Learning by Playing

Toddlers learn some of the most important life’s lessons through play during the early years. Children learn best when they engage in activities that they really like. Play allows them the chance to explore, imagine, and wonder at the world around them. Their observation skills stay alert to everyone and the activities within their surroundings.  As toddlers grow, play is important to the development of(Gabby Bugwadia)

• intelligence
• imagination
• motor skills
• social interaction
• emotional development

Intelligence

Look, Listen, Learn

New research shows that toddlers can re-enact what they see, hear, and learn from picture books. Researchers know that picture books can help four to five year old preschoolers with a range of literary and life skills.  The finding suggests that picture books may play a much greater role than simply entertaining toddlers and may help them understand the world and develop life skills.(ABC Science Online)  Reading, storytelling, singing, finger plays provide the opportunity for language development. Toddlers begin to learn basic math skills through play while manipulating and observing items in their immediate environment. Toddlers need opportunities to participate in child-driven play where they can learn decision-making skills and their own areas of interest. Their observations stimulate their higher level thinking as they begin to concentrate and seek out bits and pieces of information while exploring the environment to promote intellectual growth.

Parenting Tips:
Why Baby Needs A Book

Imagination

If you have ever observed a toddler, you will notice they copy everything they see you doing. When toddlers play they are opening up their imagination and creativity to a whole new world. Some toddlers create an imaginary friend or pretend to care for the baby just like Mommy by placing the baby in a doll cradle. They might wash the dishes,try to put on clothes by themselves, play dress-up, or pretend to go to the store, imitating all the life skills they have observed family members performing.  Sometimes, we will even see a child copy something that we don’t want repeated! They don’t know the difference from right or wrong, imitating only what they see. It is up to you, as the parent, to teach the child right or wrong through your own actions on a day to day basis. Through play toddlers develop their independence and master everyday life skills of imagination and creativity.

Motor Skills

Toddler Playing with Building Blocks

Toddlers develop gross and fine motor skills through play activities. The first muscles to develop are the large muscle group as the child begins to crawl, walk, run, jump, climb, throw and catch a ball. Their fine motor skills begin to develop as they learn to use a fork and spoon, pick up cereal with two fingers, stack blocks, play with construction sets, and color with crayons. During playtime the gross and fine motor skills are continually being used in one way or another. These need to be developed before the child can begin handwriting in school. Have you ever noticed someone with very poor handwriting? That’s because their fine motor skills were never developed well as a toddler.

Social Interaction

As kids get together for a play date, they learn how to behave, interact, get along and negotiate for toys or other play things. While playing in a group setting, the toddler will learn how to accept disappointment at not always getting his way or what they want, how to settle disputes, and not to insist on always having their way. Toddlers need to feel secure in their ownership before they can share. Forcing them to share can actually delay the development of sharing skills. Instead, introduce the concept of taking turns. Around this age, toddlers begin to seek companionship with kids their age. Initially they play side by side, but gradually begin to interact with each other. It’s never too early to give children language for their interactions with each other.  Play teaches toddlers ways of how to socialize and get along with other kids.

Emotional Development

One of the most important tasks in parenting toddlers is helping them learn to manage their emotions. This life skill will be a crucial factor throughout their lives in not only relationships but academic and career success. Play helps toddlers to develop and better handle their emotions. It offers opportunities for toddlers to work out their fears while gaining emotional control and getting rid of anxieties. They are entitled to their feelings, which have a way of just showing up in human beings, like our arms and legs. But all humans, even little ones, should be held responsible for what they do with their arms and legs and feelings. Your job is teach them self management techniques while they are playing.  Kids who receive a lot of empathy for their own feelings from the adults in their lives are the earliest to develop empathy for others, and research has shown that empathy for others is the cornerstone of successful interpersonal relationships.(Dr. Laura Markham)

Young children have a tremendous capacity to learn from the moment they are born, but optimal development hinges on the experiences provided for them by the adults who take care of them. In homes where play is encouraged, the minds and personalities of children develop effectively to its fullest potential. Each opportunity of play teaches toddlers many skills that will be advantageous later on in life. It is our job as parents to provide optimal play experiences to help toddlers master the steps that they take in life.

Parenting Tips:
Why Baby Needs A Book

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Filed under: Kid's Development tagged Life Skills, toddlers

Each summer, you begin to think of that wonderful vacation that you have dreamed about all winter long. But….. as the time nears, are you ready? Have you packed everything? Does everyone have everything they need? Did you remember Robbie’s ear medicine? What about Jennifer’s water shoes? By the time everything is packed, in the car, including your children and husband, you are exhausted . This was suppose to be a vacation! You wonder, when do I start on vacation! When traveling with young children, its hard to realize you are on vacation, because you’re on call 24 hours a day. One of the best family vacations is an all-inclusive resort that has a kids’ program to entertain them, while you have some quiet relaxing adult time.

