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Balancing daily life with a toddler

Started by Jaisa, author of Baby Business

2/8/2010 10:29 PM

So I need some advice on how to balance everyday life with my toddler. He is on the go 12 hours a day. I am just struggling with balancing darn near everything.
How much quiet time do you give your toddler? How many hours do you engage in activity or play with them.... do you rotate between physical activities and or structured quiet play? Does your toddler play by themselves? How about meals..... snacks.... I feel like my son wants a snack 24-7, or wants the same foods day in and out. I think now that he hit 21 months I just feel like I lost all structure, like he is a wild man on his own mission. LOL So help me mammas of toddlers what does your day look like, how do you keep a nice balance?

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Reply by Muliebrity
author of Muliebrity Smith

2/8/2010 10:37 PM

I wish I could give you some words of wisdom, but it's a free-for-all here!

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Reply by Tracy
author of Kids, Dogs & Life

2/9/2010 6:46 AM

I may be able to help you!  I can share a little bit of what our toddler room at our high quality center has...
I know home & "school" is different but it might help you to get the ideas moving.
First we serve food (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack & late snack) every 2 hours!  This is something i have transfered home! (i work 3 days a week, home the other 4)  They go outside once in the am & once in the pm.  They do several projects (art, science, math, language, world around us) they serve lunch, have a 2 hour nap period.  They also change diapers every 2 hours per our state licensing. 
So their day is filled with diapers, food, projects.
What time does your LO get up?
Does writing plans/ideas help you?  I know for me, i sometimes need to commit to my schedule in writing to feel more accomplished.
Do you live near a library, Gymboree (or something where you have open gym etc), a YMCA?
Do you live in an area where you can get outside all year round?
I like doing my projects/errands etc in the morning.
So perhaps, i would run a toddler schedule like this:
wake up
breakfast
independent play
(so i could get dressed/ready)
out n about (hour-2 hours with drive time )
library-m
gym-tues
errands-wed
playdate-thur
Park-friday
Bringing a snack on the go with us
Home-
independent play until lunch
lunch
nap (i would try really hard to get a 2 hour nap/rest time in for child- i need that time to get dinner/laundry/exercise/rest)
project (great websites out there for SIMPLE & Easy toddler activities
play with mommy (cars, dolls, dramatic play-role play, balls, etc) (would alternate fine motor & large motor every other day...Fine motor- great example-threading beads on string (way advanced for most tods, just the example)
Large motor- active play-muscle development-outside time-kicking a ball, jumping, dancing etc

Independent play until dinner

Can you tell i love my job of working at a high quality child care center & that i help coordinate the lesson plans...i love sharing about curriculum and activities.

LOVE THIS WEBSITE (She's on this forums also :)
http://tvfreetoddlertime.blogspot.com/
If you are interested i can post projects that i teach in an activity class for parents.


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Reply by Willow
author of A Cargo Of Joy

2/9/2010 7:21 AM

 
   We are pretty structured around here as far as naps/nighttime go but as far as play... we really go with the flow. My daughter is 23 months and not always in the mood to do the same thing all of the time. The only thing that we specifically do is go to playgroup on Tuesday mornings.     \
 
    We tend to have quiet time in the morning... I make breakfast, she plays by herself, eats, etc... I clean up, blog, read. 
 
    Around 10 we do play together stuff- whatever she wants, usually (puzzles, crafts, coloring, walk, dancing, etc... in the winter this is harder because we don't have much option for outside, but we do have balls inside and we will play with those or we will bring the dogs in and chase them around... whatever we can find!) 
 
     We sit down together and relax as we get close to naptime (1pm). 
 
    After naptime is more playtime, then as it gets closer to dinner/jungle gym daddy getting home she gets more independent playtime and I start cleaning up and cooking dinner. 
 
  When we are done with dinner is basically wild maniac child time because Daddy is home and he isn't pregnant, so he can roll around on the floor and wrestle and giggle. :) 
 
   Bedtime is 7:30-8:00 (this varies simply because some days she is exhausted by 7:30 and other times she is just fine until 8) so at about 6:30-7:00 we sit down and read books, play quietly with puzzles, watch a little bit of a movie, etc...
 
