When to read to those toddlers that hardly ever sit still?

“I really would like to read to my toddler but it’s really difficult. She moves so much or when I start reading to her she grabs the book and tears it apart,” a friend of mine said to me. I really knew what she was talking about as my little toddler was doing exactly the same thing. Pulling, biting and tearing the pages ferociously as if turning into that young and wild lion that I’ve just attempted to read to him about.

Reading is important. It is necessary. It feeds imagination and language development so there is little choice really in the matter. It must be done. What should we do then when the reading changes into a chaotic feast?

I went on a mission to look for times when I can peacefully read to my son, get the most of his attention and save the books from being damaged. I had a few Eureka moments and from then on reading has become much loved by my son and easy for me and my husband. Here are our favourite times for reading:

In the morning, during his milk bottle time – I put my son on a sofa, give him a bottle of milk, sit down next to him and we go through as many as 4-5 short stories. He learned to like this morning routine so much that the books are read more than once even after the milk is finished. He likes to choose the order in which they are read too.

In the afternoon, after a good running in the garden or after being in a playground – Even the strongest and most moving of toddlers like to have a bit of downtime. When I notice that my boy would be happy to have a sit down, I take a book or two to the garden, I sit on the grass or a blanket and I don’t need to wait too long for him to turn up to snuggle under my arm for a story to be read to him. He usually turns up with his favourite ball in his hand and so he leaves the books for me to hold.

In the evening, again during his milk bottle time – We perch on the carpet or again on the sofa and we repeat the morning routine. Brushing teeth, pyjama wearing and lullaby singing come afterwards. I tried to read to my son when he was already in his bed or cot but that only distracted him and made him want to climb out of his cot.

I love these moments not only because of the opportunity to read and explore the stories but also because of the harmony that they give to our days. They restore the balance to our day and keep me sane.

When do you like reading to your child?

One thing that for certain makes you a better parent

The longer I am a mum of my little toddler, the more I am convinced that there is mainly one thing that helps you become a better, more sensible and more loving parent and that thing is… sleep.

The more you get it, the more patient you are, the more energetic you are and the more adventurous and willing in organising your toddler’s time.

My toddler’s sleeping routine is still uneven but has recently greatly improved. His daytime sleep has also regulated itself. I suspect that three elements contributed to his better sleeping routine:
Activity: he runs around more and plays around in the garden
Diet: there’s more meat in his diet
Emotional Security: he comfortably borrowed his daddy’s big pillow to sleep on.

With this new sleeping pattern emerges a happier, stronger and more confident mama, and the stronger the mama, the better for the whole household.

So I’ll be finishing this post now. My toddler is having his afternoon nap, I’ll have it too.

Travelling with a toddler (by plane): a checklist

A while ago I created for myself this checklist of items to pack when I travel by plane with my toddler son. It saves me from those last-minute panics and it has proved really helpful during my last two plane trips. A friend of mine who is taking a longer plane trip with her daughter soon thought it would be a good idea to post it here. Some mums may find it useful. Of course every mum knows their child’s preferences best and should trust their instinct and judgement first so use this checklist as a memory aid rather than a must-have list of items.

The items that I found indispensable were:
1. The reins. My little boy kept running towards escalators and all sorts of conveyor belts. The reins helped me keep him close to me. I didn’t need to run after him or leave my baggage unattended.
2. Milk and other drinks for the child. Helps the child to deal with changes in air pressure during the flight.
3. The toddler’s favourite food. Travel is stressful for the toddler and the parents, familiar food brings comfort and reduces anxiety associated with change in the environment and new people’s faces.
4. Walkman (or ipad – I don’t have one but my friend does so do take it if you have it), something to colour in, various books – very useful for long flights when lots of sitting in one place is required.
5. Change of clothes for yourself and the baby – things happen during the flight.
6. Tissues – again just because things happen.

Other advice:

Try to have two bags of hand luggage prepared. One that you can safely place in the overhead lockers above your head and a smaller one with baby items that will be at your feet throughout the flight. You must be able to grab the drink for the baby even if the seat-belt sign is on.

Enjoy your holiday!

Observing Your Toddler: Creating a Record of Today

let's get to know the world

Photography is only one way of capturing the growth of our children. Writing memories, diaries and stories down is another wonderful way of storing these precious-but-fleeting moments. However, parenthood is busy and so sometimes you just want to jot some facts down in your calendar and perhaps repeat it later on to see your child’s development and changes in taste. This list might help you. I did it yesterday for my son. At the end is an empty one for you to copy and fill in if you’d like to do it too. It’s a really enjoyable process that will give you many smiles. If you want to, you may also give it to your partner to fill in just to check if there are differences in the way in which you see your child. :) Enjoy!

My child today:

Doing: walking long distances, sliding, exploring the garden, lying down on the grass, turning and giggling

Watching: people on the bus, Curious George, Mickey Mouse, Peppa Pig

Listening to: his father singing to him Italian nursery rhymes

Pointing to: children

Repeating: beka, keba (no meaning) to, ta (this, that in Polish), heya, croco (short for crocodile)

Commenting on: everything, everywhere to everyone

Making: a soup in his cup

Looking at: food being prepared, trees, children

Playing with: wallets and purses, water and containers, broomstick and vacuum cleaner

Creating: a mess

Picking up: leaves, sticks and stones, bits of threads from the carpet

Drawing: lines and doodles and preferably on the desk not on paper while biting on rubbers and pencil tips

Reading: people’s business cards

Likes to be read: Pulcino Pio (Italian book), Pinocchio

Eating: porridge and pears, pasta, sweetcorn

Drinking: water, milk, orange juice

Exercising with: his tricycle, balls

Cuddling: Koko (his monkey), a pillow before he goes to sleep

Pulling: toilet handle, internet connection cable, his zip in his jacket

Pushing: food away when he has finished; computer power button

Climbing: onto a dishwasher’s door when open; any ladder or slide; onto his toy chest to open the door

Caring for: an old tiny teddy bear without an arm

Dancing to: Cztery Slonie (a Polish children song) and everything else that he hears on the radio

When sad: a cuddle, a friend, a song, a dance

Sharing: food, laughs

My child today:

Doing:

Watching:

Listening to:

Pointing to:

Repeating:

Commenting on:

Making:

Looking at:

Playing with:

Creating:

Picking up:

Drawing:

Reading:

To be read:

Eating:

Drinking:

Exercising with:

Cuddling:

Pulling:

Pushing:

Climbing:

Caring for:

Dancing to:

When sad:

Sharing:

This taking stock list was adapted from Pip’s Taking Stock list at https://meetmeatmikes.com/ Pop over to her blog to see what she’s up to. :)

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