Use Positve Words!

Children learn to tune out the word "no" very quickly. Instead of always using negative words when correcting behavior try using motivation statements. Examples:
Don't Run.....Walk, Use walking Feet, Stay with me, Hold my hand

Don't Touch.....Keep your hands down please, look with your eyes

No yelling.....Use a calm voice, use an inside voice

Don't stand on the couch.....sit on the couch

Don't Hit.....Hands down, use your words (give child examples of words to use)

Don't throw your truck.....Roll your truck on the floor

Stop splashing water.....keep water in the tub

No biting.....we only bite food

Keep the following in mind:

Tell the child what to do instead of what not to do
Clearly and simply state what you expect the child to do
Have age appropriate expectations
Use age appropriate language

Color in a Bag Toddler Fun

For the youngest kids, art is really about the tactility of the materials, what they feel like," says Abbey Hendrickson, a former educator at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. We can't think of a more tactile experience than squeezing and pressing designs into these sealed bags of colored cornstarch.

Materials:
1 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups cold water

Food coloring
2 gallon-size ziplock bags
Duct tape

Instructions

Over medium heat, combine the cornstarch, sugar, and water in a saucepan, stirring continuously.

Once the mixture begins to thicken, remove the pan from the heat and stir for another minute or so until it thickens to a pudding like consistency. Let it cool for 30 minutes.

Spoon the mixture into two bowls, stir a few drops of food coloring into each (we used red and yellow), then divide the colors between the ziplock bags. Seal the bags with duct tape and let your child mix and mash the colors (they'll keep for up to a week).

(Source: Disney Family Fun)

Fish in the Sea Counting Game

Fun way to teach your child counting!

1. Cut the lid off of your egg carton.
2. Paint the egg carton blue. Set it aside to dry.
3. Once the paint is dry, decorate the outside of the egg carton with foam sea life stickers. *If you don’t have stickers, you can cut sea animals out of construction paper and glue them to the carton.
4. Write the numbers 1-12 on the inside bottom of each egg cup.

Count out the correct number of fish crackers for each egg cup. For example, count out 1 fish and place it in the cup labeled “1,” 2 fish for the “2” cup, and so on.

Source: Lakeshorelearning.com