Motherly

How to make finger paint—a taste-safe recipe for tiny fingers

Diva Anwari — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 18:34:13 +0000

Homemade finger paint is the kind of magic you probably need in your life. Not only is finger painting a sensory activity but there’s also no telling how long your kids could be entertained with the fun texture and even prettier colors. And, we all know that no matter how many times you tell your little one not to stick their fingers in their mouths during playtime, chances are they’re going to do it anyway.

Of course, now you’re wondering how to make finger paint that’s safe for your child even if they do get curious about the taste. Well, DIY finger painting is as easy as putting together a few pantry staples that you might already have on hand. Gather your ingredients for this easy as can be finger paint recipe.

Homemade finger paint for your little artist

There’s nothing to say that this all-natural DIY finger painting recipe, isn’t great for all ages but it’s especially wonderful for your tiniest tots. All you need are some brightly colored fruits or veggies and greek yogurt.

Step 1: Choose your fruits and veggies based on the colors you’d like to develop.

For example, you might choose beets for red, dark greens like kale for green, carrots for orange and blueberries for blue.

Step 2: Blend them up one color family at a time.

If you have a juicer, you can also use that. And, if you wanted to experiment with creating different colors, you can pop the different fruits or veggies in together.

Step 3: Use a strainer to separate the chunky pieces from the colorful juice you’ve just made.

Step 4: Depending on how vibrant you want your mixture to be will determine your ratio of greek yogurt to juice drops.

Add in a few teaspoons, mix it all together then you can decide if you’d like to add more or keep as is.

Optional: Technically you could also use cornstarch if you’d like to make a thicker base for your paint. You could boil your chosen fruits and veggies (one color group at a time) then dissolve a bit of cornstarch in water and add it to your pot to create a thicker consistency. Add a bit of sugar for a sweet touch!

What you’ll end up with is a kind of sauce that your child could use for paint (once it’s cooled down) or you could still choose to dilute it in some runny yogurt for a more watery texture.

And, of course, whichever colors you can’t make organically, you could always substitute for all-natural food coloring.

Have fun with it and enjoy watching those little fingers revel in the mess.

35 Sensory play activities to stimulate your toddler’s beautiful brain

Amber Guetebier — Mon, 16 May 2022 22:17:55 +0000

Toddlers are the chubby-fingered champions of curiosity and discovery. Which is why you’re always looking for ways to harness that enthusiasm for exploration. Sensory play can offer toddlers just what they crave: hands-on fun that stimulates a multitude of senses.

It’s not just about keeping them entertained. Sensory play for kids 12 months and even younger boosts fine motor skills and aids cognitive development. And many sensory activities, like sensory bottles, can have a calming effect on kids. One of the best things about sensory play is that it is largely DIY in a way that doesn’t require fancy skills or expensive ingredients. So if throwing a bunch of ingredients together is your style, you’re already at expert level.

Here are 34 easy, at-home sensory play ideas for toddlers to get you started

1. Good ol’ fashioned finger painting

Get those squishy fingers going with tempera paints and some butcher-block paper, and let them enjoy the feeling of painting with all ten fingers instead of unruly paintbrushes. It’s an entirely different experience (and the art they produce is quite different too).

2. Play with homemade play-dough

Among the many rainy day activities in your arsenal, homemade play-doh is one of those inexpensive sensory joys that can keep toddlers busy for hours. There are dozens of recipes out there to try, most of which involve very simple ingredients like flour, salt, and water.

3. Noodling with noodles

Make a batch of spaghetti, let it cool completely, and then dump it in a bowl for your children to play with. The slimy, squiggly fun cannot be beat, and it’s pretty darn cheap, too.

4. Water play

If you can do this one outside on a warm day, it’s a pleasant activity but can also be done inside on the kitchen floor with towels. Fill a few pots and bowls up with a couple of inches of water and prop your toddler up and let them splash around in the water.

5. Sensory water bottles

Upcycle some clear plastic water bottles into sensory delights for your toddler by filling them about three-quarters full with water, adding in food coloring, glitter, and a few tiny items such as charms or beads. Seal the lid on tight with some fancy duct tape and voila! You’ve got a bottle of enchantments.

6. Make a sensory bin

Essentially, what you need is a sturdy bin to fill with a base material and lots of little items and scoops to move the material around. A plastic storage bin works great, with a base like rice, and a variety of fun items. Little Bins for Little Hands is the queen of sensory bin ideas and has a ton of DIY ideas to spark your imagination.

7. Get busy with busy boards

Whether you order one from Etsy or you attempt a humble version of your own, these sensory delights do double duty: not only do they stimulate a toddler’s senses—inviting them to explore a variety of textures and play with things like buttons, keys, locks, and more—they have the added bonus of keeping active toddlers occupied.

8. Scent jars

Use a variety of fresh food like orange peels, mashed banana, and vanilla extract; or use pungent flora such as fir leaves or freshly cut grass in a series of mason jars. Put a lid on each jar to ensure the smells don’t cross-contaminate one another. Then, one at a time, unscrew each lid, let your toddler have a whiff, and describe what it smells like. This one can get cute and funny!

9. Frozen fun

A great activity for a hot summer day is to freeze a few toys like rubber duckies or toy cars in a large bowl or ice mold, then pop it out and let the kiddos delight in trying to figure out how to get them out as the ice gradually melts.

10. Beginning beading

Graduate your kids from cheerios to actual beading with some large plastic beads and pipe cleaners and let them experience the art of jewelry making. Even though the beads are chunky, this one should be done under supervision to make sure curious tots don’t try to taste the beads.

11. What is it?

Try a sensory guessing game with your little one by taking an object that makes noise and moving it out of their line of sight. Have them guess what it is. This can be a well-known toy, the sound of pouring milk, etc.