One such place, is the Tanque Verde Ranch Resort in Arizona. Tanque Verde Ranch was nominated Top Ten Family Resort by Travel Channel in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Tanque Verde Ranch

Tanque Verde Ranch is nestled among the majestic natural beauty of the Rincon Mountains between Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest just east of Tucson, Arizona. An Arizona dude ranch since 1868, the family guest ranch is comprised of more than sixty thousand acres of unspoiled southwest landscape. Plush accommodations, unparalleled amenities, and a diverse menu of daily rides and activities provide guests with a memorable dude ranch vacation sure to revive the spirit of the Old West! Proud of our history as a working horse ranch, Tanque Verde Ranch is the largest dude ranch resort in North America.

Children’s Program

Tanque Verde Ranch welcomes the youngest of guests and takes pride in offering a unique childrens dude ranch program specifically geared to each child’s age group, including Buckeroos ages four to six, and Wranglers aged seven to eleven. Our childrens horse program includes daily trail rides and kids horseback lessons. Daily kids programs also include other kids ranch activities such as tennis, swimming, games, arts, kids sports and educational nature programs. Children’s programs are available every day of the year, and include breakfast and lunch in our special children’s dining room. Parents are welcome to accompany children or pursue other activities during this time.

Spa

One of the best Arizona spa resorts, Tanque Verde Ranch offers a luxurious spa resort experience at our on-premise La Sonora Spa. From spa massages and Arizona body treatments to soothe the muscles and refresh the spirit, to nail treatments and hair salon services, you’ll enjoy an array of pampering sure to help you unwind and rejuvenate. Looking for a special spa getaway, girls spa retreat or romantic spa escape? Our ranch spa packages are a perfect way to spend time nurturing your mind, body, spirit and relationships in a beautiful Arizona spa resort.

Riding

Who hasn’t dreamed of saddling up a horse and riding out across the Old West in search of adventure? At Tanque Verde Ranch we have more than one hundred and eighty well-trained horses in our Stables, one of which already has your name on it. We offer horse riding lessons, a variety of riding programs, unique Sonoran desert riding experiences, horse trail rides, and horse riding instruction for all skill levels. With over sixty-thousand acres of pristine natural beauty to explore, you’ll find the desert horse riding experience you’re looking for at Tanque Verde Ranch–where dreams of adventure on horseback come to life.

Activities

Activity is something which there is never a shortage of at Tanque Verde Ranch. Guests are invited to take part in a variety of horseback riding adventures, including our children’s horse program, variety of riding programs and horse riding lessons, hit the desert hiking trails on foot or mountain bike; or enjoy our resort tennis courts, resort fishing, swimming, dancing, playing, creating, watercolor painting, and learning in the desert nature center. We offer a diverse menu of daily programs and activities. As on All-Inclusive property, all scheduled activities are included in your daily rate.

The Nature Center

The Sonoran desert is one of the world’s most vibrant landscapes. Because of the severity of the climate, both plant and animal life have evolved unique survival adaptations that are fascinating to study and appreciate while taking one of our daily guided nature walks. Our desert nature center provides a close-up view of some of the less approachable desert fauna such as spiders and snakes.

Lodging

Tanque Verde Ranch offers a variety of ranch resort lodging options, each richly appointed and warmly decorated with southwestern artisanal furnishings. If you are looking for a warm, inviting Arizona ranch lodging experience that combines the spirit of the Old West with the amenities of today’s luxury—you’ll find that our accommodations provide a restful and inspiring environment for your stay. Traditional adobe walls and Santa Fe style architecture perfectly match the beauty and distinction of the natural southwest landscape. All rooms come with full private baths, and most with fireplaces, and expansive views of the desert and mountains. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend time at one of the largest and most memorable Arizona dude ranches in the country.

Heading to Tucson? Looking for a unique alternative to traditional Tucson lodging? Tanque Verde Ranch Resort offers a comfortable and inspiring Tucson ranch resort stay. Rates are nightly. Call today for reservations.

Tanque Verde Ranch has something for everyone. After visiting the spa during the day, while the children are actively engaged in horseback riding, swimming, crafts, fishing, hiking, and nature education, maybe playing a game of tennis, relaxing in the evening sunset, participating in chuck wagon dinner and entertainment for the evening with the family, you have finally had a vacation, too. Everyone needs some time to relax, meditate, and regain their stamina to move forward in life once in awhile. Tanque Verde Ranch provides the perfect opportunity for families to enjoy vacation time together.

