The Toddler Edition - September — Bright Smiling Life

This September has a new twist. Things are different this fall, and I’m slowly learning that it’s okay. Working from home more means we are staying in and using our house to the fullest. Rory, my toddler, is Preschool age. We have been enjoying many new activities together and will be for a while. I have compiled a small list of the things we are currently loving, and I’ve attached links so that you can take a look for yourself.

Games are a staple of childhood. The right kind of games can boost your child’s cognitive skills, strategic thinking and goal setting. They also help children develop emotional responses with direct feedback on the quality of their decision making. This will not only helpful today, but will serve them later in life. One game we really enjoy is First Orchard.

Painting is a great activity for toddlers. It encourages creativity, helps with hand-eye coordination and dexterity. It also allows them to learn to paint what they see. We love using the paint sticks. They work well, Rory thinks they are easy to hold, the colors are vibrant, and there is no “paint-mess” to clean up.

While we are talking about paint, we also love the Do-A-Dot Art! Each paint bottle is easy to hold and offers a different form of painting—by using dots. Each bottle of paint has the color’s name printed visibly and is easy to read. Your toddler will start to use word association for color recognition.

Playing with “professional” toys allows your toddler to dream, hope and use their imagination. It gives your child permission to pretend to be someone else and express themselves in a different role. This ultimately will allow self-expression and develop more independence by giving your child the opportunity to work on self-care skills. Naturally, a toy we love is the Dentist Set. As a hygienist, I can dream that someday I might work for Dr. Rory, DDS.

A recent trip to the beach was the perfect time to use our newest beach toys, by The Beach People. But beach and sand toys don’t have to be used at the beach, they are great for the backyard too. Many of my friends have sand boxes for their toddlers. We don’t have a sand box but we do have dirt and rocks—both things my toddler adores! Sand play allows toddlers to use their imagination and make sense of the world around them. Adults can help but ultimately the child can create and manipulate the sand without any adult assistance. This type of separation helps your toddler develop trust and confidence.

There are many more activities we will be working on in October so please look for “The Toddler Edition - October” next month.