Indoor Activities That Are Fun For A 16-Month-Old Child

How To Teach Your Kids About Shapes In Creative Ways

Children learn about shapes and colors in school before learning the alphabet's numbers or letters. Shapes are important to teach because they help kids compare things, figure out what's the same and different, and put things in order visually. In the first few years of school, learning about shapes is a good way to get ready to learn letters and numbers. It helps a child tell the difference between letters and numbers. Understanding shapes also helps with math, especially geometry, and figuring out what makes sense. Looking for ideas on how to teach toddlers about shapes? You and your child will have a lot of fun with shape activities at home if you follow these tips. Treasure these early lessons you're teaching your little one. Have you ever thought about why preschoolers need to learn about shapes? At an early age, children are taught the four basic shapes: circle, square, rectangle, and triangle. This helps them get ready for more complicated lessons in the future. These different shapes also help them get better at reading and writing. Also, they lay the groundwork for math lessons and figure out what makes sense. Here are some good shape-friendly hacks and things to do to help the cause. Use Shape Puzzles Puzzles are one of the best ways to teach something. You can find simple puzzles that involve shapes both online and in stores. They are smart ways to help toddlers learn about basic shapes. Most of the time, these puzzles are big and brightly colored, making it easy for little kids to hold them and figure out each shape. Use shapes to draw on paper: Children love to write with anything they can get their hands on pens, pencils, crayons, etc. If your child likes to draw, you can use that to teach her about shapes. Hold her hand and have her draw a line, which is the simplest shape. Explain what a line is to your child. For example, it links two points. Hold her hands and have her draw various shapes like a square, triangle, and circle over time once she starts drawing lines. Make shapes with toothpicks: Children like doing things that let them be creative and use their skills. On a piece of paper, draw the shape of a triangle, square, rectangle, etc. Give your child some toothpicks as well as a tube of glue. Ask him to glue the shape's outline and put the toothpicks on it. Stick shapes onto paper: On a piece of paper, draw different geometric shapes. Now, draw an additional group of the same shapes on a separate piece of paper. Give the second sheet, some crayons, and scissors to your child. Ask her to color a shape first, and you can help her cut it out. Then, tell her to put it where it is on the first sheet. Use cookie-cutter shapes: Give your child a package of kinetic sand. Ask him to disperse it on a large tray and use his palms to make the surface even. Now give him different-shaped cookie cutters. Ask him to take one cookie cutter at a time, say out loud what shape it is, and then press it into the sand. Your child could also spread some sand out on a tray and then use his fingers to make shapes in the sand. Hopscotch: Draw different shapes and cut them out on large sheets of chart paper. Now, use glue tape to stick these shapes to the floor. Say the name of a shape out loud and tell your child to run to that shape and stand on it. To start making the game more fun, you can say the names quickly, one after the other. You can also make the shapes on the ground of your house with chalk instead of chart paper. Build shapes with tangrams: A tangram is a Chinese puzzle of seven geometric shapes: one square, five triangles, and one parallelogram. You can put these pieces together to make different shapes. Your child can make different shapes by putting the pieces together. Get books: Children love to look through a book's pages and see what it's about. So, get your child some slit-and-slot books, books with pictures of different shapes, and worksheets. Go for a walk: Every day, you should take your child for a walk. And as you walk together, show him different things and ask what shapes they remind him of. Shapes help in school, but they also help with things like reorganizing the house, making designs, thinking about space, etc. So, go ahead and teach your child about shapes right away. Building a strong foundation when your child is young will help him or her learn faster and better.

What activities make children happy?