12. Slime time

Welcome to the world of slime, parents. It’s sticky, it’s gooey, and it’s oh-so-fun. You can make toddler-safe slime yourself with safe ingredients, too.

13. Blow-up ball pit

If you have a small kiddie pool, you can fill it with soft items and squishy balls and let your little one explore the “ball pit” in your living room.

14. Bang on those pots and pans

Don’t just think of textures when it comes to sensory play. Sound is one of the senses, too and there’s nothing as simple as turning a few metal pots and mixing bowls over and handing your toddler a spoon (and yourself a pair of earplugs).

15. Sand play

Use a bin to make a mini indoor beach with some beach toys and scoops or get some kinetic sand that (more or less) sticks to itself and causes less mayhem in the clean-up department.

16. Bubble bath

Fill a tub or bowl up with warm, soapy water, a rubber ducky, and a scoop or a spoon, and wait for the squeals of delight. We recommend a mild dish soap or your kid’s favorite bubble bath.

17. Summer ice painting

Make colored ice cubes and paint with them on a warm summer day.

18. Make an I-Spy jar

Fill a jar with a variety of tiny things: this is the chance you’ve been waiting for to put those errant party favors to good use! Green army men, dice, broken figurines, buttons, coins, etc. Seal the jar well and play “I spy” with your toddler.

19. Listening walk

Your toddler likely points out the things they see on walks, but this walk asks them to tell you the things they hear. Stop several times along your walk and ask your toddler to listen and tell you what they hear.

20. Crinkle it

Honestly one of the easiest sensory activities is gift wrapping tissue! The nice, thick kind is the best because it crinkles endlessly, which means lots of crinkling fun for your toddler.

21. Soapy jar

Similar to the sensory jars, in addition to water and a bit of food coloring, add some soap for an additional textural experience. Glitter optional.

22. Shaving cream painting

Painting with shaving cream is ridiculously satisfying for toddlers. Use a brush or let them use their hands to paint onto a cookie sheet or other flat surface (it will just soak through paper). You can tint the shaving cream lightly with food coloring to create an array of foamy colors.

23. Water bottle shakers

Turn an old water bottle or plastic jar into an instrument by filling it with dried beans or rice. Shaky, shaky!

24. Alphabet scoop

Get a box or bin full of foam alphabet letters and numbers and a spoon or scoop. Have your tot scoop and pick out letters and numbers. They can say them out loud as they discover each one.

25. Construction site sandbox

Combine some of the sensory bin ideas and get a plastic bin deep enough to house tiny construction vehicles and sand, and you can create a miniature construction site with a lid that can be stored away when not in use.

26. Foil fun

Spray some whipped cream onto a piece of aluminum foil and let your toddler explore the combination of foamy and crinkly textures.

27. Tub time

Save a large 32 oz. yogurt tub and lid so your little one can have a drum. Use some duct tape to seal the lid in place and chopsticks for the perfect drumsticks.

28. By the gallon

Fill a gallon Ziplock bag with a couple of pom-pom balls, some glitter, oil, water, hair gel, pasta, and all manner of things to make epic sensory bags. Just make sure you seal them well.

29. Make an outdoor sensory path

Create a path that gives them different sensations as they step. You can place a bin with sand, then have a stepping stone, a pan with cool water, a bin with jello, etc. Alternate sensations and enjoy the responses.

30. Make an indoor sensory path

Use pillows, faux fur blankets, a large book, etc. to create a series of stepping stones they can walk on. Be sure to alternate surface textures as much as possible.

31. Taste test

Blindfold them or have them close their eyes and then give them a taste of a familiar food and see if they can guess what it is. Try a variety of textures, like yogurt, applesauce, crackers, etc.

32. Bake something together

Even at this age, children can help in the kitchen. Let them assist in mixing the ingredients together in a simple recipe, like muffins that don’t require perfect mixing techniques, or allow them to mash the bananas for banana bread.

33. Or peel something

Give them a navel orange with a nice thick rind and a little starting point and let them peel the rest themselves. The texture of the peel combined with the smells of the fresh orange is a feast for their senses.

34. Sorting

Toddlers love to sort things! You can get a bag of soft little puff balls in a variety of colors and ask them to sort them into piles by color or find something else like Duplo bricks, etc.

35. Obstacle course

Set up a small obstacle course for your toddler to run through in your front yard or nearby park. Use simple items like cardboard and jump ropes to create obstacles for them to jump over and through.

5 types of baby books that boost their brain and teach them to love reading

Justine Lorelle LoMonaco — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 23:15:44 +0000

Reading to baby doesn’t come naturally for every parent, especially when your little one is too young to truly interact during reading time. But with every page turned, you’re stimulating cognitive development and helping to establish a love of reading that will last long past the toddler years.

If you are looking for a few perfect books to add to your child’s collection, we have the scoop on the best types of books to promote cognitive development and a lifelong passion for reading. (And if you want more, check out our favorite board books for baby’s first year.)

“These early rituals, even before a baby knows what a book is, set up reading as a loving and nurturing interaction with you that your child equates with books as they grow up,” explains Tovah P. Klein, PhD, director of Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive: What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success“.

Newborn (0-3 months): a high-contrast book

If you want to stimulate your newborn’s senses, think high contrast.

Research indicates that high-contrast colors like black and white register most strongly in a baby’s brain and help the optic nerve to grow.

Read your newborn books featuring high-contrast images and graphics (we love Art-Baby’s “Spots and Dots by Chez Picthall” and “Hello, Bugs!” by Smriti Prasadam and Emily Bolam) and watch their little eyes dance.

“No need to read every word or comment on every picture,” Klein said. “The important piece is that books are part of your routines and loving time together.”

