Muffin Tin Fun

Who new a muffin tin could be so much fun!?

If you have one pull it out, put things in it and put it in front of your baby. I find Baby T has a blast putting things in and out, banging items in the tin and pushing the tin forwards and backward with items in or out of the tin. 

So what have we put in it so far: 

Toilet paper rolls (fun but Baby T also likes to eat cardboard!!!)

Blocks (super fun yet noisy)

plastic eggs 

Balls

Spoons

Stacking cups 

So what is Baby T learning? 

Spacial awareness (does that fit?? can I put two in??)

Hand Eye coordination 

Noise (and how much one can make!)

weight (heavy nor heavy) 

cause and effect 

The list goes on as always but there are a few things she is learning, 

Have fun! 

Magic Cloth Box

Seriously it has ben ages since I last posted! Wow time really does fly when you have a baby and sometimes it's hard to find the time to do 'extra' things like blogging!


Here is a post I have been meaning to do for ages! In fact I had this made up months ago and have had the pictures for a long time. Any way here it finally is! 

So Baby T loves pulling things out and examining them so I created this box to stuff things in and have her pull them out. Origonally a shoe box I cut a hole in the top and covered it with pretty paper (what can I say I like pretty things!). You could easily use an old tissue box but I would take the plastic off incase you child is anything like Baby T and likes to eat plastic (!?). I filled the box with scraps of fabric, wash cloths and some small play silks we have. 

I made the hole at the top big enough so I could put other random things in like spoons, blocks or a mixture of her toys. 

She loves it! 

I have found that she has been enjoying it more and more these days and even takes liberties to pull out of any bag around the house! I have Baby T help me with laundry these days since she likes pulling clothes out of baskets and bags so much. I also have taken to filling a paper bag with random baby friendly items which helps keep her occupied if I need 5 or 10 minutes to do something (like clean the toilet -yuck!). 


So what is Baby T learning during this activity?? 


Shapes
Spacial awareness (getting things in and out of the box) 
Fine motor and hand /finger grasping
Texture 
Colour 
Pattern  




Simple, easy and fun - give it a try! 

This Moment

This Moment -A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Where is this 'village'... sign me up!

The idea of  'it takes a village to raise a child' has come up with my mommy friends lately in a few different conversations. So where is this village and sign me up! 


I actually have a pretend 'dream village' where I occasionally wish I was, ok I lie, I wish I was there ALL. THE. TIME. My make believe village is on the Island of Bali.... hmmm sandy beaches, hot weather, amazing food...  but seriously Bali is a very child-friendly place and everyone takes care of one another in the community. I grew up not far away as an expat kid in Jakarta so I have seen the culture up close.  Families often live in a family compound and help each other out. Now before having children the idea of living with family in one compound would not sound appealing however after child it sounds kind of nice. Having a group of people there to help you... oh imagine! Right after birth when your so tired, no worries your family is there to do it all while you just relax and get to know your baby. When your baby does not want to be put down, no problem pass him onto the next family member. All those extra hands, all the possibilities....

Modern parenting in the western world in my opinion has become what it is our of necessity due to our lack of a 'village' not necessarily that it is best for the mother or the child. For instance the idea of putting your child down whenever possible when they are newborn, is that because it is actually better for them to 'learn' to sleep on their own or is it because later on the child will have to be on their own (not enough hands around to help) and therefore best get them used to it early?


The lack of village we have also puts a hug strain on mothers as they must 'do it all' or close to it all on their own. The task of raising children is huge in my opinion and I don't think it was ever meant to be done alone or as a pair but by a community and family. The idea of independence and individuality is highly regarded in the west and so here we are independently and individually looking after our own families with minimal help. Some of us are lucky and have close nit families who are there at the ready to lend a helping hand though too often families are far away or too busy.  


More often then not we have created the 'modern village' through friends, social networks like facebook, twitter and blogs.  These are helpful and I know I value my made up village as they are my lifeline but still often long for my bali village. 

Quick Monday Exploration

Mondays are usually the day I buy produce and so it is also the day Baby T gets to explore what we bought and it's textures. 


Anything goes but I usually pick a few of what I buy just keeping in mind what can't be easily eaten at this stage (no teeth yet so there is less issues here for us). I make sure to wash it all as Baby T likes to explore everything with her mouth. Yum? 

                       

So there you have it something quick and easy that we do on a Monday.