It is every parent's wish that their children have a happy and fulfilling life. But what do we do to make them happy? Chances are, we try to do the same things that make us happy as children. But what if those things don't make our kids happy? It's time to rethink our parenting strategy. This blog post will explore what activities make children happy and how you can incorporate them into your family life. See animals up close. For many families, taking their children to see live animals in a zoo or animal park is a must-do during visits to tourist attractions. But what are some other activities that make kids happy? The CDC found that children who were moderately active as toddlers were less likely to have behavioural difficulties and more likely to be physically active as adults. For a study published in "The Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions," researchers surveyed and analyzed the behaviour of more than a thousand kids aged 3 to 5. Researchers found that those who participated in moderate physical activity had better social skills, were less aggressive, and had better communication skills. Physically active children also tended to have higher self-esteem. According to the CDC report, kids aged 2-5 spend an average of just over two hours per day playing outside. If your child loves going on walks but doesn't get enough time outside each day, consider scheduling some indoor playtime too. Activities like climbing trees or playing tag can help burn off energy while spending time together and help your child develop critical social skills. Dress up and see people in disguise. There are so many things that children can do to make themselves happy. One of the simplest is dressing up and seeing people in disguises. This can be an excellent way for children to have fun and learn about different cultures. It can also help them to socialize with others. Go to the beach Spending a day at the beach is the quintessential summer activity. Whether you and your family enjoy swimming, sunning on the sand, or simply exploring the shoreline, plenty of activities will keep you happy. Here are five favourite beach activities for children: 1) Swimming is one of the most popular beach activities because it's safe, fun, and easy to do with just about any group size. If you have young kids, pack plenty of sunscreens and water toys so they can stay entertained while you relax in the sun. 2) Playing in the waves: If your child loves playing in shallow water, head to a nearby coast or beach where the waves are high enough for them to splash around. Make sure they wear wading shoes if they want to get in too deep; even short waves can quickly knock little ones over. 3) Dragging a tube down the shore: Tubes make great lawn toys and provide hours of entertainment for kids of all ages. Try filling it with water from the ocean and watching them try to get it all back up again! 4) Collecting shells: Shell collecting is a classic activity that can be done anywhere there are beaches or seaside cliffs, even indoors, if there's enough light. Let your child pick up as many shells as they can before returning them to their spot – this will keep them occupied Playing in the water Playing in the water is a great way to keep children happy and engaged. Many fun activities can be done in the water, such as floating, swimming, and playing in the waves. If you are looking for something more active, try diving or snorkelling. These activities provide a sense of adventure and allow children to see some fantastic creatures underwater. You can also try fishing or boating if you have a boat or swimmer. If your child is older, they may enjoy playing beach volleyball or basketball on the sand. Eat sweets! Studies have shown that children who engage in activities that make them happy tend to be more resilient and more comfortable. Here are five fun activities that will keep your little ones happy: 1) Play with Barbies or other dolls. 2) Make homemade cookies, cakes, or pies. 3) Draw with crayons or markers on paper. 4) Go for walks or bike rides. 5) Play video games or watch cartoons together.

How Does Your Child Benefit From Participating In Parallel Play?

