I'm slowly exposing to Archer to the idea of working at his desk. I'm hoping that as he gets used to it, it will open up a bunch of fun learning games for us. Lately, for fine motor development, I've been getting out some finger crayons.
I got these at Michael's for Archer's Easter basket. (These were the cheapest ones I found on Amazon). We'd tried regular toddler crayons and he just wasn't ready. I like the shape because he can hold it in his palm.
The first time, I used a big piece of paper and taped it to the table. Since then, I've been able to use regular paper and just hold it for him. We do it in very short bursts and it takes a lot of redirecting to keep him from eating them! I'm hoping this will put us on the path toward coloring, markers and other pre-writing skills!
Count this as a major win in my quest for fine motor activities for Archer! I could not believe how long this activity held his attention and how often he would go get it off his shelves to do! Hooray for occupying the baby!
We had an empty iced tea bottle that I gave him and some leftover straws from the Cupid's Blow Dart STEM Challenge. I gave him three full straws and three straws cut in half. The half straws were definitely much easier for him to get in. The larger ones were more challenging, especially since they were the bendy type straw. Straight ones would have been much better.
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.
It's been a while since I posted any updates on Archer's use of the Pikler's Triangle. While he is not walking yet (he isn't all that interested in trying when he can crawl so quickly), he is getting pretty good at climbing. He is also getting much braver. For a long time he'd only go up to having his feet on the first rung. Now he climbing pretty high.
One day last week, he climbed up and then kept doing squats on the rungs. It was goofy, but he enjoyed it. Wish I could have gotten a video!
My husband made our triangle but Amazon has this one that looks cute. I'm hoping he can eventually make us a ramp to go with it!
Two Months! It doesn't sound like that long at all, but I still feel like keeping a tiny, helpless human alive that long is an accomplishment. Babies are hard, but SO worth it!
We still haven't started any sort of formal early learning plan yet (although, I just ordered some PlayWisely home curriculum and am excited to start). We just kind of do "learning" activities depending on his mood (although, honestly, at this point, he's learning no matter what he does).
Social/Language Development:
Archer is so much more fun now. He makes good eye contact and will often light up when he sees me. He becomes very engaged when I sing him songs, particularly ones that have arm motions (itsy bitsy spider, the elephant song, etc.). He also really likes it when I sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to him and point to his body parts along with the song. Sometimes, he likes being read to, but only if I'm very animated. I also try to narrate or describe a lot of what I'm doing, partially for vocabulary exposure and partially because it is weird to be interacting all day with someone who doesn't speak.
He wants SO badly to talk. He is getting better at cooing, although, sometimes you can see that he really has to struggle to get the sounds out. His little brow will furrow and he'll scrunch up til he can do it. We're working on turn taking, where he'll coo and then we'll respond and so on.
Physical Development:
He still goes in his crawling track, just not as much as he "should." Spit-up is still an issue. In general, I'm trying to avoid putting him in baby "holders" all the time. Unless he's sleeping or we're out and about, I try to either be holding him or have him on the ground. That way he can move and learn how to use his arms and legs. I'm definitely not perfect, though! The bouncer has gotten us through a lot of meals.
He loves looking at his mirror. It is one of the things I can do to make tummy time more tolerable for him. Looking at his stimulation cards can also hold his attention for a while. My friend got him some baby paper, which is awesome. I put that down next to him to encourage him to use his hands while on his tummy. He's also got a couple of the Taggies crinkle toys.
Archer does seem to really enjoy his baby gym. He's working on being able to hit the toys on purpose (he does it on accident a lot).
Visual Development:
We use the crawling track and baby gym for this a lot too. I usually prop some books up for him to look at while he's in there. He really seems to like his book of animals, which surprised me, since I thought it might be a little hard for him to make them out. I try to do either black and white images or real photos. Cartoons are just such an abstract concept, that I try to avoid them when I can.
We've also been working on eye tracking. I use a toy or something in which he is interested, then move it back and forth for him to track. I also go up and down. He is getting so much smoother and rarely goes cross-eyed anymore!
I've noticed that when we do these kinds of focused activities, Archer is so much more content. Maybe he gets bored if he doesn't have enough stimulation? Regardless, we're having a blast watching him learn and develop!
