Archive for the ‘2 to 3 years old’ Category
You are currently browsing the archives for the 2 to 3 years old category.
3
Dec
2010
iPhone applications for toddlers
iphone applications for toddlers can be a great addition to your arsenal of distractions and pacifiers. However finding good ones amongst the hundreds available isn’t all that easy. Categorised by Apple and review sites in either “Games” or “Education”, applications suitable for toddlers are lumped in with those for thirty-year-old gamers.
Another problem is that the recommendations engine in iTunes falls very short on its purpose. I’m pretty sure the same kid that enjoys ‘Shake The Farm’ is not also losing themselves in the scrabble iphone application, but that’s what Apple tells me via the “customers who bought this also bought..” recommendation engine. Until that rights itself, it’s going to be a challenge to find the best of the new stuff. It’s also one of the reasons my list of recommended iphone applications for toddlers is kind of short. And, honestly, not particularly ground breaking. But it’s all quality. Your kid will love this stuff, and I’m sure it will keep them happy for at least a little while.
5
Nov
2010
The less furry animals at the zoo
We went to the zoo on the weekend. It was my child’s very first zoo visit, one of life’s milestones surely. His obsession with animals and animal noises, plus a complete loss as to what to do with a small toddler on a long weekend, forced me to overcome my aversion to zoos and take the little one to go see the real thing.
There’s also an obsession with cars almost as potent as that for animals but I can’t see myself taking my son to a car show any time soon – not least because they are usually named something like ‘Big Boy’s Toys’. So to the zoo, for the first time in 15 years or more, I went, with son and husband.
My long hiatus from any zoo stems from my dislike of seeing animals behind cages or, even, confined to beautifully designed, well thought out and hugely expensive enclosures. I managed not to get too upset this time, helped along by my husband’s own complete lack of interest in all things nature which meant not stopping for more than two minutes at each viewing point, and we all had a lovely day – the bub’s reaction to seeing some of the animals up close will be forever unforgettable. On the other hand, I did also discover a whole new reason to dislike zoos; and that reason is people.
17
Oct
2010
HERDING CATS. OR HOW TO THROW A KID’S PARTY – PART 3. THE GAMES.
probably not for a 2 year old's party.
OK, this will be my last one on parties I promise. Anyway, I’ve done the planning of the party and the all-important party cake, but I think it is necessary to cover the final essential bits of the party – namely the games. Oh, and I forgot the food – ok, maybe this is the second last.
Firstly, can I highly recommend you find a really dodgy game that involves something slightly humiliating for the compere to do? Say running around a garden holding up signs whilst wearing a train driver’s uniform trying to corral a large number of three year olds in a straight line behind them? And ensure that any husband who might not have been of huge assistance with arranging party becomes the aforementioned compere? Just a suggestion.
In other tips:
1. If they’re under 3, don’t bother, just load ‘em up on cake and watch them run round the garden hopped up on chocolate and juice.
19
Sep
2010
Utterly unexhaustive list of good cookbooks. Somewhat related to family cooking – in a spurious manner
People are always asking me how I do it. How do I whip up healthy and nutritious meals for my family and friends night after night? So healthy and yet so
I am pretty even when whipping up meals night after night.
super tasty, the flavour just oozes out? Alright, no-one has ever asked me that. My husband once said ‘this is good’, but he might have been referring to the football results, I can’t be sure. And of course there was the memorable moment when daughter agreed to eat a second helping of chicken. Son would eat anything. I love Son. I love him the best.
Anyway, I do like to cook. I occasionally invent recipes, but mostly I devour cookbooks. I don’t read them in bed like several of my friends admitted recently – that is just weird friends. I read them in totally normal reading places like on the couch in front of Big Brother worthy current affairs programs and sitting in bookshops ignoring daughter’s mournful looks passing some time while waiting for important meetings.
31
Aug
2010
Herding cats. Or how to throw a kid’s party – part 2
So – part one was about the basics – planning the party. But every kid knows that planning the party is secondary. The venue can be ace, the games fun, the fire thrower awesome, but if you don’t get the main event right then all else may as well be thrown out with the pass the parcel.
Yes, I am of course referring to The Cake. Big, small, cupcake, multi-layered behemoth, store-bought, ice-cream, homemade – The Cake is the big kahuna of the party day. You have to have one.
If you’re Australian it is likely that you spent some time in your childhood pouring over the Cake Bible – second only to choosing your showbags from the newspaper lift-out (if you’re not from Australia, you just had to be there I’m sorry, but believe me, the day that lift-out came out was the BEST DAY OF THE YEAR) was the choosing of the cake from the Australian Women’s Weekly Kid’s Birthday Cakes Book. And if you don’t believe me, then see someone far more amusing than me…
Anyway – here are other top tips about cake preparation:
2
Aug
2010
Why I am an awesome parent – my new parenting philosophy
ideal parenting position
A male friend of mine sent a group email with the MOST fabulous article this week about ‘idle parenting’. It sparked much comment and a whole new language. The opening sentence of the article by my new hero Tom Hodgkinson sums up the whole concept:
Cancel all clubs, ditch the after-school activities and leave those kids alone.