If you were an only child, you probably remember trying to play toys and games by yourself or via your parents until you got friends. This change from being independent to interacting with others is necessary for a child's development. Toddlers learn how to get along with others and interact properly by playing with others at the same time. What is a parallel play? Parallel play is when your child comes out of himself and gets ready to play with other children or people. Be it going from playing with toys by yourself to sharing them with someone else and playing together, or just going to the garden to play with other kids. A child plays make-believe in his or her early years. As he ages, parallel play becomes a big part of his life. Parallel play is an important part of a child's development. It's the first time a child steps out of his comfort zone and tries to have another person near him while he plays and tries to make a connection with that person. How old should a child be before they start playing with their friends? Age is not a general factor in parallel play because every kid plays and interacts with other people at his own pace and in his way. When your baby is between one and a half and two years old, he might notice other kids playing alone but react to it. Sometimes, he'll try to get their attention by throwing the ball back to them. As he gets older, around 3 or 4 years old, he becomes more interested and starts to understand what it means to play with friends. Parallel Play and Its Benefits for Child Development Parallel play is an important part of kids' growth and development in the following ways. The Rise of Communication Not every bit of growth and change has to be done on purpose. Some of it can happen without anyone doing anything. Your child could learn a lot by observing how other kids act, talk and think in a group or at a park. If someone calls out for a ball, he will quickly look in their direction and try to find it. This is also how many children learn new words and ways to speak a language. Improvement of Movement Skills When a child plays alone, he or she only thinks about the toys, and everything is pretty much under control. When your child starts to play with another child in a parallel way, he or she will know how the other child will react and will start to play in the same way. This way of learning is at its best when learning a new sport or game. You can pick up new skills by watching how others do things. Your child will get to know the person he is playing catch-catch with and may even try to learn something new. Freedom of Expression All emotions, feelings, and wants can be fully expressed through different kinds of parallel play. From jumping for joy when something goes well to dealing with an injury when their child falls to getting into a fight when he does something wrong, your child learns about and expresses the full range of emotions through interactions with other people and the environment. This also helps parents understand how their child acts in everyday life. Getting a sense of your limits Your child won't act toward other people as he does toward you. He is now in a place where he doesn't know what he can and can't do. Even though it might be fun for him to playfully pull your hair, it is not fun for him to do the same to someone on the ground. Handling somebody who takes his ball and throws a fit because they want to play with it teaches your child what he should and shouldn't do. Developing the Feelings of Friendship and Kindness Most kids grow up to be very protective of the things they own. It takes them a while to figure out that things are not scarce and that sharing what they have with someone can make them both very happy. This is when you'll be able to tell if your child is usually friendly and makes friends easily or if he is usually shy and takes his time getting to know people before deciding who to talk to. The biggest sign is that he shares his toys with other kids. How to get kids to play together in parallel? Try the following things to get kids to play together. But don't force a child to do something he isn't ready for. Let him take his time getting to know people; he'll get there eventually. ● Let the kids play next to one another rather than with each other first. Let each person play with his or her toys. This is parallel play in the most literal sense of the word. It gives your child a chance to slowly step out of his or her comfort zone and then return to it.● Ensure there are enough toys for the kids. If your kid only has a car and the other kid has a whole set of toys, your kid will feel left out and want to play with the other kid's toys. Try setting up simpler activities like coloring books and clay molds, where it will be hard to compare the amount or quality of play.● Again, kids don't have to be playing all the time. Even if they watch their favorite cartoon together, your child will feel closer to the other child. The same can happen when you dance to a favorite song or watch a game together.● Kids sometimes argue or fight with each other. It makes sense. If there isn't a fight, your child might not want to be around anyone and go into his room or another one. For the parallel play to work, the kids must be in the same room, even if they're not talking to each other. They will talk to each other and break the ice sooner or later.● If kids are playing together, show them how to trade their toys and see what happens. You could also talk about both toys with involvement and try to find a way to connect them. For example, if one child has a monster toy while the other has a duck, you could ask, "What would happen if the monster decided to chase the duck?" Then, you could try making monsters and duck sounds to see how the kids react.● Make sure the parallel plays take place in a homey place where there aren't too many people or kids running around. This could add to their stress and make them less likely to talk to each other. While at the same time, don't let the play go on for too long. Your child might not be very interested in it at first. So a shorter period could make him feel less stressed and better ready to do it the next day. Kids gradually learn and start to do things like play with other kids. For kids with autism or other special needs, this may be an even bigger problem. Supporting them as a parent and being a part of the team can help them try new things without fear because they know you'll always have their back. Use different examples of parallel play to make it easy for both kids, and soon their child will have his first friend.

How do you teach a child an animal name?

