7 Toddler Activities For Homeschooling

Day 1 Activity: Speaking in Mic

In this epidemic time where kids cannot socialize. But it’s important to engage them with such activities that enhance their personality. Public Speaking is one of them. Thanks to the digital technology that is spreading so fast. There are an infinite number of classes happening every day on various platforms. It is rightly said that the physical sessions are closed, but not the learning. Being parents, it becomes our responsibility to take out the time from our busy schedules and focus on our kids.

How to do it:

 Plan the speech for 2 minutes

Write a few lines in bold on a paper and asking your toddler to speak it out or just repeating after you, e.g.: 

1.   My name is XYZ.

2.   I am 3 years old

3.   I am a boy/girl

4.   My father’s name is Mr. ABC

5.   My mother’s name is Mrs. Abcd

By 3 years, kids start forming sentences and they understand the alphabet as well. This will help them recognize words, letters, and numbers. Hence, you can make an environment in which kids should feel comfortable while speaking. You should encourage them with such words like come on, keep it up or yes! You’re right. It’ll boost their self-confidence slowly and steadily. They’ll not feel hesitant to try out this activity again. This activity will help them, ‌like speech clarity, language development, facing the stage, facing the audience, etc.

Day 2 Activity: Dancing Activity

Dance is another form of art that we bless a few with. But we parent can always engage our kids a little in dancing activities. It improves flexibility, balance, stamina, muscle tone, posture, etc. There are a few songs like “the wheels on the bus go”, “Daddy finger, daddy’s finger, where are you?” and “Head, shoulder, knees, and toes, etc.” These rhymes will help the toddler ‌understand well by doing activities with them. I enjoy the moment more when I dance a little and my 3 years toddler copies all my dance steps. Hence, it builds up the bond between us.

Day 3 Activity: Tracing/Writing

Another important activity you can enroll your toddler in is introducing how to trace. We should introduce the kids to pencils once he/she is 3 years old. But before that, you can introduce them to crayons, chalks, finger painting, sketch pens, etc. to make the grip stronger. You can involve them more in such activities to improve fine motor skills. Slowly, give them a pencil and instruct them on how to make standing and sleeping lines, etc.

Day 4 Activity:Pop-It Toy

 I was wondering what this little toy can do. But it made me shocked when I bought it for my little one and she explored it more than I like how to use it. She could figure out how to use the pop-it toy. She did many activities by using this like counting, pop-in, and pop-out, remembering the colors, etc. This comes almost in all shapes and sizes and is easy to carry anywhere. This improves eyesight, color recognition, fine motor skills, imagination skills, sensory skills, cognitive skills, and many more. Kids don’t get bored with it easily.

Day 5 Activity: Magnetic Tiles 

If you’re looking for something to engage your toddler for long hours, then this is the perfect gift. The tiles have magnets in them and are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors. It helps the kids to improve their imagination skills, learn how to balance, color recognition, and improve find-motor skills, etc. Kids can build a tower with it or can make cubes. There are an unlimited number of options available on the tiles to choose from depending on the age and the skill of the kid. You can check out here for more options. Believe me! They were a little expensive but they’re worth buying it.

Day 6 Activity: Colouring Activity

It is a type of skill that helps kids to improve their creativity and concentration. The world is full of colors, but only a few can see that depending on how they perceive it. Do you agree? If yes! Give more colors to your kid to make the combination with. Give them the wall, the paper, or the canvas to draw/paint and create the mess. I am sure they’ll thank you later for this. An unlimited number of coloring tools are available. 

Day 7 Activity: Art & Craft 

This is another type of skill to improve imagination and creativity. Art and craft is a broad term and many options are available to choose from. Here’re a few suggestions on how to start a little with your toddler.

7.1 Cutting with the help of a Scissor: kids' friendly scissors are available too.

 7.2 Pom Pom: lots of creativity can be done. Just give it to your kid and see the magic. They’re available in different colors. 

7.3 Popsicle sticks: Another mostly used product that improves visualization and imagination. We can make a lot of things, like a house, blocks, cubes, etc. 

7.4 Glue, Double-sided tape: kids love cut-and-paste activities. it Improves sensory skills depending on the age and interest of the kid. You can always start by taking out the printout from the internet and guiding your kid on how to do it.

  I would love to know how do you keep your kids engaged. Kindly share your experiences in the comment box below.

I am taking part in blogchatterA2Z 2022.

A: -

B: -

C: 5 Must-have Earthen Products This Summer

D: -

E: - 7 Toddler Activities For Homeschooling

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My book “The Essence of Motherhood”

You can e-mail me at radhikajindal21@gmail.com

Check out my other blog: Book Launch

  5 Must-have Earthen Products This Summer

“Don’t Miss these 5 Must-have Earthen Products This Summer And Here are The Reasons‌”

Earthen products used to be the most common product form of healthy cooking. But several cookware materials exist in the market like non-stick, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, enameled cast iron, glass, ceramic, and silicone that have made us forget about earthen products. I remember when my grandmother used to tell me how they used to cook in earthen pots and found it much healthy than what we cook today.

