Sorry I've been MIA from the blogosphere. I have been unusually tired for some reason (no, I'm not pregnant) AND I've been trying to get some things together for MOPS next year. I've agreed to be the publicity person for the coming year, so my job is to get flyers out, do the newsletters, and help with the information folders we pass out at the beginning of the year. Next weekend is our steering retreat, so I'm trying to have some flyers ready and a sample newsletter to present. I'm trying to come up with things that moms would find interesting to read about every time, and one thing that keeps coming to mind is "good ideas." This could be anything--organization tips, cleaning tips, discipline tricks, healthy snacks, rainy day activities...
Here are some examples:
Wash each child's socks together in a mesh lingerie bag to make them easier to sort later.
Keep empty cardboard boxes of all sizes for the kids to build with.
Laminate snapshots of family members, attach a magnet, and keep them on the refrigerator to help little ones practice their names.
Keep a basket of "special books" in the bathroom while potty training that are reserved for toilet time only. (Thanks to granny2five for this one)
I'm looking for LOTS of ideas that I can put in newsletters. What are some good ideas that you've come across?
5 comments:
Although some might find them too gross, I love the "tinkle rings" for little boys. They try to hit the target. I used to have little boys I cared for make "bubbles." It at least gets them interested in the process. (BTW - these tips are about potty training, if you haven't caught on yet!)
I've had this blog open all morning ready to add my own great ideas, but I dont' really have any! :) Sometimes I feel like I just stumble along, and pray a lot, and that seems to work! ha. Here are some little things I thought of that have worked for us:
* The kids LOVE playing with the tubes that wrapping paper is wrapped around. They can become puppets, swords, and all other kinds of things.
* Words that I don't love the kids saying (for no other reason than they "bug" me), I tell them they can only say them two times a day. Bub cracks under the pressure and usually says them both right then to get them out of the way, but Sis saves them for just the right occasion.
If I think of anything else, I'll comment later.
haha! Granny2five- we make bubbles at our house and started off by using fruit loops! Speaking of bubbles- that's how I get kids to wash hands, too- make bubbles with soap.
I always put a plastic bag in my diaper bag for messy clothes- this is especially helpful for nursery workers who need to get a job done fast or if you are out and about and the kiddo has a blowout or accident.
Keep a separate diaper bag for going to the park. It can have special treats (that you know won't melt), extra wipes for dirty hands, cups for water (or maybe water bottles), band-aids, etc.
A great rainy day activity is to play with shaving cream (sp?) on a cookie sheet- easy clean up and kids can even play (I mean, wash) the cookie sheet off in water. To mix it up let the kids paint with pudding.
Don't know when you are sending this out, but if you send it out for summer- put an ice pack (the soft plastic kind) in between the car seat and fabric for a little cooler ride for baby.
I don't know that I have many "mommy" ideas, but to add JJ and Ty's idea with the cookie sheets - use the magnetic letters on the cookie sheets. It's a great way to work with "manipulating" words - make "cat," change to "hat," change to "ham," etc. I also heard a mom talk about putting a little sand in cookie sheets and letting her boys (girls can play, too) drive their small tractors & vehicles in them for a rainy day activity. I bet the tire tracks would look cool. (If that was you who told me about that idea, sis, sorry.) Hmm, if I think of anything else from my teaching experience, I'll add more later.
Before we went into any store we sat in the car and discussed "the rules". Yes you can ask for ____ or no not today. You must hold onto the cart or ride into pick one. etc.
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