Teaching a child an animal name is a pretty simple task. After all, we all learned them when we were kids. But how can you ensure that they understand while having a good time? In this post, we will share three fun and engaging ways to teach animal names to your children. By the end, they'll be able to list all the animals they know by name! How to Teach a Child an Animal Name When it comes time to teach your child an animal name, there are a few different methods that you can use. One popular way is to have your child learn the animal's name as part of its routine. For example, if your child wakes up each morning and sees a bunny in the living room, they would learn the bunny's name as part of their morning routine. This method can be helpful if you have a lot of animals in your home or your child is especially interested in certain animals. Another option is to have a naming contest with your children. In this contest, you ask them to come up with names for various animals and vote on their favourites. This method can be helpful if you have many animals or if you want to introduce new animals into your home without remembering their names. Whatever method you choose, involve your child in the process and let them feel proud when they know how to name an animal correctly. How to Choose the Right Animal Name for Your Child As parents, we are responsible for teaching our children animal names. This critical skill will aid in their development as communicators and problem solvers. The best way to do this is by modelling the behaviour ourselves. When deciding on an animal name for your kid, consider the following: 1. Start with easy names first. Start with more exact names if your child has difficulty pronouncing or remembering words. Names like Piggy, Duckie, and Bunny will be more straightforward for them to learn than Tiger, Lion, and Gorilla. 2. Use family members as models. When naming our pets after family members, our children can easily associate the name with a familiar face. For example, we might call our son "Bear" because his older brother is named "Bear", and he knows how to say the word "bear" correctly. 3. Avoid unique nicknames or terms of endearment in the name selection process. Unique nicknames or terms of endearment might make it difficult for your child to remember the name if they ever have to say it out loud in public or when interacting with other children at school or daycare facilities. For example, "Snickers" would not be a good choice for a pet name because it rhymes with “penis” and could lead to embarrassing moments when Snickers needs help getting his food from the dish. Guidelines for Selecting an Appropriate Animal Name Some parents want to give their children a name for every animal in the world. It is optional to do this, though. You can teach your child an animal name by exposing them to as many different animals as possible and observing which ones they consistently call by their name. Once you have a few words your child likes, you can begin teaching them the pronunciation of each one. There are several ways to teach an animal name. One way is to take your child on a nature walk and point out different animals while naming them. Another is to watch children's shows that focus on animal personalities or habitats, such as "Wild Kratts" or "Animal Empire." The important thing is for you to model how you would like your child to address each animal. Once your child has learned the basics of calling each animal by its name, it is essential to ensure they understand why we call these creatures by specific names. This can be done through stories or asking questions about particular animals during nature walks or other activities. By doing this, you will help reinforce the knowledge your child has acquired and help them develop a love and appreciation for all things nature! Tips for Teaching an Animal Name to a Child One of the first steps in teaching a child an animal name is to help them understand the concept of an animal's name. Once they have grasped the idea, introduce them to some animals and ask them their names. If you have pictures of the animals, put them up so children can see them. After they have named a few animals, try asking them to spell their name. Finally, ask them to tell you what they think the animal's personality is like.ConclusionSince every kid is unique and develops at their rate, there is no universal solution to this problem. However, some suggestions for teaching a child an animal name include: introducing the animals excitingly and engagingly; having the child repeat the animal's name after you; providing example sentences with corresponding names for each animal; and having flashcards or other learning tools that include the animal's name. As long as you are patient, enthusiastic, and dedicated to teaching your child about animals, chances are they will learn it eventually!

