Dana’s Kids Blog

I hear it all the time:  “We just moved him/her to a bed, but he/she won’t stay in it!”  I have lots of techniques for this dilemma (keep an eye on the blog for others), but I was recently introduced to a product I think is wonderful.  It’s called the Sleep Enhancing Clock (made by It’s About Time).  I’m not sure that it will enhance your child’s sleep, but it will probably keep them in bed long enough to enhance yours! 

The left side of the clock has a bear or a car (it may come with other options, but I did not see them), and the right side has a traffic light and a digital clock.  Parents set the “alarm” to a designated time.  The clock gives visual (the light moves from red to green) and auditory (optional beeping sounds) signals when it’s time for a child to get up.  Parents can decide if that means out of their bed or out of their room.   I’ve heard some concern about the prospect of an emergency and how a child might react if a rule has been set that they do not leave their beds or rooms until the light is green.  I truly believe that if there was an emergency, a child would immediately look for their grown up or a grown up would come to get them, regardless of the color of the light on their clock.  Of course, I can make no guarantees, but I think this clock is brilliant! 

Amazon carries the item with a race car or “groovy car” attached.  One Step Ahead carries it with a blue or pink bear.  And I just found it on sale at Lillian Vernon.  This product is wonderful for all children, including those with special needs.  Let me know how it works for you!

Dana’s Kids.  Empowered Parents, Happy Families.

Today I spent some time at the New York Public Library.  A couple of things immediately jumped out at me.  Of the 9 children sitting in the library when I first arrived, 7 were using computers, phones, or some other type of electronic device.  I felt an equal sense of excitement and distaste.  Electronics are helpful, support many types of learners, provide easy access to extensive information, and are the language of the future.  But few of the children were using books for reference or enjoyment.  Reading through the table of contents, index, and paragraphs of information, provides experiences and knowledge that may not be found in a Google search.  Getting lost in a story is wonderful.  As time went on, I also noticed quite a few children nuzzled into the crook of a caregivers’ arm and cuddled on chairs.  They were reading and being read to, asking questions, and experiencing the joy of a good book and interaction. 

There is immense value in both electronics and books.  I believe it is essential that they are not mutually exclusive and that neither one replaces the connection that takes place when children interact with each other and with adults.

Here are some of my favorite activities to play with young toddlers (approximately 15-24 months).  Not only are they developmentally stimulating, they’re also fun!

1.Laundry Baskets- They always say it’s the most unexpected items that are the most fun for this age!  Put your child in the laundry basket and push or pull them around the apartment.  Let your child fill up the basket with stuffed animals or toys and take a turn pushing or pulling. This is also a great game to play with a friend!!

2. Dump and Fill- They don’t call this the “dump and fill stage” for nothing.  Any pocketbook, bucket, pretend doctor’s kit, or even that small container mini M&Ms come in will be a favorite for your child during this time.  They love to fill containers up with their favorite items and carry them along.  And of course, the feeling of dumping the items on the floor and hearing the crashing sounds is incredibly enticing and exciting!

3.Bathtub Messy Play- What a wonderful contained space for messy play!  Put your child and their friends in the bathtub with anything messy and contain that mess!  For young toddlers I recommend mixing vanilla pudding with food coloring and letting them “paint.”  A friend recently tried this with whipped cream and it was a huge success.  As your child becomes better able to resist putting things in his or her mouth, the bathtub is a great place to introduce real paint.

4. Contact Paper Art- Contact paper is that clear sticky material that can be used to cover books or line shelves, but it is also fantastic for toddler art.  No messy glue needed.  Simply cut off a long piece, peel the protective backing off and tape it sticky-side-up on the floor, a table, or even the wall.  Give your child feathers, paper scraps, foam shapes and watch their creativity emerge!  You can add construction paper to the back and hang it on the wall.  Or, fold it over and use it as a placemat.  This activity is fun for at-home birthday parties, long car rides, and tends to be exciting even for older toddlers and 3s!

5.Pillow and Cushion Obstacle Course- Lay your couch cushions, bed pillows and bunched up blankets on the floor and model for your child how to crawl or walk across them.  You can end the course with a large pile of pillows for you child to jump and crash into.  If you have a tunnel, add it.  This is a great physical activity for any day but particularly for rainy days when you’ve been cooped up!

Enjoy!  Enjoy!  Enjoy!  This is a great age!

(Note: Please be aware of your child’s developmental capabilities and modify these games as needed.  Have fun!)

Over the years I have realized that there are certain qualities to the work I do with parents, children, and families that I find essential.  First and foremost, I regard each family as their own culture.  My job is to get to know each member of the family and ask questions so that I can better understand what works and what doesn’t.  Parents know their children best.  By empowering a parent, I can strengthen a family.  In working with children, understanding their temperament, motivation, fears and anxieties, helps me support them as they move towards success.  When I give advice, it must be sensible and usable and it must take into account each family’s reality.  There is no one right answer about bedtime or ways to reach milestones or ability to deal with frustration.  By gathering information, I tailor the work I do, the information I give, and the techniques I recommend, to empower each individual and fit their needs. 

Here comes the part about “posts”  To some extent, writing a blog seems counterintuitive to me.  I do not give blanket advice and I highly recommend that any reading you do as a parent be taken with a grain of salt.  As “experts” we write for the masses.  Please remember that as you read my blog.  I hope that the suggestions I give will help you to start thinking about, and examining, your own situations.  I believe that the bulk of my advice will work for, and is applicable to, most families.  That being said, please, if you have questions about your specific child, your specific family and your specific situation, get in touch.  I would much rather work with you to find your best fit, than leave you feeling frustrated that something “didn’t work.” 

Dana’s Kids.  Empowered Parents, Happy Families.