I'd love to hear what activities your babies have enjoyed at this age.
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Recently I posted my Maternity Reading List. I've been making my way through and trying to write short little reviews. The next on the list was Bright from the Start by Jill Stamm.
This was another book I really enjoyed. There was a lot of science and research behind the information, which is always encouraging, especially in a family of science nerds. I also really liked how the author focuses on practical tips for what the parent should actually DO with the information. She gives ideas for very manageable games to play and activities to do with babies and young children that take advantage of the developmental research. It is very reader friendly and un-intimidating. Some Take Home Messages:
Notes: most of the information I have read other places, but the scientific evidence to back them up is reassuring, as well as the practical applications.
Face to face, direct interaction with babies is critical
No screen, audio or toy can replicate the benefits of directly interacting with caregivers
Focused attention, strong bonding moments and development of communication encompass all early learning
Recently I posted my Maternity Reading List. One of the books I included, even though I had already read a few years ago was How Smart Is Your Baby? by Glenn and Janet Doman. To be fair, I did not reread it cover to cover, but reread all of the introductory chapters and those pertaining to the first couple of stages of development. As the baby develops, I'll go back and reread the next appropriate chapters.
I really like that this book has a lot of research behind it. I have many online friends who have used some of the Doman methods with their kids with wonderful success. I also attribute a lot of Doman's philosophies to how I was able to get Xander to learn to read at such a young age, as well as a lot of his other learning. I am excited to start applying some of the research and philosophies to teaching the new little one, once he arrives.
However, I will also say that this book is INTENSE. A full Doman program requires a lot of work, some of which I'm not super comfortable doing with a newborn several times a day. I do not intend to do EVERYTHING suggested, nor as often as suggested.
That being said, there is a lot of valuable information in the book and I am grateful for the resource. I actually bookmarked three sections that I want my husband to read before baby, also. We will apply a lot of the strategies as long as we find they are working for baby and for us.
Some Take Home Messages:
Mothers are the best nurturers and teachers for newborns (makes sense, who could possibly care more that mom and dad?)
Babies/children want to learn and just need the right experiences and environment to make it happen
Learning should be enjoyable for both parent and baby
This book focuses more on the emotional development of kids. Each chapter focuses on one aspect of how the brain develops and how that impacts behavior and emotions. It has tips on how to respond to different types of situations to help get the kid through it. Then at the end of the chapter there is a section that you use to teach your kids about the concept and a section on how to integrate the knowledge into your own life.
All in all, I thought it was a good book and could see how it could be very useful. However, having a psychology degree and being a parent already, I felt like a lot of the information I either knew already or felt kind of like common knowledge. I did find myself wanting to share concepts and ideas with my husband, since he has not parented before and is a bit more stoic when it comes to the emotions department.
Some Take Home Messages:
Children have developing brains, and sometimes truly are unable to regulate their emotions and behaviors
Handle the emotions first/in the moment and then come back with logic and reason afterwards
Help children name their emotions to make them seem more manageable
When children are hyper-focusing on one thing that is bringing them down, help them visualize all the parts of their days/lives that contribute to their "self"
Recently I posted my Maternity Reading List. The first book I read from the list was Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina. I have to say, it was one of my favorite parenting books (granted, I'm not posting about the ones I really didn't like).
All of the advice and information in the book is research based (definitely appeases the science teacher part of me). The author gave practical tips, while still realizing that parents are human and need to balance brain development and regular life. Topics ranged from pregnancy, to family relationships to raising happy, moral children. Some Take Home Messages:
Notes: almost all of these are things I have read other places, but the scientific evidence to back them up is reassuring.
Face to face interaction with babies is the most valuable
As I shared last month, I am so excited to start the early learning journey again with our new little one when he/she arrives! To prepare I've already started making my reading list. It has books I read already (so will likely skim) and new books I just got (thank you ebay!). I was thinking I should jot down some notes on the takeaways I get from each one, so maybe I won't have reread them all for baby #3, especially considering there is likely to be a LOT of overlap. I can share that in the future if anyone would be interested.