Activities to Help Your Toddler's Brain Develop

Toddlers are full of energy, and it can be hard for their parents to get them to sit still and pay attention to one thing. The first three years of a child's life are very important for learning and development, but almost 90% of a child's brain development occurs by age 5. What your little one learns in his first few years can shape his life. As a parent, you should try to get your child involved in activities that help him learn and grow. We've put together a list of fun indoor activities that will keep your child busy without taking away from the fun. Activities to Help Your Toddler's Brain Develop Give your child these fun ways to learn to help him improve his thinking and language skills. These simple games are just brain exercises that help him remember things and solve problems. They will also get him ready for school. Reading We know your child might not be old enough to read yet, so you'll have to read to him instead. Choose a storybook that is right for your toddler, like one with a simple plot and lots of pictures, and read it to them. Then read the story out loud, making sure to change the tone of your voice for each character and make animated movements. Different parts of his brain will be stimulated by hearing new sounds and words and seeing new pictures and colors. As he listens to you carefully and tries to understand the story, he will improve his ability to imagine, use vocabulary, pay attention, and listen. Children, especially toddlers, are easily influenced and learn most by watching and copying what their parents do. So if you read to your little one, you'll also teach them to read, which is a good habit with many benefits. Coloring Your child doesn't have to be an artist to color or paint. He will be busy for a long time coloring, and if he likes it, it could become a hobby he keeps for life. You can get him crayons and a coloring book with pictures of different animals or flowers. Get your child Camlin Child Grip Crayons that are decided to be made with special non-toxic materials. Five different colors are safe for a toddler to use. Because of how they are made, they are easy for your child to hold. This can help him get a better grip, which will help him in the long run. Coloring can help him improve his fine motor abilities and hand-eye coordination, as well as his creativity, ability to focus, and, in the long run, his cognitive skills. Let him color as much as he wants! Sorting by color or shape For this activity, put blocks, colorful pom poms, or colorful buttons in a box and teach your toddler to sort them by color, shape, and size. As your child gets better at this activity, you can move up a level and ask him to take things like stainless steel bowls and glasses out of the dishwasher and place them in the appropriate drawers. Your child will soon be able to sort as well as group things on his own. This is a very brain-stimulating task! Putting up Cups or Blocks Little kids love to stack things! And as they do it, their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and ability to focus get better. You can teach your toddler how to stack things by giving him stacking cups, stacking rings, or even building blocks. Let him stack his toys as high as he can, or let him put them inside each other. This activity helps him learn to recognize shapes and colors and count and put things in order. Test-Driving Textures Toddlers learn through their senses and using their senses of touch, taste, and smell helps their brains work better. You can let your child touch things with different textures, such as cotton balls, sandpaper, beans, soap, etc., and then let him try to hold each one and tell you what it feels like. This will help him get a better grip and wake up his senses. Working on your child's grasp from an early age is also important because a good grasp is the secret to improving handwriting. Child Grip Camlin Crayons are easy for kids to hold and are made to help them get a better grip. Please give him a crayon and let him color or draw on anything. These colors can be washed off porous surfaces, so you don't have to fret about hiding the marks they leave on your walls when unexpected guests appear. Scavenger Hunt Children like to discover new things, and we're sure that your little bundle of joy will enjoy this hard game. Hide his favorite toys or things that are a certain color, and let him go hunting for them. It will be fun for him to look for those toys and bring them to you. It will also make him feel good about himself and improve his problem-solving ability. Singing Action Songs or Word Songs To help your child learn new words, sing songs with actions like "The Alphabet Song," "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," and "Row, row, row your boat." Invite him to join you in singing. He will try to copy you every day and sing in his own gibberish. He will also learn new words and try to link them to actions. He will also learn a lot about how words rhyme. Cooking You don't have to invite your child to help you cook something with knives and fire. But he can help you get ready (like helping clean peas). You can also teach him how to cook without a flame. Even something as simple as making him a peanut butter sandwich can keep him busy. Plus, when he's done, he gets to eat it! It will also help him learn about the different textures and tastes of different foods. These are some things your child can do to keep his brain active and help him grow and learn. Make your child do one or two things every day.