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Spots and Dots

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Hello, Bugs!

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Black & White

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Infant (4-6 months): a tactile book

Odds are, your little one won’t start turning the pages (or even paying much attention to them) until they’re a few months old. Until then, maximize their interest by capitalizing on their love of touching everything around them.

Tactile books that let your baby shake, grab and stroke are the perfect solution, like “Old Macdonald: A Hand-Puppet Board Book” from Little Scholastic. Lean toward sturdy books made of vinyl or cloth that will stand up to a few chews. Switch to board books around six months to encourage little fingers to start turning pages.

Pro tip:

“Scaffold your child’s attempts at turning pages by separating pages when you are finished reading each page. This will give your child a cue that it is time to move to the next page and will help to develop fine motor skills. If your little one has trouble turning pages independently, don’t worry: Many children won’t master this skill for a couple more years!” says Dr. Holly Ruhl, PhD.

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Old MacDonald Hand-Puppet Board Book

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TouchThinkLearn: ABC

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Baby Animals

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Your 6- to 12-month-old: a rhyming book

When it comes to what you’re reading with your child, it’s rhyme time.

Rhyming books create a nurturing environment for kids by using simple patterns they can learn to predict (key to establishing a lifelong love of reading). Plus, they help babies learn how vowels and consonants sound and come together to form words. Rhymes also help children to easily memorize and recall content from beloved books by establishing patterns and sequences, increasing their impact on a child’s cognitive development.

We love “Hush Little Polar Bear” and other classic rhyming books like “Go, Dog Go!“

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Hush Little Polar Bear

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Go, Dog, Go!

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Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See

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Older babies & toddlers: a classic that mama loves, too

As your child gets older, adjust what you’re reading accordingly.

Children’s versions of classic books can be just as entertaining for you, mama, which will make you more likely to stick with a reading routine. We love the BabyLit collection of children’s books based on classics, like “Dracula” and “Alice in Wonderland“.

Regardless of what you and your little one choose to read, the most effective way to promote a love of reading is to start a daily reading routine as soon as possible. “And no, beginning during pregnancy is not too early, mama. Babies begin listening to you around week 16 and can even remember words and stories after they are born!” explains Ruhl.

Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem like your baby actually gets reading—spending time each day curled up with a book will give your child positive associations with reading, creating a lifelong habit before they can even read a word.

In fact, according to the Children’s Reading Foundation, the simple act of reading with your child for at least 20 minutes each day may be one of the most important things you can do to promote socio-emotional development as well as necessary pre-literacy skills.

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Dracula

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Alice in Wonderland

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All babies + toddlers: a bedtime story

Read to your baby from day one. There’s no sweeter way to do that than by introducing a bedtime story—even one you bring to the hospital with you!

We recommend choosing books focused on sleep or bedtime to help baby wind down in the evening. Have a stash of “bedtime books” within easy reach for baby to choose from, like “A Book of Sleep” or “The Going-to-Bed Book“. You’re establishing routines that can even help baby to get her zzz’s. That’s good for you—and for baby.

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A Book of Sleep

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Here are three tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics for creating lifelong readers from an early age:

1. Create a comforting environment.

Make reading an integral part of your bedtime routine. Wind down from your day by cuddling up in cozy jammies and snuggling with baby as you turn a few pages.

Pro tip: Active children can lose interest in a book after only a couple of minutes (okay, seconds!). That’s why it is so important to make whatever limited time you can dedicate to reading as focused as possible. That means turning off the TV and cell phone. We know that’s a tricky one!

“Sitting with a book, turning pages, pointing to pictures and being together provides a quiet and fun way to spend time with your little one,” Klein says. “It’s not about getting through the whole book or making your child stay still. What they will take from it is the time with mommy.”

2. Make reading come to life.

A newborn may not know how to read, but she knows she prefers the sound of her mother’s voice—even as early as two days after being born! Capitalize on that natural preference for your voice by reading books with emotion and over-the-top expressions to keep things interesting.

3. Ask questions to bring the story into the real world.

As your child gets older, reading can be a safe time to talk about feelings. Start when your child is young by asking ancillary questions about books, such as, “What does the cow say?” or “Where is the yellow flower?” to broaden their vocabulary. As your tot advances, use characters in books to discuss emotions or to motivate your child to think about abstract or imaginative situations.

Pro tip: “Make associations between a book and your baby or toddler’s experience: ‘Remember when we saw a dog at the park? It’s like the dog in this book,'” Klein suggests. “This builds vocabulary and helps your child move between books and the broader world in ways that have direct meaning to them.”

The stylish baby play gym you won’t mind leaving out 24/7

Sara Goldstein — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:00:37 +0000

From the earliest days through the sitting and crawling stages, a baby play gym is one of the most used, versatile pieces of baby gear we can think of. Not only do they give you a safe place to put your little one down for a hot minute but they’re also an ideal tool to support physical and cognitive development. And since play is the work of babyhood, the more time they clock there, the better!

That said, they’re also one of those items that hardly ever gets put away. So when we find one that satisfies our design sense as much as it satisfies our babes, it’s an instant win. Meet the 1,000K+ waitlist strong Lalo Play Gym.

You may already know Lalo for their brilliant grow-with-me high chair and award winning play table and chair set– both of which are a minimalist parent’s dream come true. Launched by two dads in 2019, Lalo is on a mission to simplify the baby-stuff-buying process with thoughtfully designed products you actually want to have around. And with its stylish look, the swoon-worthy Lalo Play Gym is no exception.

