Now that the older kids

are in school and

YOU get YOUR TODDLERS

ALL TO YOURSELF

It’s time for Toddler Bootcamp!

The word “Bootcamp” is mostly for the mom’s

because raising a toddler takes a lot of work!

If you have a toddler you know they are BUSY little people

and very curious, to say the least.

“Terrible Two’s” is phrase you hear often when

you have a todder, and the “Three’s” are often filled with

the same adventures.

They want to know how everything works,

what it feels like,

and how to do new things.

This curiousity and desire to learn is what

gets them into a little trouble sometimes.

I LOVE to be around toddlers. They actually want to be

wherever you are . . . doing whatever you are doing.

They love to work

and they still think they’re parents are COOL!

To them JOBS are like a game or a new adventure

EVERY TIME

they get to try something new, and once they have

learned a new skill . . . it’s fun to see

their self-esteem blossom!

This chore system is perfect for training.

They can see the pictures and they can even pretend to read them.

Each chore picture says, “I CAN . . . “

and then it will show the picture as well as the word for the action

followed by the words “CAN YOU?”

They get so excited when they can answer, “YES!”

Have your toddler pick some of the jobs he or she would like to do.

I use anywhere from 5-10 cards at a time

depending on the child’s age.

(Boy)

(Girl)

(I think they’re are about 40 different chore options!)

The great thing is that they fit into the child’s hands and can be

carried with them from job to job.

When my boys where younger,

I would point to the words,

“I Can”

and have my boys “read” them out loud.

They began to recognize the words

even if they couldn’t actually read at the time.

Then they would see the picture and say what it was.

They loved pretending to read the big words at the bottom!

(That was back in the old days . . . now days, they’re born reading!)

No Pressure!!!

To Make the Toddler Charts

You Will Need:

To print the PDF.

Cut into individual cards.

Laminate the cards.

Punch a hole in the top of the cards.

You will also need to purchase a “C-Ring”

to keep the pictures together.

That’s it . . . the rest of the work has been done for you!

Boy Toddler Chart Pack-2

Girl Toddler Chart Packet

Remember to work along side your toddlers.

They will love the extra attention!

It’s the perfect time to

TEACH AND ENCOURAGE!

We created this artwork “JUST FOR YOU!”

For personal use in your OWN HOME ONLY and NOT

for RESALE . . . It’s got our copyright!

If you would like to share, please refer them to THIS blog!

Thank My Peeps!

I have to apologize for my slothful postings these many many weeks.  I have had something going on every weekend and Friday’s are my post days.  So in a way of saying sorry you get more than one idea for our Friday post today.  Which is actually being posted on Sunday.  Oh the irony.

Have you ever tried to play that game in the newspaper where they take very close up pictures of things around town and you have to guess what it is and where it is located?  It reminds me of an I Spy game for the city.  My sister and I came up with an idea to do the same thing for our family reunion coming up at the end of August.  We are staying at this place that has trails and hidden objects amidst the garden area.  We are going to take pictures and then place those close ups on a sheet of paper and have people try to identify where they are located.  They are scored for their answers and that score is entered into the overall score for our Family Olympics.  (I will explain the Olympics later on in the next post.)  It’s a great game idea for young children who love to explore anyway and gives them something to do.  You can do the same thing at a park near your, or even in your own neighborhood, and all you need is a camera and a printer.  For older children, you can print the pictures in black and white to make it harder to identify and more of a challenge.  Just make sure they don’t peak at the younger child’s paper when they are trying to figure out what it is they are looking at.  Have fun spying that amazing beauty around you!

Have you ever thought about having your own Olympics at your family reunions?  We have done it for many many years now and it’s the highlight of the day.  My Uncle started the idea when they realized there were a lot more children now and they needed something to do more than just hang out with their other cousins.  Thus the Olympics were born.  There are 5 to 6 games that are listed on a paper with a scoring sheet for each one.  ( We try and introduce a new game each year and our tote is becoming quite full.)  Put everyone’s name into a bowl, adults included, and draw out two names to make a team.  This works so well because you are forced to get to know that individual better and it’s hard to stay distant with someone you are playing games with.  This year I have made a new game, which you will have to read about in the next post!  At the end, every team adds their score up and the winner is announced.  They receive a trophy that has the past winner’s names on it and get to take it home.  They have to put their names on it and bring it back the following year.  In the event it has people of different homes on it they have to decided who is taking it home, or even share it for half a year.  It’s become a tradition that has created many memories over the years and produced thousands of laughs!