In other brilliant highlights, the article includes gems such as:
a lazy parent is a good parent
A lot can be achieved by lying in bed. Simply by doing nothing, you can train children to do useful things.
My kids are happy because we’re happy.” Do not suffer. Enjoy your life.
I had no idea that I was already subscribing to such a widespread and legitimate* child raising methodology. But I am loving it.
13
Jun
2010
Living with a Two Year Old Teenager
not mine, but so could be.
So I have this gorgeous little boy. He’s just turned two, couldn’t be more cheery, gregarious, smiles at everyone. Talks a lot, constantly laughing. Oh wait – that’s who I used to live with. Now I live with a TWO YEAR OLD TEENAGER. That’s right – on his second birthday he woke up and decided to skip a decade or so and move straight into being troublesome teenage boy. You don’t believe it is possible? I lived with my teenage brother, I remember the signs. Witness:
- Refusal to get out of bed. Lies in bed grunting at me and needs much coaxing and persuasion to join the rest of us. Paradoxically, a lot of unhappiness about going to bed – clearly a night owl. I am a horrible mother who refuses to indulge this. Although with a few more months I may give in – he can join me for a glass of wine and some Grey’s Anatomy on the couch.
- Sweats a lot. Not yet experiencing acne caused by excessive greasiness, but am anticipating getting him onto the Clearasil fairly soon now.
17
May
2010
Gina Ford – the case FOR.
Do not set one of those up in your back garden to burn books. This would be weird.
Oh my god, my pulse is racing, my heart is beating faster and I can hear Jacqui yelling from Madrid. It’s that time. Time for the post I have been thinking about since we started the blog. The Dame Gina Ford post.
If you’ve had a child in the past ten odd years in the UK or Australia, you’d have to be a bit lacking in eyes and/or ears to have missed one of her books on the parenting bookshelves, seen referenece to her methods on the internet or heard mention of her routines from other parents. The most popular book is The Very Contented Baby, but there are various follow-ups including The Contented Baby with Toddler.
At the outset, I need to divulge something that might already be obvious – I love Gina. There, I’ve said it. It’s out there. Let the stabbings commence and the bags full of poo start arriving on our doorstep, but it is true – her methods have worked like an incredible charm for our family and Gina (or The Big G (TBG) as we prefer to call her) rules the child routine roost around at our pad.
11
May
2010
These are a few of my favourite things….PICTURE BOOKS
My favourite book. Get your hands on it.
Or so the song goes. These are actually a few of my favourite children’s picture books for the under 5s. I know, I know, there are literally thousands of wonderful books, and as clever and efficient as I am, I haven’t quite got through them all. Astounding I realise.
My requirements for being added to this illustrious list include gorgeous illustrations, fun or charming stories (a sense of humour doesn’t go astray) and something that I don’t want to set fire to the fortieth time I read it. And I have to admit a terrible bias towards Australian books here – I don’t know if it’s because some of them reflect my own childhood stories, or their cheekiness just appeals to me, but I have to put it out there.
So to keep you going while I make my way through every single children’s book in the world, here are some of my favourites:
- Wanted: The Perfect Pet – this is probably my favourite book ever. Mainly for the over 2s but good for a few years after that due to the detail, it is very funny, very sweet, very engaging and has lovely line-style drawings. It also provides good scope for me to show off the breadth of my story reading skills. Love it.
26
Apr
2010
Things that make me vomit. And other fun stories about toddlers.
Many may be needed.
The day I hoped would never come is here. Or rather I hoped it would come, but I hoped someone else would have to deal with it. But no, no other mother has popped out of the woodwork offering to take over my role for a few months. So…… it is POTTY TRAINING TIME.
I have enjoyed each new stage up until now (apart from the hellish non-feeding phase of the first baby which I have conveniently blocked from all memory). The weaning was fun, the walking, the learning to feed themselves, talking (offensive swearing toddler aside) — all good stuff. But this, this is something I am ill-prepared for. Mentally, physically, emotionally, I am just not a potty-training type of person. I have a number of issues here:
- I am not a massive fan of talking about bodily functions. I cringe when I hear myself saying “can you do wee-wees for Mummy?” and my voice drops four volume levels when I ask my little angel if he needs to do poo-poos. The thought of having to spend the next few weeks (months? years?) talking about this is KILLING me.
