An Activity Filled Blog to Consider

This week a friend of mine posted on her Facebook account asking if anybody had any ideas on what activities she could do with a 4 year old and a 20 month old in the mornings because she was running out of ideas. One of the great things about the information age is that you can get ideas for activities, suggestions on what to do when a problem arises, and even have suggestions given of other places to look for additional information with just a click of a button. However, it can be overwhelming at times so it helps to know where to look.  That is why I decided to recommend this great blog I found called Toddler Approved http://www.toddlerapproved.com.

The authors of this blog are a group of contributors who are paid to test products such as toys and books, but the information they give is really not about selling products. They give ideas on behavior charts, recommend books, provide suggestions for problems caregivers of preschoolers might encounter, and have lots and lots of activities you can do with your preschooler.

One of the subjects discussed in this blog is quiet time.  Napping can provide renewed energy for your child and for you, but sometimes naps just do not happen and children can outgrow their napping routine. Around three to five years children usually stop napping during the day because they can get enough sleep at night and those children who stop napping during the day may do better cognitively (Lam, Mahone, Mason &  Scharf, 2011). However, as a parent I still wanted some time to myself so quiet time became a beautiful option. If you search “quiet time” in the blog search box you will get the post titled Establishing Quiet Time… When Your Child Stops Napping which lists some steps to making quiet time successful for you and your preschooler.

My favorite part of the Toddler Approved blog is the activity sections. When children learn through play they can increase their interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM subjects) which is found to be true especially at home (Bachman & Dierking, 2011). Flexibility in the child’s play is important to success in these areas (Bachman & Dierking, 2011). Crafts allow for a lot of flexibility because children can be innovative with their creations. Enter “learn through play” in the blog’s search box and you will find 75+Math Activities From the PLAY Group.

Their most recent blog gives an idea for a family jogging club using crafts. Today obesity is often talked about as an epidemic in the US.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2013) states how important it is for children of all ages to become physically active and that children who are physically active are less likely to become obese later on in life which will help in prevention from serious diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. It’s so nice to have ideas on how to engage your children so they can create and maintain healthy habits and this blog provides some great ideas.

There is so much helpful information in this blog. The writers are open and honest and want to share their ideas as well as ideas and pages of other people and sites they find interesting. I suggest any parent or caregiver who needs some ideas check out this blog. In fact, I am going to make sure I give my friend the link as well.

Bachman, J., Dierking, L., (2011). Co-creating Playful Environments That Support Children’s Science and

Mathematics Learning as Cultural Activity: Insights from Home-Educating Families. Children, Youth and Environments, 21, 294-311. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.21.2.0294

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013). Adolescent and School Health: Childhood Obesity

Facts. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

Lam, J. C., Mahone, E. M., Mason, T. B. A., Scharf, S. M., (2011). The Effects of Napping on Cognitive Function in

Preschoolers, Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 32(2).  doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e318207ecc7