My 101 Checklist to do with my toddler (and yours too)

Keeping and sharing this list so I know what other things to do next... Check means done with all 3 kids. As I read those we've done, it made me want to do them all over again. :)

1. Color - check!
2. Blow Bubbles- check!
3. Play Hide-and-Seek - check!
4. Peek-a-Boo - check!
5. Play Chase - check!
6. Do Finger-plays - check!
7. Sing a song - check!
8. Collect rocks in a basket
9. Make an obstacle course out of cushions and/or furniture - check!
10. Make a fort out of cushions and sheets - check!
11. Go for a Walk - check!
12. Make a Car out of a Box - check!
13. Read a book - check!
14. Go to the park - check!
15. Finger-paint - check!
16. Play with Play-Dough - check!
17. Toss Bean bags into a Bucket - check!
18. Play the shell and pea game
19. Dance to music - check!
20. Download games for toddlers from the Internet - check!
21. Practice putting things in and taking things out of boxes and bags - check!
22. Make a temporary slide out of a table leaf and your couch - check!
23. Roll a ball back and forth on the floor - check!
24. Scoop dirt or sand into a child's bucket (or use a serving spoon and bowl) - check! (just sand! what mess...)
25. Practice climbing by stacking boxes on top of each other (only with adult supervision) - check! scary!
26. Put on a puppet show - My next project!
27. Go fishing with a yard stick and yarn - check!
28. Make a Horseshoe game
29. Make a Shape Puzzle - check!
30. Play paper basketball - check!
31. Run through a Sprinkler - ooohhh! I want this!
32. Play with a bucket of water and a sponge (PLEASE WATCH CHILD AT ALL TIMES!)
33. Make a Drum out of an oatmeal box
34. Play with a kazoo
35. Wash windows together
36. Bang on Pots and Pans with a spoon - check!
37. Brush each other's teeth - aww... sweet!
38. Play dress-up with stuffed animals and your child's clothes - check!
39. Stack canned or boxed food on top of each other - check!
40. Let child stack mixing bowls inside each other - check!
41. Make a playhouse out of a large box
42. Let child play with a sticker sheet (make sure your child doesn't eat them!) - check!
43. Put stickers on fingers for finger puppets - check!
44. Play a musical instrument together- i.e.recorder, piano, etc. - check!
45. Go on a Smelling Hunt - check!
46. Frost Cookies
47. Plant a flower or vegetable plant together - check! (not yet with the twins)
48. Roll a tennis ball into an empty trash can or bucket - check! (did with marbles)
49. Draw on a mirror with dry-erase markers - check! (but with whiteboard)
50. Play hide and seek together- trying to find a stuffed animal or other object
51. Have a splash party together in the bathtub - check! (in a baby pool!)
52. Put a leash on a stuffed animal and walk around the house - check! haha! this was funny!
53. Record each other on a tape recorder (great for scrapbooks or journals!) - check! with Photobooth on my Mac!
54. Make and try on paper hats
55. Give a piggy-back ride - check! Had a weeks' back pain!
56. Play "Horsey" - check!
57. Talk into an electric fan (it distorts your voice) - check! oh my... we went crazy!
58. Play tug-of-war with a blanket -  - check!
59. Collect flowers (felt, artificial, real...) - check!
60. Make a camera and go on a Safari
61. Play games with frozen juice lids - check!
62. Disconnect your phone and pretend to make phone calls to relatives - check! even with fax!
63. Leave your phone connected and really make phone calls to relatives- let your child talk too - check!
64. String large beads onto or along a shoelace - check!
65. Squirt each other with squirt bottles - check! with spray bottles!
66. Glue shapes onto paper - check!
67. Make sock puppets - check!
68. Make paper puppets - check!
69. Fill an old purse with toys
70. Use a paper towel tube as a megaphone - check!
71. Make binoculars and go "Bird Watching" or "Stuffed Animal Watching" - check!
72. Put snacks in different fun containers (paper sacks, empty canisters, etc.)
73. Act out a story from a book - check!
74. Walk on a balance beam- use a 2x4 placed on the ground
75. Draw with chalk on the sidewalk - check!
76. Sketch an outline of your child on the sidewalk or paper with chalk - check! (on Manila Paper)
77. Paint child's palms with tempura paint and blot on paper. Makes a great card for loved ones! - check! almost everyday!
78. Put lipstick on child and kiss a mirror - check! even on my cheeks (only with the twins)
79. Make a puddle on cement and splash barefoot in it - check! (with Ice)
80. Let child decorate and eat an open peanut butter sandwich
81. Make a toilet paper barricade for child to go under, over, or through
82. Do the Hokey Pokey - check!
83. Make a super-hero costume out of household items
84. Do Knee-Bouncing Rhymes - check!
85. Play "Red Light, Green Light" saying "Go" and "Stop" - check!
86. Make a shoe-box train for stuffed animals
87. Make a pillow pile to jump on (keep it clear from any hard surfaces, including walls!) - check!
88. Make an easy puzzle with felt and Velcro - check! (I have the shapes on velcro!)
89. Make bracelets or collars for stuffed animals out of pipe cleaners and jingle bells - check!
90. Learn numbers from a deck of cards - check!
91. Play the matching game with a deck of cards
92. Make a domino chain - check! fun!
93. Have a picnic in the park, backyard, or living room!
94. Play dress up in Mommy or Daddy's clothes - check!
95. Make a tin cup telephone and talk to each other in it -
96. Make a nature collage
97. Mirror each other - check!
98. Make a "Mummy Mommy" with toilet paper - check! mess!
99. Make a tape recording of short music selections and instructions to move in different ways - check!
100. Make and walk along a toilet paper trail
101. TAKE A NAP! - check!

