Books on the Shelf: Forest Animals

Here were last week's Books on the Shelf!

We decided to go with a Forest Animals theme.  Technically, we have more books we could have included, but ran out of room on the shelf. Forest Adventure was really the only one at Archer's level (kind of), but I did read him a few of the others and have him look at the pictures.  While he definitely has books he LOVES to read, I also try to do a lot of reading to him even while he is playing other things.  Xander also read some on his own.

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Flashcard Obsessed

Archer LOVES his Your Baby Can Read flashcards!  He knows where we keep them and will randomly bring me a set.  When we finish, he will go back to the bin and bring me another until we've done them all at least once.

Baby Sensory Play: Gel Bag

I've been trying to do more sensory play activities with Archer, which is challenging since EVERYTHING goes in his mouth.  Last month I shared the window paint bag we did. This was an adaptation.

I used a freezer bag and filled it with cheap hair gel.  I added some pony beads for interest.  Then I taped the top closed and taped it to the window.  You could definitely use it on a table or the floor, I was just trying to prevent Archer from trying to eat it. 

Which didn't work. 

While he enjoyed playing with the bag, he also saw the tape as a fun challenge.  He spent a lot of time trying to get it off the window.  Oh well, still good fine motor skills!

Books on the Shelf: Electricity and Magnetism

Here are last week's Books on the Shelf. Xander had been asking about electricity one night at dinner, so it seemed like the perfect time to pull out our books on electricity and magnetism.  I know he didn't read every book in its entirety, but I did see him reading a few of these throughout the week.  Since the whole goal is to increase the amount of our nonfiction he reads, that's enough to make me happy.

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11.5 Month Learning Shelves

Here are the learning shelves we had up for the last couple of weeks.  Archer was 11.5 months.

First, we had a little basket with shape beanbags.  The beanbags say the name of the shape in English on one side and in Spanish on the other. Both boys had fun throwing these around. Archer thought it was funny if I tossed them to him one at a time while I said the color and shape.

One shelf had this wooden mailbox.  This was one of those amazing garage sale finds, because it held Archer's attention for so long.  He liked putting all the stamps in and watching them fall down into the door.  He also likes opening and closing the door, and taking everything out of the mailbox.  As he gets older, it'll be easier for him to sort the letters.

Another shelf had our Treasure Basket.  It has lots of random objects with different shapes and textures.  Mostly he chews on them and throws them around the room.  Some things he tried to put in the mail box.

Another basket had these little shape sorting turtles.  Archer can't put them together yet, but he likes taking them apart.

I hadn't gotten out our little hedgehog in a while, so that was on another shelf.  I am never quite sure about this one, but Archer always really enjoys it.  He likes to take all the little spikes out.  He also likes to chew on them or just carry one around with him.

I also had out our disk sorter (this one is similar but much nicer). He liked taking all the disks off, but not actually putting them on.  I also found disks in random bins or shelves throughout the room.

When you're too tired to sit up but still want to play.  He just stayed on the floor pushing the disks behind himself.

The bottom shelf (I've learned not to put puzzles up high), had his house knobby puzzle.  It hadn't been all that long since we had it out, but this was the first time he was actually able to put some of the pieces in.

He also just held on to pieces while cruising around the room.

Finally, we had this Animal Talk book  and some Toob Animals to match.  This book has been a favorite for both boys.