Your toddlers will have an abundance of memories from this vacation. They will use these experiences for their daily role playing activities. What better way to encourage creative playtime than with our Wild West Collection. The Wild West Toy Box by Levels of Discovery shown below won Third Place(2009) in the Baby and Children Favorite Product. This Bench Seat with Storage Toy Box  has a nostalgic western town seat back design that includes a sheriff’s star finials,  a “Good Guy” & “Bad Guy”  on horseback and Toy Store doors that open and close. The lid has a slow-closing metal safety hinge. The Wild West Table and Two Chair Set has a western ranch tabletop design with a horse stable storage box, including a wooden “Good Guy” , “Bad Guy”, two buildings, and stagecoach toys for hours of hands-on fun! The chairs feature “Good Guy” and “Bad Guy” seat backs. Your child will spend many hours acting out the activities he saw the ranch hands performing at Tanque Verde Ranch. Go to Sassybabyfurniture.com to view our Wild West Collection and the other furniture pieces that come with it.

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Filed under: Kids & Traveling tagged Family, traveling

Crib Recall

This morning on Yahoo! News, one of the headings covered crib recalls again. These latest recalls come as the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received injury reports of children entrapped or fallen out of cribs.

Over 2 million Cribs Recalled Amid Safety Concerns

WASHINGTON – More than 2 million cribs from seven companies were recalled Thursday amid concerns that babies can suffocate, become trapped or fall from the cribs. Most of the cribs were drop-sides, which have a side rail that moves up and down so parents can lift children from them more easily. That movable side, however, can malfunction or detach from the crib, creating a dangerous gap  where babies’ heads can become trapped, leading to suffocation or strangulation.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been recalling drop-side baby beds for months, with today’s warning being the most recent. I wander why parents keep using these cribs knowing there is a danger to their infant.  All seven companies, Evenflo, Delta Enterprises Corp, Child Craft, Jardine Enterprises, Million Dollar Baby, and Simmons Juvenile Products, Inc. recalled their drop-side cribs according to CPSC.  Delta and Child Craft also acknowledged problems with fixed-side cribs. Child Craft is no longer in operation and sold their company to Foundation Worldwide Inc.  CPSC Chairman Inez Tenebaum has pledged to ban drop-side cribs manufacture and sale by year’s end. CPSC urges parents and caregivers to stop using the cribs immediately and contact manufacturers for a repair kit to immobilize the drop-side to make the crib more secure. The CPSC’s recall hotline is 800-638-2772, and consumers can visit www.cribsafety.org for a list of participating manufacturers and for downloadable materials about ensuring that children sleep safely.

Crib Safety

Of all the items you need for your baby, cribs are the only beds for babies that are required to meet government mandated standards. Consumer Reports has the following recommendations:

• Look first for a crib with stationary sides until more stringent and comprehensive safety standards are developed. The safest cribs are simple with no scrollwork or finials. Infants can strangle if their clothing gets caught in such detail.

• If you must use an older crib, avoid those built before 2000, about a year after the latest  voluntary standards for slat-attachment strength took effect. If the spaces between slats, or anywhere else on the crib, are greater than 2 3/8 inches, they are too far apart.

• The simplest test to check workmanship and construction is to shake the crib slightly in the store to see if the frame is loose.

• In the store pair the mattress with the crib to make sure they are a good fit. If you can place more than two fingers between the mattress and the frame, the fit is not snug enough.

Crib Safety

• When the crib arrives at your house, arrange for it to be assembled by a qualified assembly crew. Crib assembly by the store allows you to inspect the crib on the spot and reject it if you discover flaws.

• The crib should have metal mattress supports because they are stronger than wood supports to withstand a jumping toddler. Adjust the mattress height to the right level, higher makes it easier to take your infant in and out of the crib, but dangerous as they start to pull to a standing position. Drop the mattress to the lowest level when they begin to stand. For safety’s sake, monitor your child’s development closely and stop using a crib as soon as your toddler can climb out.

• The drop-side latches should require 2 distinct actions (or a minimum force of 10 pounds with one action) to release the lock. If a knee-bar mechanism is used to lower the crib side, make sure it can’t be tripped by toddlers crawling under the crib.

• Use a baby crib safety teething guard to prevent splinters.

• When buying a mattress, buy sheets that fit. You can test the sheet by tugging on the corner to see if it pulls loose. If it does, the child might become entangled.

• After your crib has been in use for awhile, make sure to check all the hardware periodically and tighten anything that’s missing or loose. Missing and loose parts are a leading cause of death; because they can create gaps where baby can wedge his head and neck and suffocate or strangle. Check mattress support regularly to make sure they are not broken or bent. If you move a crib, make sure all support brackets are secure.

• Always send in the product registration card that comes with every new baby crib. By returning the card, you ensure you’ll be notified if your crib is recalled. Take a look at our crib recall report to make sure.