I have a memory problem when it comes to remembering my cousins names and also the names of their children.  Add that to the fact they come to the Family Reunion every year and it stresses my memory.  To help myself, mostly, but also my children to know their cousins better I have come up with a game idea.  This year for our Family Olympics new game idea I asked everyone to email me pictures of members of their family as well as the name of every member of their family.  (Everyday pictures, not the professional kind.)  Using my computer I am making them into a card size memory game.  On one card it will have their picture and on the other card it will have their name.  The idea of the game is to match the name to the face in the fastest time possible.  You will receive a higher score if your team gets a faster time.  This works well because you have to start to identify people with names forcing your brain to remember just who that person is.  Below is a sample of what I did, it’s easy to do and a fun game to play.  You can even do this idea with your ancestors to have your family get to know them better.  You can even put a fun fact on the card with their name to learn more about them!

Want to emphasize obedience?  Using our “I Will Go and Do” tokens will work wonders in your home.  I have totally loved my “I Will Go and Do Tokens”!!!!  They have been such a saver for myself and my family.  Going from children being slow to obey to ones that try and beat others, was a turn around for me.  This inspiration came directly from Heavenly Father 3 years ago and I am not ashamed to admit it.  When I thought of obedience, the scripture in 1 Nephi 3:7 came to mind and then Heavenly Father gave me the inspiration to use tokens to encourage my children.  I knew I needed a Nephi so I called Tricia and she worked her magic a few years ago.  THANKS again Tricia!!  There are six different colors so that each person can have a color and to keep other children from taking what isn’t theirs.

How I use them:

For every time they are quick to obey or have done something out of the ordinary they earn a token.  The tokens are like money to be used toward the Good Job Jar.  You decide how much each item is worth in tokens, in your good job jar.  They can either use that token right away or save it up for a bigger items later on.  My children go for the Good Job Jar Coupons every time.  Some weeks we highlight a positive trait in a certain child.  All during that week if someone shows exceptional effort towards that trait they can earn extra tokens.  Inspiration that came from Heaven has made my home a heaven to live in.  Not all the time, everyone has their moments, but it was like going from negative to positive.  So here they are for you to use.  Please direct people to our blog if they want to use it.  It helps us know that there are still honest people out there and that you don’t take our hard work for granted.  THANKS!!!

I Will Go And Do Package

So we are a little out of sync with our organization Wednesday, but since tomorrow is April Fools Day we thought it would be fun to give you a few more ideas.  I am actually taking these from my sister-in-law because I thought they were so funny I just had to pass them along.

O.k. people, I just barely realized it was my turn to post! LOL!  Only half the day is gone.  So what do we have in store for you today?  I guess it’s not really a tradition but more of a way for your family to have more fun and for you to be less stressed about getting out the games.

I hated our game/linen closet.  I hated opening it up, looking inside for stuff, and then trying to close it as there were always games constantly being tossed on the ground, or falling off the shelves.  Sooooo, what did I do?  I went drastic.  Took all the games out the closet and started throwing them away.  Well, I didn’t really throw them away, but I threw the boxes away.  I was tired of dealing with all the broken boxes, smashed up ones, ones that weren’t closed all the way, you get the idea.  I found a great way to compartmentalize everything and actually gave myself MORE space in my closet.  Let me show you.  (Once again, I forgot to take before photos.)

Here is my one shelf.  I ran out of 2 gallon Ziploc bags, thus I still have a few boxes.  Then there were boards like Scotland Yard and Pictionary whose boards were too long and I need to get a bigger bag for.  I also used the clear totes for my large checkers game.  However, I separated my shelves into games for younger kids and games for older kids.  See how many I have just leaning up against each other?  So much more space and the kids can just throw pieces in the bag without worrying how each one is supposed to fit just right in the box.

Here’s all my games that are younger kid friendly.  I also took all the puzzles out of their boxes, ripped off the cover page showing the puzzle put together, put it inside the bag so you can see which puzzle it is and wahlah!  Sooooo much more room.  Isn’t this looking fun?!!

Shoe organizers are GREAT for all those card games and smaller games that tend to get hidden, fall of the shelves, or just get pushed around a lot.  We even have a designated pocket for me to put all the MIA game pieces in I find throughout the house.  Soooo much easier to slip it in the pocket.  My children know which one to go to if they realize they are missing pieces.  (Sigh of content here.)