25 Manners Kids Should Know by Age 9

I saw this in an article in Parents Magazine (March 2011).  This is such a comprehensive list for kids, but then it would also be a good thing for adults to practice.

Just to prelude on manners which I'd like to add.  Someone told me to teach kids to pre-code phrases when they would ask to go to the bathroom for some bowel movement breaks.  I would teach my kids not to use the "pee" or "poo" word when we're out (especially in a restaurant) and they needed to go. Instead, they'd say  "I'll do no. 1" for pee or "No. 2" for poo.

I really do personally find it distracting to hear a 4 year old shouting to her mom "I need to poop, mom!" when you are about to indulge in a delectable brown saucy steak. But, if they say "Mom, I have to do number 2" it is a lot better.

Anyway... here are the 25 Manners Kids Should Know by Age 9.  Emphasis on the underlined. :)

Manner #1
When asking for something, say "Please."

Manner #2
When receiving something, say "Thank you."

Manner #3
Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4
If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.

Manner #5
When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6
The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.
Manner #7
Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8
When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9
When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10
Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.

Manner #11
When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12
Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13
Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14
Don't call people mean names.

Manner #15
Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.

Manner #16
Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.
Manner #17
If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."

Manner #18
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.

Manner #19
As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20
If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.

Manner #21
When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22
When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23
Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24
Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25
Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed. 

On a side note: It is always a Monkey see, monkey do.  I myself do fail at times on this but well... we are still a work in progress with these manners.  Though, I do intend to practice this.  People appreciate good manners.

Our Tot School Activities

Wood Blocks teaches them about body parts.  Callista makes her own "Mat Man" face with googly eyes, pom pom nose and wood blocks.  Dashie is laughing when I asked her where her ear is, and she'd get a wood block and pretend to be Mat Man! (Twins at 22 months).  Wood blocks from Handwriting Without Tears (www.hwtears.com)

When you become a mom, you suddenly need to have all your creative instincts out!  It is the busy-ness of life that stops mommies from thinking of activities for their kids.