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Designed in partnership with a team of early childhood development experts, the Lalo Play Gym is exactly the kind of baby gear investment we recommend time and time again. First of all, it’s gorgeous. The gym itself is made from sustainable beech wood that’s made to last and easy-peasy to assemble. The accompanying mat is eco-friendly as well, machine-washable (the spit up struggle is real) and available in four muted colors to match any decor.

We also love that it’s a one stop shop. The gym comes with three developmentally-appropriate sensory toys, each of which help little ones work their motor and visual tracking skills, oral exploration and adorable curiosity. The simple construction also allows you to swap in any toys in your collection to keep things interesting.

Like most play gyms on the market, it’s meant to be used from day one. But what makes it a stand out is the clever way it’s designed to last. With the addition of the Tent Kit, it transforms into the perfect little hideout for imaginative play.

According to Bronwyn Charlton, PH.D. and Co-Founder of SeedlingsGroup, a consortium of childhood development educators and psychologists, “Lalo has designed the perfect independent play space, by keeping their Play Gym uncluttered and simple, yet intentional and thoughtful, with just a few, open-ended toys, for babies to use creatively. What’s more, the Play Gym grows along with the baby and can be easily transformed into a play tent for an older baby and eventually toddler to use as a copy space in which they can continue their journey of creative, imaginative, and independent play.”

And you know what “independent play” means? Five minutes to shower and maybe even a cup of coffee, sipped while hot with two hands. What’s better than that?

Lalo

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Choose from the basic kit which comes with the gym, play mat and three toys (a sensory ball, silicone teether and mirror prism) or upgrade to the Play Gym + Tent Kit to convert it as they grow!

And! Through June 30th, 2022 save $15 off $100+ or more with code Motherly15

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Whether you’re expecting in months or mere days, let Motherly guide you with our registry featuring curated collections of essentials for you and baby. Click here to check out Motherly’s essential registry guide.

A version of this story was published on January 26, 2022. It has been updated.

5 kid-friendly travel ideas for the Covid era

Sophie Schillaci — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 23:56:40 +0000

Wanderlust just hits different these days.

As the pandemic landscape continues to evolve, it still may not be the easiest time to travel, but with so many families in desperate need of a break and reconnection, a little getaway might actually be just what the doctor ordered.

Many travel restrictions in the U.S. (and abroad) have been lifted or loosened—particularly for fully vaccinated individuals—though exact guidance and mandates vary by region. Still, the level of risk mitigation that’s appropriate for your family can only be decided by you based on your family’s unique circumstances.

Currently, experts continue to regard outdoor activities as generally safe, while the CDC advises mask-wearing when indoors.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few vacay getaway ideas for the upcoming fall and winter months that are actually kid-friendly with a strong emphasis on the great outdoors. Happy Trails!

Camp/RV-ing

In the wake of Covid-19, Camping and RV-ing has become more popular than ever. With constant access to your own facilities and group interactions happening primarily outdoors, it’s one of the safer bets when looking to mitigate the risk of transmission (and memory-building for families). Two budget-friendly companies to look into while planning your trip:

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks include live characters, various kid-friendly attractions, and the option to camp or book your own cabin.

Kampgrounds of America (KOA) offers RV sites, “glamping”-style lodging and tent sites, and caters specifically to families with young children.

Hawaii

While the lower 48 cools for the winter months, Hawaii’s average temperatures tend to stay in that perfect, balmy 70-80s range, allowing for nonstop fun outside in the sun. (Just be sure to adhere to Hawaii’s Safe Travels protocol.)

Mauna Lani, the first Auberge Resorts Collection property on the Hawaiian islands, is located on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island and prides itself on being a young traveller’s paradise. Among the highlights for little ones aged 5-12, are outdoor hikes, hands-on activities, local storytelling, and movies under the stars.

Disney’s Aulani Resort in Oahu is, of course, a magical destination for families. Get some face time with your kids’ favorite characters, learn the ukulele, go on an adventure trail, splash around outside, and more.

San Diego

Expect average temperatures in the 60s while visiting San Diego in the cooler months. Kid-favorite destinations like the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, Legoland, Botanic Garden, and Belmont Park are all enjoyable outdoor activities, not to mention the endless beaches. If you’re comfortable exploring indoor entertainment, Balboa Park offers a plethora of family friendly museums (including a model railroad museum, natural history museum, and air and space museum, to name a few). In La Jolla, check out the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

Virginia Beach

Highlights of your Virginia Beach visit may include dolphin watching, a trip to the Boardwalk and Grommet Island Park (the first of its kind, a 15,000 square foot beach park with a fully wheelchair-accessible playground on the beach), high-flying fun at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium, and tons of American history to explore! Temperatures average in the 50s for the fall and winter months.

Skiing

If a ski trip is on your winter bucket list, there’s no shortage of resorts that effortlessly cater to every age and skill level. Consider Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont, Park City Mountain Resort in Utah, or Northstar California Ski Resort in California. (But don’t forget to comb through their Covid requirements and protocols before booking to ensure a smooth stay.)

50 sensory activities for 1-year-olds to help them learn by playing

Emily Loeffelman — Sat, 16 Oct 2021 14:37:53 +0000

My youngest is quickly approaching his first birthday—which means he’s still in the “I want to stick everything in my mouth” stage, but is also very eager to learn new things. One thing I’m learning this second time around is that babies really don’t need a lot of toys to stimulate them. My little guy is much more interested in an empty cardboard box than, say, a new toy with all the bells and whistles. I didn’t realize before that with a little bit of creativity, it’s not too hard to find fun sensory activities for 1-year-olds.

I’m often amazed by the senses that babies start to use at this age, especially the way they learn to touch and see things. They really start to focus and explore objects. So why not provide them with easy crafts and activities that allow their little minds to soar!

Here are 50 sensory activities for 1-year-olds that encourage learning through play.