   Meals... well. that is a bit harder. She is a toddler so sometimes she doesn't want to eat much and sometimes she is like a garbage disposal. We do a specific breakfast, lunch and dinner, but for snacks i let her lead. Although I give her specific choices on what she can eat (yogurt, banana, crackers?). We tried to do set snack times, but she just wasn't always hungry at snack time, and then an hour later she would want a yogurt, but we were still a ways away from lunch or dinner. 
 
    I don't think any more structured is the way to go for us. We get a little bit of everything in during the day... we have activities like little games, we have beads to string, flashcards, coloring, etc... we work with puzzles, shapes, counting cheerios, baking-she LOVES to help in the kitchen. (no worries... she stirs the pudding or cookies and puts ingredients in the bowls... she doesn't do anything at the oven or anything!) I put together crafts that we can make, we paint, we play hide and seek... etc... there are so many activities out there! For more detailed lists of things I am sure you could google and find games and learning activities for toddlers.. :)
 
 
 

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Reply by Jen (Mom2my9)
author of 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven
American Mom of 9.5 Living in Mexico - Come see!

2/9/2010 8:06 AM

Ooooo, Tracy, thanks so much for the linky love!

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Reply by Quirky Momma
author of quirkymomma.com
Activities & crafts for kids! Tips for Moms.

2/9/2010 8:38 AM

We have lots of activities... my kiddos current favorites are building caves out of their beds, having a drum band with the pots and pans and making paths with old shoes.  They probably play by themselves for an hour in the morning and afternoon - I call it timer time and set the timer for "free play".  They do "school" each morning too (coloring, playing with goop, using sticky sticks to form letters, playing starfall, etc.)  I am blessed that my youngsters have each other to play with and help entertain each other.  Other than those 2.5 hours of the day we usually do chores and play together.

I blog about our activities and learning fun

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Reply by Tracy
author of Kids, Dogs & Life

2/9/2010 8:52 AM

ohh Quirkymomma, i have to give you props (too) i love your website & have implemented some of your ideas in my preschool room...as a matter of fact, i was going to email you...(about sharing your laundry as math with my center)
http://quirkymomma.com/2009/chores-laundry/
it's a fab article!  I have shared it with a couple of parents who are struggling with the idea of having young children assist with chores.  (some are surprised when i suggest they give chores to help with growth, self confidence & independence)
i also love
http://lovemylifex4.blogspot.com/
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/  (this site is totally ME, i love combining sensory activities with books!) ( i actually teach classes (IRL) about this idea)
one last link
http://lapbooksbycarisa.homestead.com/TraysforTots.html
Blogs have completely changed the way i search for early childhood activities/articles for my personal life & at work.




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Reply by Jaisa
author of Baby Business

2/9/2010 9:07 AM

WOW ladies you really went above and beyond * Thanks*!! I appreciate the links so much. At nap I will actually get a chance to peak and read through it more!

He is involved in activities throughout the week, gym class, swimming and MOPS. We get out and about it is our at home time that I am beginning to feel needs some structure because he is just pulling toys out and running around like crazy. We have a very loose schedule right now and I feel like he and I could both benefit for some more structure. Outside play is limited since we have about 2 feet of snow right now. The poor kid can not even really play in it, it is so deep. I think I am going to start to pull some of the activities off the blogs so that we are engaging in some project/structured learning time in the am and pm each day. Great idea Tracy about writing it down, I know it helps me with my chores if I jot down some chores it gives me a goal so to speak!  Keep those ideas coming I love them and find them very helpful.

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Reply by Jaisa
author of Baby Business

2/9/2010 9:08 AM

Tracy it sounds like you love your job and are very dedicated! How wonderful that you get to do something you love everyday :)

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Reply by Terri (aka "The Jelly Lad
author of

2/9/2010 9:14 AM

Wow!  I just have to say that you mommies are "ROCKSTARS"!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Reply by Jen (Mom2my9)
author of 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven
American Mom of 9.5 Living in Mexico - Come see!

2/9/2010 9:30 AM

Tracy, thanks for all these links! I added them to my toddler time blog roll, including Quirky's, which I should have done a long time ago!
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