Motherhood is not a pageant of who gets to think of the nicest, decorative, elaborate, uberly creative crafts or activities for their kids. Simple things, a little time and a lot of love is all you'll ever need.

Sharing to you some of my simple (some, I have downloaded from the internet) activities for my tots!

Teaching Letters

Teaching 1 letter (for 2 weeks) at a time.  A is for apple.  I usually lay the materials on the table for the twins and prepare these printed materials I got from internet.
I have tried other washable pens, but Crayola washable is still the most washable of all markers!
Dashielle loves short, activities like this.

I bought these puzzle snake at National Bookstore.  I start with a few letters and let them try it out by giving them the next letter of the alphabet which they will try to put in the puzzle.  Of course, they haven't perfected this yet (they're 21 months)  I just enforce good grip.

Teaching Colors

Here's a video on how we do color matching activities.  I saw that Callista was very interested with color/shape sorting.  So, I printed a sheet with colors.  Placed those colorful PomPoms on a pallet and asked her to match it up. Callista @ 22 months.

I don't expect them to be perfect with any activity they do.  A lot of coaching and praises is what they need to hear.

Gluing Activities

Snip, Rip and Stick.  My twins love this activity (especially, Callista).  I let them practice holding the Crayola brand kids scissors (no sharp edges), and tons of colorful square mini notepads I bought from National Books Store and Office Warehouse.  I just let them cut (or rip - w/c they both love) and let them glue it on the paper.  I usually cut different shapes so they can enjoy it more.  This is how they learned heart, moon and circle shapes.

Stick the shapes on the balloon.  I drew a ballon (it's our B day) with shapes inside, cut out shapes and asked her to put it on top of the paper.  Don't do this in a windy area. Or perhaps, put sticky tapes at the back of the tiny pieces of shapes.  No need to perfect it if they can't.

Callista @ 20 months.  Dashielle didn't like this activity at all. :)

Writing Activities

Rolled Manila Paper on our living room table is a cranky moment quick activity.  I just grab their can of crayons for them to use.

Note: I prefer using regular gripped crayons than those fat ones.  I would actually cut their crayons because regular-sized crayons are always the perfect size for little hands.  Look at them holding the crayon in an almost perfect tripod grip.  Isn't it hard to write on fat gripped pentel pens than regular ones? I just find fat ones utterly useless for me.  I don't care less even if they break those regular sized ones into bits and pieces, anyway.  It simply means, they are learning!

These tempera watercolors are perfect.  It is cheap, easy to clean-up and just last longer than others.  Those pom pom balls are also used for textured painting.
 Callista is the one loving all our writing activities.  She can stay put for 15-20 minutes, while Dashielle lasts for 5 minutes only.  It doesn't matter if they are not interested, just keep them busy with playing! :)

Callista love writing.  When I am on my laptop and working, giving her a pen and paper keeps ber busy (from bothering me) :D  She's 16 months on this photo. 

She got moustache! Thank you washable pens! Making learning fun!

My little girl's work of art!

Writing on our hands doesn't make Mommy mad.

Other activities

Playing with empty boxes and jars. 

Find the baby of the Mommy - Learning animal and their sounds. Bought this at SM Storyland for P135.00

Puzzles is one of Callista's favorite activities! This used to be my 6 year old's puzzle toy I have kept for years.  Now, the twins are playing with them.

Our Tot School tools

Our activity shelf.  It has our Books, blocks, Zoobs, Board Games, Letter Blocks, Puzzles, Musical Instruments, Balls, Microscope (For my preschooler) and all our supplies!

This is my list of consumable and tot school items I would always have on our activity shelf which could also help you.  No need to rush buying them all right away.  This shelf is a special shelf where all our learning activities are stored.  The kids are not allowed to get anything (except books) without my permission since I don't want them to tire out on activities.  There should be a time and space for the activity (which doesn't normally have a specific time at all) haha!

