Mommy tip Monday - A Super Educational Toy (that you already own)

Measuring cups are one of my go to toddler toys. They are perfect for the bath because they are easy to clean (it's all about dishwasher safe), and fun to play with. Kids love to fill them up and dump them out, and while they play they are learning concepts like volume, more, less, full, empty, as well as numbers and amounts. We don't limit measuring cups to bath time fun though, I've been known to give an eager to 'help' toddler a measuring cup and a spoon while I prepare dinner and let them 'make a side dish'.

More Than

Women can be very judgmental, throw them into a "competition" such as raising a child and things are bound to get ugly. I can't stop all the women in the world from tearing each other down, but I can stop them from getting to me. Finding myself in a place where I'm no longer up late at night wearing the labels other women have given me is a very freeing thing. Beyond that I'm making a commitment (and I encourage you to do likewise), to use my words to encourage and support, to lift others up, and give advice in a gentle tone. If something is important enough to be said about another woman, it's important enough to be said to her face that she may either take the advice and better herself, or give defense for her actions.

I've written an ode to a different kind of super mom, the kind who's strength lies in knowing her weakness, who's beauty is not found in the clothes she wears or make up she puts on, but in her ability to teach her daughters to love themselves for who they are, not who they can turn themselves into.

More Than

a poem from the award winning author

me :)

More than I want to do everything, I want to be everything for my kids.

More than I want to be the best looking person in the room, I want to teach my daughter to love how she looks.

More than I want to be the best dressed, I want to be covered in Play doh hugs, and baby food kisses.

More than I want to be a member of every club, I want to be an important member of my family.

More than I want to follow the advice of others, I want to follow the advice that's best for us.

More than I want my kids to fit in, I want them to think for themselves and make intelligent decisions based on compassion.

More than I care what you say about my family, I care about my family.

Mommy Tip Monday: The Alphabet Hop

So, do you see how bad I am at this? First post in over six months and I can't even post it on the proper day. I'm going to try to bring back "Mommy Tip Mondays" because I really enjoyed doing them. I make no promises to the day I will actually post on. The thing is I occasionally come up with spectacular ideas (I'm humble), and then I forget them before thing two or three reaches an age that aforementioned spectacular idea would be appropriate or useful. Sometimes I forget my ideas even before I've had a chance to execute them. My mind...she is not what she used to be. Yesterday I lost a half of a banana. I've given up on finding it the old fashioned way, and I'm waiting for it to start to produce a smell. I wish I was kidding. In summery; this is as much for me as it is for you....yes, in fact I'm almost certain I'll get more use of this than my five readers will.

The alphabet hop is one such idea that I do NOT want to forget. This game is cheap, easy to set up, strengthens letter recognition, phonological awareness, and gross motor skills (there's the added bonus that it wears the kids out).

What you need-

Chalk

Large concrete area (we used the driveway)

What to do-

Write out the alphabet in large letters on the driveway (or have your child write out the alphabet if they are capable). Then, depending on the capabilities of the child, either call out a letter for them to hop to, or call out a word and have them hop to the letter that starts that word. We usually start the game out by hopping from letter to letter while singing the alphabet song, and I like to let the kids take turns calling out letters.