How To Draw A Car In Detail With Step-By-Step Instructions For Children

Cars are among the toys that kids love the most. If you've seen them play with their cars, you know how interesting it is to watch them drive around the house. Your children might even draw and paint on them. Want to know how to make it easy for your child to draw a car? Here is a step-by-step explanation of how to draw cars. How to Draw a Car: What You'll Need ● A4 sheet of plain sketching paper● A pencil● An eraser● A scale● Colors (crayons, watercolors, or sketch pens) Car Drawing for Kids: 10 Easy Steps Step 1: Draw a line across the page and two circles above it. Using a scale to draw a horizontal line on the bottom half of the A4-size drawing paper. Then, as shown in the picture, draw two circles over the line. These circles will get you where you want to go. Step 2: Inside the wheels, draw smaller circles. Now, draw another circle inside the wheels of the car. We call this part of the wheel the barrel. Step 3: Inside the Wheels, draw a third set of circles. In the middle of each wheel, draw a small circle. Your drawing looks like a pair of scary eyes, but trust me, it's your car. We're just trying to make things easy for you. By the way, these little circles are the center caps. Step 4: Draw lines from the smallest circle to the next one. Now, draw five lines of the same length on each wheel, going from the innermost circle to the second circle. The spokes of the wheels are these lines. You can use your scale to draw these lines or do it by hand. Step 5: Join two horizontal lines to the wheels. Now, draw two horizontal lines between the wheels. Here, you can also use your scale. The car is built on these lines. Before we move on, does the drawing look like a pair of glasses on a pair of eyes to you as well? Step 6: On each side of the wheels, draw two rectangles. Now, draw two rectangles that go away from each other on either side of the wheels. Step 7: Sketch the car's body. ● We'll break this part of the drawing down into three steps to make it easy:● First, start above the rectangle on the left side of the paper and draw a curved line that ends just above the close of the wheel on the right side. Your car's hood will be the front part of this curve.● Then, to connect the back of the car, draw a second curved line from the right end of the rectangle to where the initial line stops. This part of your car is the trunk.● Now, draw a half-circle on top, starting where the first two curves meet and going to the end of the initial wheel. Voila! You just drew the car's windshield and roof. Step 8: Draw the car's door and headlight. Now, let's add a door and a headlight to the car. For this step, you need to draw two lines in the middle of the car that are slightly curved. For the handle, add a small rectangle near the second line. This is the last part of your car door. It's even easier to draw the car's headlight! Draw a circle on the car's hood (the curve on the extreme left of your drawing paper). Step 9: Create Windows Using Two Quadrants Now, start making the windows of your car by drawing two squares, one big and one small. You can use your scale to straighten the lines, but you don't have to. Just make them appear like windows on a car. Step 10: Put on some paint! Wow! Your car is looking good. Now all you have to do is get your favorite paint colors and paint that car! With this easy, step-by-step guide for how to draw a car for kids, you can give them something new to do. Do you become a cool parent if you draw another car with your child by following these easy steps? Tell your child to go crazy with the colors, get creative with the spokes, or start over with the whole car. Tell them that the sky's the limit to their skills.

