Chocolate Isn't a Vegetable?

Today, create a placemat that your little one can use to remember her morning routine. Complete instructions can be found here. Discuss with your child what items to include on the morning checklist. Then, take photographs of the actions or objects associated with the checklist item. For example, if "Make your Bed" is one of your items, show your child step-by-step how to make the bed the way you would like it to look (remembering that it will not look exactly like that when your little one does it). Place each photo on the placemat, before adding the clear contact paper. Taking photographs of what you would like your child's room to look like after he cleans his rooms is a great way to avoid the, "But I did clean my room!" battles. If the room does not look like the photograph, then it is not considered cleaned up! For babies, create a visual schedule by taking a photograph of your baby at different times of the day (breakfast, playtime, outside ...

One Simple Thing - Monday One Simple Thing to boost pre-reading skills in your baby today is to involve her in your chores! As you do the laundry, name each item you fold and describe it ("Time to fold the shirt, Mommy's pink shirt with the long sleeves."). If you are vacuuming, explain the difference between the brush and the hose, for example. Talking your child through your daily activities will build her vocabulary immensely and make cleaning up fun! One Simple Thing you can do with your toddler or preschooler today, is creating a chore chart! Two- to five-year-olds love to help and will be happy to have their very own list of chores. List two to three age-appropriate chores ("Put plastic cups on the table for dinner," "Fold the wash clothes," "Match and straighten the shoes") on a piece of paper and draw a simple picture next to each chore to illustrate the task. Then, put a checkbox next to each chore. Decorate the chart together and ha...