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Filed under: Kid's Safety tagged children, cribs, Safety

When is your Toddler Ready?

Toddler Climbing Out of Crib

Some children love their cribs, while others begin to crawl out at the first opportunity. My daughter, at 13 months, would begin to scream every time I approached her crib. She would sleep anywhere, but in her crib. Finally, I placed her in the middle of a full bed each night, with pillows around her. Peace……When she awoke, she would sit up calling my name, never trying to climb off the bed.  Unlike some developmental milestones of early childhood, such as learning to use the potty, or beginning to eat solid foods, the move from crib to bed doesn’t involve a checklist or signs indicating that your child is ready. The one overriding concern is safety. As a general rule, parents should move a baby from a crib to a bed before he is able to climb out of it, on his own, and possibly hurt himself, says Mark Widome, MD, a professor of pediatrics at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Broadwell, 2010)

Considerations

Bulldozer Toddler Bed

The switch from a crib to a toddler bed can be stressful for some children. Be sure to make the transition as smooth as possible for your child by allowing him to help pick out the toddler bed. Put the toddler bed next to the crib in his room for a few months, having him take daytime naps in the toddler bed and eventually removing the crib and setting the toddler bed up in the exact same place. Make it a big deal by having a “big kid bed party”. Ease your child into the big kid bed by being consistent.

• Have something that they liked about their crib. A familiar stuffed animal or blanket will help them feel safe and secure in their new bed. Also don’t change any bedtime routines. Don’t try to change a lot at once. If you change too much at once it can be overwhelming.
• Take it slow. If you are moving your toddler because of a new arrival, do it slowly and several months before the baby is due. If you are moving your toddler due to climbing out of the crib or toilet training, expect anything from unrestrained excitement to utter fear.

<a href=’‘ >Transitioning from Crib to Toddler Bed

(eHow Contributing Writer, 2010)

Toddler Bedroom

Finally, remember that the switch from a crib to a bed is a milestone in your life, too. It’s one more sign that your baby is growing up. Reflect on when you first set up the crib for your little one, and then go have a private celebration of your own.

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Filed under: Kid's Rooms tagged cribs, toddler beds

For Grandparents, grandchildren are the vitamins that keep us young, and the stars that brighten our world. My grandchildren are no different. Everything they do amazes and delights me on a daily basis. Seeing the world through their eyes is like that mouthwatering first taste of an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. The way they approach life with such zeal and curiosity should be the blueprint for all of us. I find myself wishing I could reclaim my childhood innocence and possess just a fraction of their endless energy, but for now, I live vicariously through the eyes of these precious gifts.

My 8-year-old grandson Ryan became mine by marriage, which I normally wouldn’t find a need to explain if it weren’t for the story I’m about to tell. Ryan had a grandmother before me, one that he never met. She lost her battle with breast cancer about three years before he was born. He only knows her through the pictures and stories we share and through his mother and grandfather, who keep her memory alive every day.

Ryan, being the child that he is, decided to pay tribute to his “Grandma Julie” in his own special and unique way, and to share the memories of her with the world.

Ryan became a Cub Scout in 2009 and like all good cubs; he joined in the time-honored tradition of building a Pinewood Derby car for the annual race. Ryan is the child that doesn’t fit any mold. He likes to express himself in very unique and different ways, so why should his Pinewood Derby debut be any different? He and his dad began building their car over Christmas break and the “Pink” masterpiece that emerged was touching beyond imagination.

They had built this tiny car in the shape of a ribbon. It was painted a beautiful cotton candy pink, and upon closer examination it was an exact replication of one of the most recognized logos in the world… “Susan G. Komen and the Race for the Cure!”

Ryan had decided he would be racing his “Pink” Pinewood Derby car, lovingly titled “Pink Warrior,” in honor of his Grandma Julie and her courageous battle against breast cancer.

Ryan’s plight has received much attention and touched the hearts of many. You can view the video of his car and story by visiting

http://www.youtube.com/aaethan#p/a/u/1/RaLG8rNwQmY

Local media picked up Ryan’s story as well as the singer, song-writer Candy Coburn. Read more about Ryan by visiting

http://www.candycoburn.com under the heading “we love this” toward the bottom of the page.

Or visit for local media coverage:

http://ww2.kwtx.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=4612332&at1=Health&h1=Buddy%20Check%2010&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&rnd=32625150

Available June 1, is additional coverage of Ryan’s message at

http://www.aa.com/women

American Airlines is proudly displaying Ryan’s story.

I hope you enjoy Ryan’s amazing story as much as I have enjoyed sharing it with you. And remember, young or old, we can all make a difference.

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Filed under: Kids & Grandparents tagged grandchild, grandparent