Different Play Activities For Children's Development And Growth

Kids love to play, but it's important to know that play isn't just for fun. Children need time to play to grow and develop. Children learn about themselves and how to interact with others by playing. They learn to take turns, be part of a team, work together, and share or hide important information. Play is complex, has different stages, and can be put into different groups, just like everything else that has to do with human evolution. In this article, we'll talk about eleven important kinds of play for kids' growth. What is a play? Play is any activity you do to get pleasure from it. Children need to play because it helps them learn about themselves, get along with others, and solve problems. It helps them calm down and get to know other kids their age. People also think it helps them learn important motor skills such as balancing and helps them focus better. Why is play so important for your kids' development? In his book Playful Parenting, Lawrence Cohen explains that play serves three main purposes: ● Play is an important part of learning because it lets kids try to be like adults and learn new skills.● Play allows a child to get close to and care about his friends and parents.● Playing helps him deal with his feelings. Because of this, it is very important to keep your child busy every day. Play is an important part of the school day, particularly for younger kids, because it helps them stay alert. What Types of Play Are Important for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers? Whether it's just rolling a ball around or putting on a costume to play a role, the play keeps a child's mind busy and helps them develop their creativity and imagination. Here is a list of 11 activities that help kids grow and learn. Unused Play When a child is playing by himself, he does things like wave his hands and kick his legs in the air. Even though these might look like random moves, they are a way to play. Usually, babies and young children play like this. Benefits: ● Explores movement and learns about the excitement naturally.● Lays the groundwork for future play activities Examples: ● Moving hands and feet at random● Being busy with what seems to be nothing Parallel Play Parallel play is when kids one or two years old play next to each other but don't talk much and appear to be doing their things without involving anyone else. During parallel play, kids may watch each other play and adjust their games based on what they see, but they won't try to change their peers' games. Benefits: ● Learns how to get along with kids his age● knows about ownership● Learned how to act. Examples: ● Using each other's toys● Putting on costumes and playing roles● Using the same box to build individual sand castles Association Play Associative play is when kids start paying more attention to other kids and less to their toys. Even though it looks like the kids are playing together, there are no set rules, structure, organization, or common goal. This kind of play is common among kids three to four years old. Benefits: ● More kids hanging out with other kids● Learns how to obtain ahead with other people● Language development learns to share● Learned how to perform together and solve issues. Examples: ● The same kids are using the same toys.● Exchanging toys● talking, or getting in touch with each other Solitary Play Usually, kids who are two or three years old play by themselves. During solo play, kids are busy holding toys, lifting, and looking at things. They aren't interested in the other kids around them. Children who are shy or haven't learned how to play with others or with their bodies need time to play alone. Benefits: ● Learns to be on their own● He makes up his mind.● Gives you the confidence to talk to other people.● Boosts creativity and imagination● Learns new things on his own. ● Learned to slow down and think. Examples: ● Acting out a made-up event● Toys that shake● Drawing, sketching, or writing Drama/Fantasy Play During dramatic play, kids often tell stories about places and people or put themselves in a certain role, which they then act out. This kind of play gets kids to try out different languages and show how they feel. Benefits: ● Makes people more interested in things outside of themselves. Encourages imagination and creativity.● Improves problem-solving skills Improves language skills● teaches people to care about others. Examples: ● Role-playing● Talking to dolls● Caring for and loving stuffed animals Onlooker Play Onlooker play is when a child doesn't participate in a game but watches other children play with great interest. Onlooker play is most common in toddlers. It is a way for kids to learn by watching. Benefits: ● Learn from what it sees.● Listens and learns to improve language skills. Example: ● Taking a strong interest in other children's play but not engaging in it. Competitive Play Children who play competitive games learn to play with clear rules and ways to win and lose. Football, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders are all competitive games. Benefits: ● Teaches how to play by the rules● Teaches himself to wait his turn● Learns how to work with others Examples: ● Tabletop games● Outdoor activities like table tennis, badminton, and racing Cooperative Play As kids get older, their social skills improve, and they learn to work together, talk to each other, and play together. Children play cooperatively when they work together to reach a goal. Benefits: ● Learns to share and get along with his friends.● Learns how to talk to people● Learned the value of working as a team, improved at expressing themselves, and gained confidence. Examples: ● Making sandcastles with each other Symbolic Play Symbolic play is when kids use things to act out what they want to do. Symbolic play can happen when you sing, play music, draw, or color. Benefits: ● Self-expression● tries out new ideas● tries things out and learns how to feel Examples: ● Drawing● Singing● Using musical instruments to make music Physical Play Play that involves some physical activity is called "physical play." Benefits: ● Encourages people to be active● Enhances both gross and fine motor skills. Examples: ● Bicycle riding● How to throw a ball● The game of hide and seek.

