Playing in dirt is not high up on the list of things you thought you’d have to do as a parent. But, here are some new ideas to get your kid outside and in the muck.
Continue readingGet Your Hands Dirty
Occupational Therapy
Dirt Don’t Hurt: Gardening and Kids
Our son LOVES being outside. He runs around in the backyard, looking for a dirt pile or a mud puddle to play with his monster trucks. Yes, he gets messy, but the benefits far outweigh the laundry pile.
Continue readingThe Quick, Long List of Chores by Age
Unsure what household responsibilities your child is ready for?
Here’s a list of tasks of what they can do, based on age and development.
Cleaning Up: Introducing Kids to Chores
When our son turned 18 months, he started noticing us doing household chores. He would try to take utensils out of the dishwasher, attempt to push the vacuum cleaner by himself, and wipe down countertops. This makes sense since many play sets and toys mimic household activities and promote pretend play, like cooking, cleaning, and lawn care.
Pretend play is when a child will imitate what they see their adults doing. Does this mean that they are ready to do chores? Aren’t they too young to do this?
Continue readingThe Quick, Long list of Activities for Picky Eaters
Picky eaters may need to see food from a different perspective. Playing with food may seem counterintuitive, but remember, eating at this age is about discovery. Give these activities a try:
- Edible art
Allow your child to create artwork using various food items.
Incorporate foods that vary in texture, temperature, and taste, like leafy greens, dried grains and beans, and raw vegetables. You can also use fruits or vegetables as stamps or stencils. - Let food be the paint
Have your child paint with pudding, yogurt, or Cool Whip. Add food coloring to get different colors. Instead of doing this on paper, use parchment, aluminum foil, or a cookie sheet for easy clean up.
Child(ish) Advice 