We hope you are all hanging in there and that you are enjoying our posts--finding easy, fun and developmentally appropriate activities for your little ones. We also hope you are feeling a little bit of encouragement each day from all of us to all of you! We had some great feedback for our parenting tip "theme" last week of increasing independence and so wanted to announce this week's theme (by request!): Strategies to help children transition to outside! Lots of parents are reporting that their kids are getting so into the uninterrupted play at home, they are not even wanting to leave for their daily walks or outings! Each day we will offer a tip to help get children outdoors- which you might be finding necessary for their mental health, and your own! Don't forget our indoor activities now have a curriculum focus of the day as well!
SELF-LOVE: Write yourself and other mamas some love letters! As Mother's Day approaches, make some time to write down the things you are doing well right now. What are you proud of yourself for during this crisis? Highlight your strengths and focus on them each morning before your day. If you have enough time and coffee, how about texting other mama friends you know to let them know what they are doing right too and how you recognize the great jobs they are doing. Bonus points for handwritten cards!
PARENTING TIP:
GETTING OUTDOORS: Teacher Evelyn shares how she avoids asking where or if they want to go and tells instead. "Today we are going__________ at this time." She also has the same destination each day (the beach M-Th and the park on F). This then becomes part of the consistent routine and everyone is much more willing! She finds that while it always seems easier to stay home, with a 6yr old, 4yr old, and 5 month old at home, she always ends up regretting this decision by the late afternoon! She also finds bedtime is much easier after everyone has gotten their energy out!
INDOOR ACTIVITY:
Curriculum Area: Art. Coloring/painting inside a box. After a big delivery box has decontaminated and before you recycle, make it a house of expression for your little artist. It contains the mess and will keep them busy for a long while. They'll love feeling like they are in their own special hiding spot and can make it whatever they want. If you want them to paint, but have the mess contained, perfect... paint inside the box. Then have a bucket of water or the bathtub waiting for cleanup!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Pitch a tent! Do you have a camping tent? Camping in the backyard (or even in your living room) can add the feeling of adventure for you and your little ones. You don't even have to sleep in the tent if that seems like too much work. You can just read books in the tent during the day and maybe even roast some marshmallows one evening!