Steps to a Stress-Free Morning with Kids

Children have boundless energy and curiosity that must be channelled into constructive activities. When children are running around all day, it can be hard to get them to sit still long enough to do their schoolwork. Fortunately, there are ways to make mornings more stress-free for you and your kids. In this blog post, we'll explore some steps you can take to ensure a stress-free morning. Pick out their outfit the night before. Creating a positive mood first thing in the morning is a great approach to kick off a productive day. Here are five tips for a stress-free morning with kids: 1. Get organized and set some ground rules. Please make sure everyone knows what's expected of them before they get out of bed, and stick to those boundaries. This will help keep things calm and orderly. 2. Establish a morning routine. Set specific times for each child to get up, eat breakfast, brush their teeth, etc. This way, they know what to expect and won't be surprised when things happen outside their routine. 3. Put away toys and other materials that could be disruptive during the morning hours. Put all electronics and books away, so there's less clutter and less potential for distractions. 4. Have some quiet time together as a family in the morning before everyone starts getting ready for the day ahead. This can be used for prayer or just taking a few minutes to relax before starting the day. 5. Let them have fun too! Playing games or doing something special together before school can help ease any anxiety or excitement that may come with starting the day." Have Them Get Dressed First, Before Doing Anything Else There's always a good time to get children dressed, but mornings can be particularly challenging. With everyone rushing to get ready, it can be difficult for children to feel organized and prepared for the day. Here are seven steps to help make the morning more stress-free for all involved: 1. Have everyone get dressed first and then have their breakfast. This will allow them to feel more in charge of their mornings and reduce the likelihood of surprises. 2. Establish specific morning routines for everyone in the family. This will help children know what to expect and decrease the number of surprises when they wake up. 3. Allow time for meaningful conversations before getting started with the day. This will help build relationships and create memories that will last a lifetime. 4. Help children learn how to handle frustration and boredom by providing opportunities to try new activities or experiences throughout the day. This will keep things exciting and prevent them from growing bored with routine tasks. 5. Be patient with kids - they may not always understand what's required of them in the morning, but they'll eventually catch on. And remember, you're always young enough to start learning new skills! 6. Reward good behaviour during mornings - this will encourage kids to follow through with their plans and make waking up easier for everyone involved! Make Sure All Gadgets are Put Away Making sure all gadgets are put away at the end of the day can help create a more stress-free morning with kids. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure they're not running around and adding to your stress level. 1. Set a one-hour timer and have your kids sit down and organize all their toys. As a bonus, it will make their mornings less chaotic and offer them a feeling of success. 2. Have them put away the toys by colour and by type (plastic vs wooden). This way, they'll quickly identify what belongs to them and what doesn't. 3. If there's an electronic toy that needs batteries replaced, have your children bring it to you so you can do it before bedtime. This will help avoid power struggles in the morning when trying to get those pesky devices turned off! 4. Give children storage containers or baskets to place their toys after they're put away. This will cut down on search time during the morning and keep things more organized overall. Practice Stretching Together or Doing a Small Exercise When it comes to getting kids out of the house in the morning, one way to ease their anxiety is by setting some ground rules. One such direction is that they need to be able to stretch together before they leave. This will help them get used to the idea of testing and can even lead to them enjoying a morning stretching routine! Also, exercising before breakfast is always a good idea, as this sets the tone for the day. Examples include doing quick squats or Twist and Shouting with your child. Play Music Having a stress-free morning with kids can be a lot easier than you think! Start by setting the tone for the day by setting limits on screen time and homework. Explain to your youngster why these restrictions are necessary if they are old enough to comprehend them. If they are younger, try using simple phrases like "We need some time to ourselves today" or "We need some quiet time to work". Once you have set the limits, it's essential to follow through. If your child is asking for something they cannot have right then and there, be firm but fair. For example, if they ask to play video games after school, say no but offer alternative activities like going outside or doing their chores. Finally, make sure you are stressed-free! It can easily spill over onto our children when things get hectic at home. Make sure you take time each day to relax and rejuvenate. This will help you be more patient with your children and set an excellent example for them. Make a Morning Checklist It would help if you wrote down your daily to-dos as soon as you left the bed. By doing so, you will be better able to concentrate and avoid distractions. Here are some steps to creating a stress-free morning: 1. Have a plan. Before getting out of bed, list what needs to be done that day. This will help keep you organized and from becoming overwhelmed by everything waiting for you. 2. Set boundaries. Try to do only a little at a time in the morning. Instead, focus on one or two tasks and complete them. 3. Take breaks. If something feels too complex or tedious, take a break until you're ready to try again. This will help prevent burnout and increase your efficiency later in the day. 4. Stay positive! Starting the day with a positive mindset can be challenging, but it's essential to have a successful morning overall. Remind yourself why it's worth it, and celebrate small victories along the way.

Indoor Activities That Are Fun For A 16-Month-Old Child

The Tiny Helper

Reading + Role-Play

Musical Jam

Water Fun

Passing the Parcel

Sorting Fun

Bubble Burst!

Foodie Fun

The Little Paleontologist

Water Painting