Don't cry over spilled milk, just clean it up!

The youngest, who is now three years old, loves to put her glass of milk right at the edge of the table.  Every night.  Especially when it's full.  I don't know what it is -she likes to live dangerously I guess.  I sometimes remind her to move her glass away from the edge and she complies.  Sometimes I do it for her (bad idea MOM, you have a newly minted three year old who takes great offense at others doing stuff for her) but in that scenario she typically moves it right back to the edge.  Doesn't take a genius to realize that a glass of milk at the end of the table, where the elbow, fork, napkin all like to reside, will sometimes wind up in a puddle on the floor.   

TRY THIS:  "Hey baby bird," this is her new moniker as she's decided she is of the avian species, "Looks like you spilled your milk again.  Go grab the towel from the kitchen and clean it up."

NOT THAT: "Oh baby bird, you spilled your milk again.  I guess you are not ready for the big girl cup (big sigh).  Now I have to clean up this mess, again (another big sigh)"

WHY: Beginning at two years of age, a child is perfectly able to clean up his or her own messes.  And the natural bi-product is that they are learning about the consequences of their actions.  Granted, you will likely have to touch up their "clean-up" but it's better than mumbling under your breath while you clean up their mess as they continue to eat their dinner as if nothing happened.

The toddler's toy chest: What to choose and what to lose

I blame it on Target, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and dads (yes dude, I'm looking at you).  Well-meaning to be sure --but the mess, the clutter, the overstuffed drawers full of junk.  Sparkly pens, princess wands, silly bands that somehow wind up in my underwear drawer....  Now, I am not saying my daughter does not absolutely love the $2.00 mini Cinderella lunch box (full of erasers cause we couldn't think of what else to put in there) or the bathtub basketball set up.  But what toys should be in that chest?  What toys will alleviate boredom, support creativity and imagination?  What toys stay the course and remain interesting across time and not just when they are new (or when you are about to chuck them?).  

TRY THIS:  A toddler's (1-2) toy chest should have (this is the short list so I guess there's always stuff): balls, blocks, bubbles, dolls (and doll accessories - I can wax poetic about the hours of focused uninterrupted play an 18 month old can spend changing a baby's diaper and strolling from one side of the room to the other), cars and trucks, duplos, bowls (unbreakable), wooden spoons, play dough, pots and pans, puppets (old socks), puzzles, and some picture books. 

NOT THAT: An old iTouch

WHY:  The aforementioned items serve to support active, creative, socio-dramatic, imaginative play AND cognitive development.  Kids can rehearse new roles and behaviors, cook, read (emergent literacy = interpreting picture books), stack, build, and learn how things work.  Be selective.

Interested in the toy chest or arts and craft drawer for a preschooler or grader schooler...drop me a line.