So, I am here with a few options available that will be for the betterment of our health. 

Choosing the type of cookware is one’s choice, but we should add something to our daily life that could benefit us to stay healthy.

Why one should use Earthen products?

• Affordable price
• Eco-friendly products
• No harmful chemicals used
• Available in trendy styles 
• Reusable ones
• Heat-resistant
• Easily available nowadays, like any street side or you can find it online too.

Why a few people don’t use earthen products?

• Slow cooking process
• High-risk of pot cracking if not using a pot of good quality.
• Handling it with a little extra care
• Clay pots can get hot quickly

How to wash it?

• Just clean it using hot water and a stiff brush to clean the pot. Remember not to use detergent or soap. The soap will soak into the pores of the clay and will leach into your food the next time you cook it. You can use baking soda or salt as the cleaning agent with a scrub sponge.

1.  Clay Jug/ Matka for drinking water

When the summers are approaching, people buy Matka or the clay jug for drinking water. It helps in maintaining the water temperature.

This is made of 100% natural clay and does not use any artificial colors. The best part about this pot is that you can use it without keeping it in the refrigerator. 

Note: As per Ayurveda, drinking surcharge water helps in boosting one’s digestive system. Sun-charged water holds the goodness of the sunlight. You can keep it under the direct sun for almost 2 hours in the morning. Don’t forget to keep it by covering it with a muslin cloth. Anyone in the family-like kids, adults, etc. can drink it. Either you drink the water directly from it or add it to the drinking bottle of water. Slowly, you’ll notice a change in your health-related problems.

      2. Drinking Glass Water

Again, this comprises natural clay in a glass form. You can use it for multi-purpose like you can service Tea/Coffee/water/juice/buttermilk/milk-shakes etc. in the glass. This is easy to clean too. There are different sizes of glasses available depending on what you like. Mainly the glass size is 150ml which seems good for serving milk/juice/water, etc... You can check it out before buying.

3. Clay/Earthen Kadhai/Pots for Cooking

You can cook dal or any type of vegetable in the kadhai pot as you cook in others.

 This clay kadhai is heavyweight, strong, and durable. These are also available in different sizes, depending on the requirement, like if you need the kadhai 1 liter, 2 liters, 5 liters, etc.. this is available with and without a lid. Again, it is one’s ‌choice what exactly you’re using the kadhai for.

1. 4. Clay Curd Pot (Dahi Handi)

 5. Clay Night Lamp/Bowls/ Plates

There are several varieties available in earthen products. Though People are now supporting this cookware and noticing the change in their health too after using it. If you’re interested in seeing more collections, you can check out a few websites like mitticool.com, basicbrowns.com, Mitti Magic Store, etc.

You can use them on the stove and even they’re microwave safe and you can keep them in the refrigerator too. You just need to maintain the right temperature of the pot. You should ensure the quality of the products before buying them. It is great for cooking healthy food if one can use it well as per the instructions.

I am taking part in blogchatterA2Z 2022.

A: -

B: -

C: 5 Must-have Earthen Products This Summer

Let’s Connect:

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My book “The Essence of Motherhood”

You can e-mail me at radhikajindal21@gmail.com

Check out my other blog: Book Launch

Revealing the book cover

Book Title: The Essence Of Motherhood

Sub-title: The ups and downs of being a Mom

Genre: Non-fiction (Motherhood)

About the Book:  Do you think motherhood is messy, along with messy houses, messy rooms, and messy clothes? If your answer is yes! Then yes! It is. It’s messy and beautiful.

The book is divided into two sections:

1. Healthy Pregnancy: Pregnancy is divided into three phases called the three trimesters and I have tried to cover all the unique issues and events that occur in each trimester, answering the questions that most mothers or to-be-mothers have.  A few topics include healthy diet plans and exercise, maintaining self-love, garbh sanskar, packing your hospital bag, and how prepare yourself for the D-day.

1. Cherish the Motherhood: At the end of nine months, you are able to hold your baby in your hands and see him or her for the first time. You are now officially a ‘Mother’! The second part of my book is about the so-called official motherhood stage once the baby is delivered. How can you take care of yourself in the postpartum period? How has your role as a mother changed now?

You must read this book if you:

• Are a first-time parent
• Are scared of pregnancy
• Want to cherish motherhood

What can you expect from this book?

• Fitness and diet plans for the three trimesters
• Garbh Sanskar and the right techniques
• Personal experiences of mothers
• Positive visualization and thinking methods
• How to deal with postpartum depression and weight
• Experts interviews

The book will help you in having a positive mindset towards pregnancy. It’ll also give you a glimpse of what you can expect during and after the pregnancy phase. Motherhood is a beautiful journey but not a destination. This book will help you through this journey like a friend, a guide, and sometimes like a mother or mother-in-law.

About the Author: Radhika Jindal is a well-known blogger and a mother of a 3-year-old. She loves writing about relationships, motherhoods, books, parenting and self-care. She shares her thoughts through her blog, www.radhikadiary.com. This is her first book. When she is not writing, she is busy making happy memories with her princess.