1. Discovery basket

Fill clear plastic containers you have around the house with little things that baby can explore. Place a lid on them, tape the lid if need be and let the little one spin them around to explore the contents.

2. Paper towel roll chute

Tape a cardboard paper towel roll to the wall (or a toilet paper roll) and encourage baby to drop cotton balls into it. Watch how quickly they catch on and have fun with this “into-the-chute” game!

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3. Mess-free canvas art

Pick up a canvas from your local craft store, dab a few different colors of paint on it, wrap it in plastic wrap and let them push the paint around with their fingers. This little craft is safe, an easy clean up and a great new piece for the living room gallery wall!

4. Water bottle shakers

Empty a water bottle (drink up!) and then fill it with popcorn, rocks, rice, etc. Tape the cap on to be extra safe and you’ve got a homemade rattle.

5. Hand and foot painting

There are so many fun handprint and footprint animals you can make with your little ones’ hands or feet. Plus, the feeling of the cool paint on their hands and feet is a fun new sensation for toddlers.

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6. Mess-free painting

Fill a plastic baggie with some different types of paint, seal it up, tape it to the highchair, floor or table and let baby push the paint around. Best of all, you can put it away and pull it out again for another day’s entertainment.

7. Water painting

Let your little one paint a masterpiece on some colored construction paper with water and a paintbrush. Bonus: The cleanup is simple and easy!

8. Playing with food

You can “paint” a lot of fun things using yogurt or applesauce. And snack while you’re at it. (There will be plenty of time to teach better table manners later.)

9. Sensory bottles

Add a few drops of food coloring to water bottles along with glitter and knickknacks like beads. Tape on the top and watch as your little one is amazed by tipping the bottle around.

10. Cereal necklaces

Let your little one string some Cheerios onto a piece of yarn and create a little necklace. This activity is great for fine motor skills!

11. Sand doodles

Take a small box, draw some squiggly or straight lines on the inside, pour sand over it and encourage your little one to trace along the lines.

12. Music makers

Take an empty tissue box, wrap a few rubber bands around it and you have a makeshift harp! Your little one will love plucking the rubber bands and listening to the sounds that come out.

13. Sorting balls with a spoon

Set out two bowls and fill one bowl with ping-pong or golf balls. Then let your little one work on transferring the balls with a slotted spoon to the empty bowl. This is a great activity for hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

14. Sticky note peek-a-boo

Print off some pictures of family members and put a sticky note over the top. Then encourage baby to play “peek-a-boo” with the relatives!

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15. Handprint keepsakes

Ornaments, wreaths, canvases… There are lots of cute crafts that let you capture those sweet little hands and toes while they grow. While the process of making handprints may seem messy, you’ll look back one day and be glad that you did it!

16. Sock puppets

Grab a few old socks, draw faces on the tops with a fabric marker and have a puppet show with your babe! You can let them slide the socks on their hands to use, too.

17. Paper window mosaics

Tissue paper and press-n-seal plastic wrap make for great (temporary!) window mosaics. Cut up some pieces of paper, craft a mosaic and stick it to a window that gets a lot of sunlight. Your little one will love watching the colors shine through the house.

18. A life-size portrait

Most home office stores print large, life-size photos for just a few bucks. Print one of your babe, hang it on the wall and encourage them to explore themselves and find their eyes, nose, etc.

19. Cardboard tunnel

Save those Amazon boxes and craft a tunnel for baby to crawl through.

20. Wipe dispenser sensory box

Save your empty wipe dispensers to fill with fabric scraps. You little one will love pulling the scraps out and putting them back in. It’s like a mini laundry basket for them! (See, you really can get little ones started on “chores.”)

21. Whipped cream painting

Spray a little whipped cream on a highchair tray or table and let your little one paint pictures in it.

22. DIY ball pit

Pull out that plastic pool and fill it with inexpensive plastic balls—or use your pack ‘n’ play! Either one will do the trick and keep baby entertained for hours.

23. Polkadot sticker art

Using labeling “dot” stickers, let baby create a masterpiece by sticking stickers to a blank piece of paper. They will love figuring out how the stickers work.

24. Sensory rice play

Fill an empty tub with dry rice and let them dig around with fingers, spoons and scoops. (Just be sure to keep a close eye so they don’t down any of the uncooked rice.)

25. Touch-and-feel board

Cover a poster board with different types of things that baby can touch, such as fake fur, sandpaper, bubble wrap and aluminum foil.

26. Plastic egg play

Put those leftover plastic Easter eggs to use by taking them apart and stacking them—and then encouraging baby to try, too.

27. Stack cups

Make cup towers with plastic cups and watch your little one knock them down and rebuild them! (Or just knock them down…)

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28. Sort toys in muffin tins

Place an assortment of different balls into muffin tins and let baby play with them. Colored cotton balls are especially fun for older tots interested in sorting by colors.

29. Bottle peek-a-boo

Put a rolled-up piece of paper in an empty water bottle so it covers the bottom portion. Then, stick a cotton ball or rock through the paper roll and show baby how the ball appears when you lift up the paper.

30. Clothes pin drop box

Cut a hole in the plastic lid of an empty coffee can that’s big enough for a clothes pin to go through. Then place the lid on the empty tin and show baby how to place the clothes pin inside. Get their little minds thinking by asking questions like, “Where did it go?”

31. Texture walk

Help your little one take a grassy nature walk with bare feet—or bring a few crunchy leaves inside to let them stomp on.

32. Spaghetti play

Boil a package of noodles, cool and let baby play with them. While you’re supervising, go ahead and join in on the fun, too—who doesn’t love to play with noodles?

33. Kitchen rock band

Let baby safely explore your kitchen by setting some different utensils and bowls on the floor to explore. My little guy loves measuring spoons, spatulas and plastic bowls.