• Googly eyes
• Pipe Cleaners
• Pom Poms
• Tempera paint
• Different paint brushes
• Crayons in regular grip sizes
• Washable markers
• Crayola Washable Glue (they are not runny! Perfect for crafts)
• Clear Pen-type glue
• Tons of stickers
• Dot makers (I got mine from the Bingo shop! I can't seem to find washable ones)
• Dot Stickers (Price tags kind)
• Rolled Manila Paper
• Construction Paper
• Small, square, colorful notepads in different colors (Perfect for Origami with my pre-schooler too)
• Crayola safety scissors (and a really good pair for my pre-schooler)
• 1 white Illustration Board (big and easy to store) for chalk writing!
• Dustless Chalks
• Tons and tons of scratch paper!

If this helped you in some ways, do show me your photos and how you and your toddler do your Tot School too. :)

Pure and simple art by my kids

My favorite artwork by Ice, when he was 4.
He made this when I was pregnant with the twins. 

Loving kid's art! The way little hands imagine things is simply amazing.  It's pure and real imagination.  Something you'd be amazed how kids see regular things in their perspective.

I have collected some of my kid's artworks, these are not just crafts that were made with things but paintings, drawings that have their own interpretation of the world around them.  Here are some from my 6 year old son.

This is my favorite! He interpreted the glass without muscles on the arm. The crossed glass meant glass is not strong because they don't have muscles. 

He loves to invent things.  When he learned about different stars and their colors (they all call them sun), he just can't get enough of it.

This is how he imagined solar storms.

He was able to interpret his own story just by studying his chili plant and how it bears fruit.

The slave ants

His dad was telling that eggs are good for him to make him healthy and strong.  Thus,  the story.

He's an innovator in the making, he prettymuch understand what satellites are for.

Because he loves astronomy so much.

Moms are the best teachers!

Blessed with 3 beautiful little people that changed my world

When I decided to place my eldest son to a Montessori-based school, I know right at the beginning that I was at peace with it from the inside. Somehow, I felt I don't need to be too pressured with

1. just wrongly believing that homeschool is the ONLY way to teach! Of course not, it isn't always the school, it is also the parents responsibility.
2. finding the "perfect school" that matches with my belief for my children - if there's peace in it, it simply mean it doesn't always have to match any religious belief I have with the school.  God loves my children regardless of where they are.
3. feeling that my children might be too pressured with school work and lose their freedom on enjoying their childhood - nope!

Although, pulling my son out of regular school and doing homeschool and deciding to place him back to a Montessori-based school was a personal choice.  That choice wasn't because of any social or spiritual "boundary" belief like most people I knew felt that it was my basis for homeschooling. No, it was plainly - a choice.  A choice on the specific season my son needed to be.

I have entirely no problem about having my children deal with the world they live in when I decided to homeschool them. As a matter of fact, that was the main reason I love homeschool.  I do not want them to be stuck in their little classrooms for more than 6 hours a day and having to deal with the same people everyday.  With homeschool, kids have so many time to socialize and see the world more because of the freedom of time they have.

With my choice, I have gained insights out of it. Education is not just getting high grades, being advanced in this and that, comparing what your child can do and other's couldn't.  Education is not a race, it is actually a marathon.

I felt lousy as a mom when I brought my son to his 1st school, I really thought since he was just 3 that time, he can just be whatever he knows he could be.  He is anyway, very advanced for his age, he knows all his letters, numbers, and shapes from circles to pentagons at 2 (at 3 months old, I was reading and counting to him and bombard him with educational videos!). I thought, it was alright for him to be occasionally tardy, absent or simply - not to be too serious with school.  My only concern was to pay for the tuition fee or extra-curricular activities, make sure he has the best snack, or just not flunk his exams.  Every Parent Teacher Conference that time was a breeze, that Ice was alright, he's okay, he's a sweet little boy.  So, I went home thinking feeling okay as well.  It was just pre-school, anyway.

