asked. My daughter began swim lessons with Goldfish Swim School at 13-months old. At the time, she could identify her “tummy” but wasn’t consistent when identifying other body parts. When we asked her to identify a body part, she knew we were…
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Columbus Winter Outings, With a Toddler, Pt. 2
It’s official; Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. This can be the hardest time of year for active families. The lack of Vitamin D and inconsistent weather make for some very antsy and grouchy children…not to mention their parents! I started a list a month ago of some great places in Columbus for a young toddler to explore during this time of the year, Columbus Winter Outings, With a Toddler, Pt. 1. Below, I have continued the list with some additional ways toddlers can play, explore, and learn while out and about in Columbus. Pee Wee Play Gym/Toddler Time: The Westerville…
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5 Reasons to Start Swimming Early at Goldfish
I never thought I would take my daughter to her first organized swim lesson before she could walk. This past summer, my girl was so interested in water and swimming pools that she seemed almost fearless. So, when the opportunity for swim lessons became available, I decided that enrolling her at Goldfish Swim School would help her not just enjoy the water, but also learn how to actually swim. Looking back, I am so happy she had her first swim lesson shortly after turning a year old (your child can start as young as four-months old at Goldfish). Below, I am sharing five benefits my family has gained because our daughter started swim lessons at Goldfish…
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Columbus Winter Outings, With a Toddler, Pt. 1
The first 3 months of the year are generally the longest for me, as I’m sure they are for everyone else. Now that our daughter is 17 months old, we have a full-blown toddler in the house, and our house is feeling even smaller than actually it is. At 17 months, baby girl enjoys outings; with a lot of places around town, I find the activities may be a little too structured, the space may be a little too dangerous, or the other children may be a little too big for her. Below, I have listed some great places in Columbus for a young toddler to play, explore, and learn, where we will…
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A visit to the AHA! Children’s Museum
We had the time and opportunity over winter break to explore the AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children’s Museum, in Lancaster, Ohio, and we are so glad we did! The museum is an easy 45-minute drive from Columbus and admission is only $6, which makes it a very manageable and worthwhile day trip. The museum’s mission statement is, “Educating children in a world of discovery, curiosity and imagination through hands-on play.” The museum is designed to educate and accommodate children ages six months to eight years-old. There is a lot to take in upon arrival. The museum is a 4,000 square foot, open space, with 33 hands-on exhibits (at last count).…
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5 Easy Toddler-Made Ornaments
This holiday we have been making ornaments that focus more on the process than the product. The process of making these ornaments allows a child to explore different art mediums and just create. Below, I have listed 5 simple ornaments that a toddler can create, with a little support from their favorite adult. Salt Dough Ornaments: This activity is quickly becoming one of our favorite holiday traditions. The recipe is simple: 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, and 1/2 cup warm water. Your child can help you mix the ingredients together, roll the dough out, and then press out the shapes. Let the ornaments dry for 2 to 4 days or place…
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The Gift of Experience
Providing your child with new experiences naturally exposes her to new vocabulary. These experiences can capture your child’s attention and provide an opportunity for you to model new vocabulary in the appropriate setting. These experiences can happen anywhere, whether it be heading out about town to visit a new place or participate in a class, or having a fun activity delivered straight to your door. In addition to promoting language development, these experiences support your child’s cognition, sensory, fine motor, and creativity. Christmas is a great time to give the gift of experiences, many of which will last well beyond the holiday season. Below are some suggestions on how to give the gift…
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Being Comfortable in the Water at Goldfish Swim School
When we first began swimming lessons with Goldfish Swim School, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t interested in lessons where I would have to “dunk” my daughter’s head under water. Luckily, this wasn’t the experience we encountered in our lesson. Goldfish Swim School practices patience and allows your baby to experience water on her terms. In each lesson, the instructor provides techniques to help you guide your child to feel comfortable in the water. The mini lessons are formatted for the parent/child to participate in the class together. If your child is anything like my daughter, she will probably cling to you during the first few lessons. As your child becomes…
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Language in Daily Routines
Some weeks there is just no time. Between work, family commitments and household responsibilities there isn’t time for anything else. This post looks at promoting language development in daily routines. No extra materials needed or mess to clean up. These routines are most likely being done in your household, so with a few changes you can turn them into a learning opportunity for your child. Laundry: Laundry is a never-ending chore that your child can easily help with. It definitely takes a little longer, but it is a wonderful opportunity to build clothing vocabulary and help your child understand directions. When a wet piece of clothing is taken out of the washer,…