34. Pretend animal play

Show baby pictures of a few different animals and then act out their sounds and motions, such as a cat meowing and licking her paws.

35. Ring some bells

Browse through your holiday décor for some bells and let the little one ring away!

36. Vegetable peel play

While making dinner, let baby play with those leftover potato, zucchini and carrot peels. They will love the different textures and smells.

37. Tub drums

Flip over a few tubs or buckets and you’ve got some makeshift hand drums!

38. Hanging loofas

Grab a few loofas from the store (they are dirt cheap) and string them on some yarn. Then hang them off of a table or the handles of your refrigerator to let your little one bat at.

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39. Sensory bags

Sensory bags are a great way to let babies explore and safely touch things that they normally couldn’t because of choking hazards or the mess factor. I usually toss things like cotton balls, crayons and other textured items into a plastic bag, zip and tape the top and then tape it to a wall. This leads to hours of entertainment!

40. Noodle necklaces

Similar to cheerio necklaces, let your toddler experiment with threading different dried pasta shapes on string.

41. Mini sandbox

Grab an empty tub from the attic or the garage and fill it with sand, a few toys, shells, rocks or anything else your little one might like. This is great for the indoors especially in the cooler months. (Just put a garbage bag or towel beneath the tub to help with clean-up.)

42. Snow globes

Using small jars or bottles, glue one of your baby’s small animal trinkets upside down to the lid, fill the jar portion with water and glitter and place the lid back on tightly. You now have a homemade snow globe!

43. Stringing pipe cleaners

Poke holes in an old egg carton and loop pipe cleaners through the holes. Baby can pull these out, place them back in and so forth.

44. Magnetic tubs

Fill a small plastic container with things that are magnetic—such as washers, bolts, etc. Place a lid on it and tape it up really well. Then, using a magnetic stick, let them pull the different things around the container safely!

45. Edible slime

There are tons of edible slime recipes that are baby-safe. Make one and let your babe have some fun squishing it in their hands. Who doesn’t love slime?

46. Foam window letters

Those foam bathtub letters also work great on windows—and baby doesn’t turn into a prune to use them!

47. Busy board

Grab some latches, zippers, locks and anything else that you could place on a wooden board for your little one to safely explore. Busy boards make for awesome little homemade gifts as well.

48. Touch and feel frames

Remove the glass from empty picture frames, then tape sensory objects to the back portion of the frame. Great items to use are sponges, dusting cloths, sandpaper, bubble wrap, etc. Place the frame back around it, close it up and set them out for baby to try!

49. Bathtub painting

Stick baby in a water-free tub with some washable paint and let them get creative. When they are done, rinse the bathtub out and give the little one a quick wash.

50. Busy basket

I use a busy basket almost every day with my little guy. I keep it tucked away so when I pull it out, it’s all new and fresh to him. It’s filled with odds and ends, such as blocks, baby-safe kitchen utensils, sensory bottles, music makers and more.

Looking for a place to start sensory play? Check out these great Amazon picks.

$7.62

Pop tube sensory toys

These colorful pop tubes are a great way to learn colors, practice counting, or explore design. Kiddos will love connecting tubes and listening for the closing and opening sounds them make.

SHOP

$14.98

Sensory bin playset

With themed options like mermaid lagoon, dinosaur dig and construction zone—there’s something here for everyone! Keep them occupied on a rainy day inside or use it outside on a warm day. Your child will have hands-on play time for hours.

SHOP

$23.95

Baby handprint and footprint keepsake

These fun clay prints make a great addition to your little one’s nursery room or gift them to loved ones far away. Your kiddo will love feeling the clay and you’ll have a wonderful memory of just how small those little hands and feet once were. Just follow the step by step instructions!

SHOP

$29.99

Janod how to count game

It’s more than Math, mama. The how to count game aids in development, discovery, and experimentation. This wooden board comes with 12 patterns, 14 graduated bars of bright colors and varying sizes, and two ways of play to accommodate mathematicians at all skill levels.

SHOP

A version of this post was published October 16, 2021. It has been updated.

40% of parents start reading to their baby before they’re 3 months old

Heather Marcoux, sponsored by Parent Pal — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

*This article is sponsored by ParentPal. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.

My local library encourages parents to read 1,000 books to their children by kindergarten. It sounds like a lot, but my son is only two and I am pretty sure I’ve already read Brown Bear, Brown Bear at least 1,000 times this week. We’ve been reading together since he was born, and, according to a new report, we’re part of a growing trend. More parents than ever before are following the American Academy of Pediatrics’ suggestion to start reading to kids from birth.

The sixth annual Kids & Family Reading Report by Scholastic surveyed 2,718 American parents in 2016 and found more than three-quarters of parents with children under five started reading aloud before their child was a year old, and about 40 percent started before their baby was three months old (up from 30 percent in 2014). That’s great news, according to experts.

I felt silly reading to my son when he hardly knew who I was (let alone what a brown bear was) but I’m so glad his dad and I just kept reading through the early awkwardness. Doctors say as soon as babies begin opening their eyes they’re more than ready for books.

To help support your baby’s development and track routines like sleep and feeding, you can try an app like ParentPal. ParentPal is the only all-in-one parenting app with everything you need to support, track, and celebrate your child’s healthy development. Developed by Teaching Strategies, the leaders in early childhood development, and the creators of Baby Einstein, ParentPal provides trusted, research-based guidance and parenting tools at your fingertips. You can use the Daily Plan of age-appropriate activities, Milestones, Sleep, Health & Wellness Trackers, and a vast library of age-based resources for your middle-of-the-night parenting questions.*

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading aloud to our little ones “stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.”