This continued into kindergarten.  But, at a PTC, the teacher mentioned that Ice was lagging.  He doesn't know the letters, couldn't write well and thus needed a tutor!  I was shocked when I heard this. My smart son has totally changed from a little whiz kid to someone who was almost the least of his peers?!  I was pressured to talk to Ice (to ask a 4 year old, what's wrong is not a very good idea.  At 4, everything in life is wonderful!). I blamed it on everyone else but not with myself.  I was wrong.

Looking back, I felt it was nobody's responsibility but myself.  I was too busy with my day job and too tired to help my child.  I've simply forgotten that even a preschooler needed to do reviews at least 2-3 times per week.  To cultivate a routine of studying and that 30 minute after-school tutorials won't do him any good forever.

I decided to slow things down for him.  Homeschooled him and left my busy life to just partially busy (I worked-at-home).

I realized, my son needed a mom (or at least a loving person) who is fully dedicated to start his life about studying.  Knowing the ABCs and 123s doesn't end when they know it. It is simply the beginning of their life and yours.

Kids do not run on auto-pilot.  They need wings - sturdy wings to help them get through the turbulence.  They need a mom or someone to teach them to fly so they can learn to fly on their own. It all begins at pre-school or at an age that they start to become curious with their world.

My son needed me to find his weakness and his strengths. To have someone check on him and not to compare him with other kids.  I am reminded of this verse,

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Proverbs 1:8 (NIV)

Mother's are natural teachers (Father's are great life application leaders).  It is my season to be a mother, it is my season to teach.  It is not my season to pressure him to ALWAYS (with no reservations) have high grades or be in the honor roll.  But, just to know what he is aiming for and direct him of what he wants to achieve.  To know where he is weak and to find a way to divert that weakness into strength.

I remembered, 3 weeks ago.  My son went home very sad because for the very 1st time he got 1/5 on one of their weekly spelling quiz (normally, he would either get 3/5 or 4/5).  Memorisation is a struggle with us already - more so, with Spelling (dang it!).  That's why we would review at least 3 days before the quiz for 10-20 minutes per day with all the means to make him remember it (I can just imagine!).  But, on this specific quiz we have only reviewed the night before. So I knew, that he isn't going to get a high grade for it, then it did happened.  I knew he did his best when I saw his answers and he was totally devastated.  He said "Mom (with a very sad voice).  I got a low score... Mom, I only got 1/5". I looked at him and all I could say was, "I don't mind.  I am happy with the correct one you did."  His face lit up, he still felt bad.  Then I told him "C'mon, because of that 1 point you got correctly, you deserve a prize!" He was confused but he lit up a bit.  Then I gave him his favorite - 3 pieces of cherries and that made him feel a lot better.  Of course, deep inside of me I felt I failed my son but thank God, God gave me 3 cherries too. :) The next week, we studied spelling and guess what - he got a perfect score for the very 1st time! We we're both hugging and kissing like slugs glued in together the entire afternoon.

It's a roller coaster ride teaching my memory-challenged little boy.  While I am starting with the twins, I am more certain now.  That my greatest achievement in life is to know each one of them.  I just praise God that He has given me (and all mothers) the capacity to teach with love unconditionally (if you would let it).  Although, Ice and I had many (a whole loooot) of crying moments in teaching (I am not the most patient mom).  But, I try to be the mom I am for them.

I still work because it is my passion.  I do get tired (really tired, well who doesn't) with juggling things but I move on because I know that every time spent with my child is time invested for his/her future.

Happy teacher's day, moms! And to all the teachers who teach with a heart (not to hurt), thank you for your love, it is your day as well.

I am very serious when I teach him, I hope I don't overuse it.
I do pray to have extra patience, right now!

PS. Ice got 94% in Language, 97% in Math and 93% in Cultural Arts in his exam.  I almost cried, I felt that wow! I can really teach! :) It was a reward for me as well.  I am one proud, Mama Mia!