I took all the card games and put them in sandwich size bags then slipped them in the pockets.  Are you loving this idea yet?  After doing this we no longer have games attacking us as we open the door, nor are they growing in numbers on the floor.

We would love to hear from you on any ideas you might have for your game closets out there.

Here’s a great way to have your Webelo pass off a cub scout requirement and get a great tradition idea in as well.  When my oldest was 10 he had to make something USEFUL from wood.  We came up with the idea of making wooden hearts with wire in the top for some love note holders for our Valentine’s Day Dinner.  (I know that they look VERY homemade, but that too brings up those great memories of watching him make these by himself.  I wouldn’t change a thing about it.)  You and/or your spouse can write a letter to each of your children expressing why you love them and what qualities they have that you really enjoy.  Put them in your card holder and place them on the table at dinner time.  Then, before or after dinner, everyone can open theirs and read it aloud or to themselves while sitting at the table.  It’s a great way to spend Valentine’s Dinner with your family and bring some extra bit of love to your children.  You can even express a desire for your children to do the same for you and your spouse so that everyone can have a little something to read.

Another fun idea is to have a bucket with their names on it.  Walmart has some cute red tin ones on sale right now.  We have ours high up so no one can get in them until Valentine’s Day.  On that day they get to retrieve them down and look inside for a special Valentine’s Day treat.  This could be anything from socks, candy, gift card, coupon for a night out, etc.  Make it match what they would think would be cool.  In these times of spending thrifty, give everyone a bottle of bubbles and you can have a bubble war with the family!  Everyone will be laughing by the end and you will have created a fun and simple, yet memorable, event that they will remember for a long time.  Sometimes the cheapest ideas make the greatest memories!

CHALLENGE: Try it and see.  I would love to see your comments on what you put in your child’s bucket that didn’t cost a lot of money but was something that created a great memory.  I will be looking after Valentine’s Day to see who rises up to the challenge.  Remember part of the challenge is to come back and share your ideas with me and everyone else who reads our blog!

I was going to mention another tradition we are starting this year, one that had me crying uncontrollably for a good half hour.  I even scared away my husband with my crying, after he realized no one had died and that I was just fine.  However, I have it on good authority that Tracey has that one covered.  Stay tuned to our blog to find out just what it is. 

This year we are starting another new tradition.  It’s the year of firsts, I think.  Our street is going to donate to a women’s shelter instead of send around gifts to each other.  Three families came up with the idea and we loved it!  They sent around a letter talking about what they are doing specifically and then added an envelope to put your contribution in or you could choose items that are needed on the list and donate that way.  This coming Monday we are getting together for a neighborhood party to bring all our items and donations and to celebrate the giving season.  We are each bring a dish to share with everyone else.  I am sure it will become a tradition every year to give to a place in need and to teach our children the true spirit of giving this Christmas.  We haven’t given out many challenges to you lately so here is a special one.

CHALLENGE:  Starting right here, on your computer.  Type up a letter to the neighbors on your street and invite them to join you this Christmas to give to those in need instead of giving to those who might not really need them.  You could host a party at your house inviting them to bring a dish to share or a treat or maybe just get together for hot cider and enjoy an evening of friends and laughter.  Remember, it’s not about what you give your children or your spouse or your parents for that matter.  It’s what you give to those around you who have less than you do, that’s what matters most.

Can you believe that it is that time of year already?  Thanksgiving is over and Christmas will be here before you know it!  It seems like 2009 went by in a flash!  One of my favorite holiday traditions is our little elf friend “Criddle”.  He comes to visit every year after Thanksgiving.  He usually shows up on December 1st and stays until Christmas  Eve.

If you have followed our blog or our website for long you have probably seen him before but I couldn’t resist sharing him with you again!  Last year he first appeared in the manger scene.  I loved it.  This gave us an opportunity to discuss the true meaning of Christmas and to set the mood for the season.  My kids love Criddle and their behavior dramatically improves once they know they are being “watched” by someone that reports to the North Pole!

This is a fun tradition that both you and your children can enjoy. Print the Elf Poem and add an elf that you can leave around your house and watch the magic happen. Each night the elf returns to the North Pole to report to Santa so be sure to change the location of the elf each night after your children have gone to bed. Your children will wake up each morning searching for his new location. Remind them that there is no touching or he will certainly lose his magic! Your children will change their behavior immediately. After all, who wants a bad report to go to Santa right before Christmas?  Happy Holidays!