Sometimes it can feel like story time itself lasts a lifetime. The Scholastic survey found two out of three parents with kids under five read more than one book each time they read aloud to their children. (I totally relate to this—as soon as my son learned the sign for “more” he would ask for another book as soon as the first ended, especially if we were reading at bedtime.)

The survey also noted that kids start choosing their own books at pretty early ages (this is why I had to hide Brown Bear, Brown Bear). Fifty-four percent of parents of kids two and under said their kids picked their own books, and and the majority of kids between three and five are choosing for themselves.

The Scholastic report follows research presented in 2017 that found reading books with mom during infancy is a good predictor of early-reading skills. The researchers monitored 250 mom and baby pairs for four years and found that kids who were read to as babies had better vocabularies later on, and that frequent, quality story time sessions during toddlerhood are a good predictor of whether a child will be writing their name by age four.

Presenting that research at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting back in May, lead author Carolyn Cates drove home the benefits of reading to tiny babies: “What they’re learning when you read with them as infants still has an effect four years later when they’re about to begin elementary school.”

With more parents than ever before reading to the youngest children, the next crop of elementary schoolers may be the brightest yet. It seems like a lot of kids will hear 1,000 books before kindergarten.

We independently select and share the products we love—and may receive a commission if you choose to buy. You’ve got this.

[This story was originally published in November 2017. It has since been updated.]

Helping your 2-month-old thrive: Tips and activities

Jessica Solloway, sponsored by ParentPal — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:00:00 +0000

Your life may still feel like a blur of feedings, diaper changes and short spurts of sleep with a 2-month-old. That new baby fog means you usually have no clue what day it is or why the car keys are in the fridge. But this month is the perfect time to actually start a routine. Having a basic schedule helps the day flow, which is good for you and baby.

According to Dr. Tovah Klein, head of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of How Toddlers Thrive, routines help even 2-month-olds anticipate what’s going to happen next. She explains:

Bath? Check. Song? Check? Feeding? Check. Zzzz.

This kind of predictability helps her feel safe, calm and trusting of parents and caregivers. This creates a foundation for learning how to love the important people in her life and developing good self-esteem as she grows.

Week-by-week activities

And speaking of learning, this month your kiddo is becoming more interested in pictures and objects. You’ll see the beginning of hand-eye coordination, too. (You’re still her primary focus, so keep up the talking, singing and silly faces.) From story time to play time, these week-by-week tips from child development psychologist Dr. Holly Ruhl will help you navigate the month:

Week 1

Instilling an early love of reading can strengthen language skills and parent-child relationships. Squeeze in that oh-so-important 20 minutes of reading by visiting your local library or bookstore for story time. This activity will deepen your tot’s love of books and promote mama-baby bonding.

Week 2

Infants have an innate love of gazing at faces. Spend a few minutes each day attending to baby’s favorite faces: the ones staring back in the mirror! Make silly faces and label baby’s facial features. Gazing in the mirror may promote baby’s sense of self-recognition. This understanding will appear slightly later and is the basis for baby’s later self-confidence.

Week 3

Your little bundle is developing rudimentary hand-eye coordination. Promote coordination by fostering interaction with baby’s fascinating surroundings. Help your tot gently stroke household pets. Dangle a textured, crinkly toy for those little hands to swat. Lay baby on an activity gym and soak in the baby bliss as your little one intently reaches for toys overhead.

Week 4

Are family and friends antsy to cuddle with the new addition? Take baby to visit loved ones for exposure to new faces, voices and styles of play. Plus, social support from friends and relatives around 3 months can help you be a more responsive mama and give baby supplemental support, leading to more secure attachment by 12 months.

Helping your 6-month-old thrive: Tips + activities

Jessica Solloway, sponsored by ParentPal — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:00:00 +0000

*This article is sponsored by ParentPal. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Motherly and mamas.

Your curious kiddo is getting the hang of lots of new things this month: eating (and playing with) solid foods, sitting unassisted, sleeping on a schedule (with two naps!) and making new sounds. So get ready for lots (and lots) of peekaboo now that your baby understands cause and effect.

Dr. Tovah Klein, head of the Toddler Center at Barnard College and author of How Toddlers Thrive, shares fun ways you can play with your baby to encourage exploration and get lots of giggles in the process.

Tips for your 6-month-old

Play peekaboo.

Try putting your hands over your face and ask, “Where’s Mommy?” then remove them. This game, played over and over, helps your baby learn that you go bye-bye, but then you come back. This helps her learn about separation from you, and helps her practice saying goodbye, knowing that you will be back. Plus, it is a lot of fun!

Play back-and-forth games.

Give your baby a toy, then put your hand out and say, “Now give it to Mommy.” Eventually she’ll give it back (it’s okay if she doesn’t; she may just want to hold it, too). Then you can say, “You gave it back. Now I give it to you.” Babies love this game and can do it over and over. She also likes to copy you. If you bang on a toy, she will try it too.

Use bath time to learn new things.

Give your baby clean, empty plastic containers. Fill them with water, then let your baby pour it out and see what happens as the water falls, or when she pours it into an empty cup. This is how she learns about how things work and it helps her brain develop.

When she splashes and you laugh, she learns about connecting and playing with you. This will help her learn about playing with other people, and friends, as she gets older. Bath time may also be the one quiet time you get alone with her. When you gently bathe her, and snuggle her in a towel afterward, she enjoys being with you. This helps her feel good about herself and shows her how much she is loved.

Let her play with her food.

Aside from eating new things, experiencing how it feels is another way of learning.

From building block towers to making music together, child development psychologist Dr. Holly Ruhl has week-by-week tips for month seven.

Week-by-week activities

Week 1

Now that baby is sitting independently, a family-friendly concert in the park would be a mutually rewarding activity for you and baby. Bring a picnic blanket, baby carrier, and a few toys to keep your tot content during intermission. Even young infants are predisposed to comprehend and appreciate music, and your little one will love it even more if you enjoy it, too!

Week 2

Mamas often get caught up in the daily grind. This week, put down the phone and make room for classic play time with your tot. Roll around on the carpet, build block towers and play demolition, read books, roll a ball back and forth, or put a box on your head and help your babe remove it—Peekaboo, Mama! This quality interaction fosters baby’s competence and security.

Week 3

Baby needs many hands-on experiences to develop adaptive grasping skills. Fill a box with household items of varying textures, sounds, smells, and colors for your tot to explore. Put doubles of each object in the box to help baby find pairs, mimic baby’s behaviors with matching objects, and introduce the idea of “two,” a concept developed in the second year.

Week 4

Exploration with music can develop motor skills, socio-emotional awareness, and so much more! Engage your little one with egg shakers, maracas, bells, or good ole’ pots and pans. Baby will develop the foundations for rhythm by shaking and whacking instruments, moving to the beat and learning hand motions to beloved children’s songs.

A treat for little one: B. One Two Squeeze Blocks

Build. Topple. Repeat. Baby will love watching you create a tower of blocks and then helping to knock it down. These squeezable, floatable and of course chewable blocks are perfect for little hands to grab.

Here’s how to raise kids who tell the truth, according to science

Sarah R. Moore — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

We all want to raise honest kids. We want to trust that we’ll get the real story when we ask them what’s going on. We hope our kids will trust us with small issues as well as big ones.

So how do we raise honest kids?

As I was putting my 6-year-old daughter to bed one night, she said, “Mommy, my monkey looks different. Did she grow?” She’s slept with this stuffed monkey since she was two. More accurately, she’s slept with one of several identical monkeys we purchased “just in case” something happened to one of them.

Of course, her monkey hadn’t grown. The one she’d been snuggling to sleep for the past few months had gotten pretty raggedy so I’d replaced it with the newest, least bedraggled one she has. It’s fluffier. Its head doesn’t flop over like the others.

This was one of those parenting moments that momentarily stumped me.

Of course I believe in raising honest kids, and I know the importance of modeling honesty to accomplish that. Still, I wondered if I were betraying her trust in some other way by confessing that we had monkey-doubles.

Hoping for the best, I did what I knew I had to do. Holding her in the darkness, I confessed, “No, your monkey didn’t grow. We have more than one monkey. When you were littler, we bought extras to make sure you’d always have a clean one to sleep with, or a backup if something happened to her. This one is fluffier because she’s newer.”

She was silent for a minute. I honored the quiet space in conversation and let her process. Then I added lightly, “It’s kind of like we have our own private monkey party.”

She giggled. She was okay. The next day, she said nothing of it. Honesty had been the right call. Of course it had been.

Why is this about my own decision whether to be honest, though, instead of about my child’s honesty or lack thereof? It’s because as her parent, I’m the role model. And I had an opportunity to be one… or not.

Adults tend to overthink this sometimes. The honesty we model is always the right path for raising honest kids.

Raising honest kids is about being honest with them ourselves—even when it’s hard.

Of course, we need to keep our honesty age-appropriate. But it’s honesty all the same.

We owe it to our kids to be transparent, even when our inclination might be to lie. Our truthfulness helps shape their moral character. Science tells us that the more honest we are with our kids, the more likely we are to raise honest kids.

What about kids who are already in the “habit” of lying? Don’t all kids lie?

Here’s where some knowledge of child development comes into play. Indeed, children between the ages of two and four already start to engage in what adults perceive as lying. However, “lying” is not as clear as it seems.

For young children: Up to about age 5

Lying has an inherently negative connotation for adults, as it should. So much of their world is based on play that they might not realize what they said didn’t actually happen. Their brains simply haven’t developed enough yet to keep track of the difference. So, rather than getting upset that our child has “intentionally” lied to us, reframe it as their brain having been stuck in fantasy play.

Perhaps surprisingly, not only is it developmentally normal, it’s also healthy and appropriate for them to do this. An example of this would be, “My doll threw my food.”

For slightly older kids: Up to about age 8

They may lie for the same reason their younger counterparts do. Play is still a common state of mind for them. Alternatively, they may lie to suggest what they wish had happened. It’s not necessarily a conscious or malicious plan; it can come from regret or embarrassment.

An example of this would be, “I don’t know how the ball broke the window. Someone else did it.” It can be helpful for the adult to translate their statement to, “I wish I hadn’t broken the window.” Understanding the child’s internal motivation for the lie can be beneficial.

Of course, not all lies are acceptable and not all lies are developmentally appropriate. Raising honest kids can be harder for some families than for others. Reach out to a professional family counselor or clinician to discuss if you’re concerned.

What else can we do to raise honest kids? Use science-backed positive parenting based on connection rather than shaming or punitive measures when children lie. Be a playful parent as often as possible to fully engage your kids. And most of all, give them grace when they do slip up—after all, you’re raising humans and doing the best we can.

This post was originally published on the author’s blog. It was first shared on Motherly on June 22, 2020.

Motherly

How to make finger paint—a taste-safe recipe for tiny fingers

Homemade finger paint for your little artist

Step 1: Choose your fruits and veggies based on the colors you’d like to develop.

Step 2: Blend them up one color family at a time.

Step 3: Use a strainer to separate the chunky pieces from the colorful juice you’ve just made.

Step 4: Depending on how vibrant you want your mixture to be will determine your ratio of greek yogurt to juice drops.

35 Sensory play activities to stimulate your toddler’s beautiful brain

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