Cheers to Motherhood!

Blurb of the book

Kindly note that the paperback will be available soon on Amazon, and Flipkart.

Paperback

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 ‘This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.’ 

Book Name: Motherhood Talks

Author’s Name: Sadvika Kylash

Ratings: 4*/5

Download the book: Motherhood Talks

About the Author:

Sadvika kylash, is a Master graduate in Journalism and was a Freelance Writer till she entered motherhood. Her passion is writing. She shares her blogs at momlifeandlifestyle.

About the Book:

*Do you feel you have forgotten yourself after becoming a mother?

*Do you think motherhood is messy but exciting too at the same time?

The author has thrown light on the pros and cons of being a mother. This book is for all the moms out there who want to ensure that they're doing it right. A mother should always believe in her maternal instincts. The book will guide you on :

*How you can be multi-tasking?

*Why being a mean mom is good?

*how to avoid tantrums in kids?

This is a quick read. The writing style is Lucid. The book title goes well with the content of the book. I recommend this book to all the parents. You might doubt yourself in the parenting journey, but this book will clear a lot of doubts. Though the author has described a lot of things, I feel like the author could have mentioned a little about mental health and how to keep calm while dealing with kids.

Overall, it’s a useful guide, especially for new mothers. The book helps in realizing your self-worth too. You might feel you're not a perfect mother, but after reading this book, you'll notice that you're doing justice on your motherhood journey.

 Blog 1: Vision Board for Expecting Mothers 

 Blog 2: How do I wean off my 2 years old bottle? 

Let’s discuss what problem are you facing with your little one now? What strategies and tricks worked out for you during the bottle weaning process. Kindly share your thoughts in the comment box below.

 ‘This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.’ 

How do I wean my 2-year-old off the bottle?

First, you need to understand why bottle weaning off is important?

It is said that you should wean the bottle off after 1 year. Even I regret I wasn't aware of it and couldn't pay much attention to it when my little one was 1 plus. But it’s ok! No one is a perfect parent. We all learn with time and experiences. I am glad that I could wean it off before she is 3 years old. I hope this blog will help other moms.

What're the side effects of bottle feeding?

1. Tooth decay: Tooth decay in baby teeth sets the stage for problems with permanent teeth like additional cavities and improper placement.

2. Delayed speech: when babies are sucking the bottle nipple, they’re not putting their energy into chewing their food. That delays the process of speech development.

3. Loss of appetite: Babies find comfort in sucking the nipple and want to use it for every purpose. Then they don’t want to eat anything, because they like to have it from the bottle whether it’s milk, juices, and water, etc. It decreases their loss of appetite.

4. Addiction to sucking the bottle nipple: Babies get addicted to what they find comfort in.

Here are a few steps on how I weaned off my toddler’s bottle (based on my personal experience) :

*First, you need to understand that it’s not a one-night Job neither for the baby nor you.

 *Second, follow the wake-up and sleeping routine.

*Third, keep their favorite soft toy with them always.

Step 1: Make up your mind

Yes! Being a parent, now we know that the bottle is affecting the child’s dental health. First, a mother should show the willingness to wean it off. Please remember, you’re a responsible mother. No one else can do it for you. No one understands your child and their habit better than you. Neither you should expect nor you should blame your husband, in-laws, family, and friends for the same. Yes! You should ask for a little help like if they can help you with household work etc. as you’ll get busy to make the routine for your little one.

2) Transition from bottle to cup (invest in attractive cup/mugs/Tumblr/sipper/straw) First day time :

Day1: Give the bottle (It’s the first day) Introduce at least a cup/mugs/Tumblr/sipper/straw depending on their age and comfort. You can pretend like this is mummy’s glass of water and this is the baby’s glass of water. While you make them sleep in, 

Day 2:  Give proper solid foods three times a day

Don’t give the bottle during the daytime. Hide it completely and don’t even use the word “Bottle” in front of your kid. Keep an attractive cup/mugs/Tumblr/sipper filled with water or milkshake in front of them. Let them drink it by themselves.

Day 3: How to make your little one sleep at noon without the bottle?

 I tried keeping cups/mugs/Tumblr/sippers everywhere she used to go, like in the kitchen, in the hall, and in every room. The primary motive was to make her forget about the bottle. I made her sleep without the bottle at noon. The best you can do is always make her stomach full and physically active. 

Day 4: What to do if the baby wakes up at night?

I made sure that I would make her sleep without the bottle and it doesn't matter if she asks for the bottle in the night feed. You’ll not believe but it took me 45 minutes to make her sleep and pretend like yes your extra bottle is coming. “Your papa, Dadu, is bringing the bottle and they’ll be here soon. You sleep now. It’s time to sleep. Everyone has slept, but not you. What is it that is waking up my baby?” This used to be my conversation with her every night for the first 4 days. It’s still the same.

If they wake up in the middle of the night, and then refuse to drink water, and cry for a bottle, give them water in the bottle but don’t make them cry much. Remember, it’ll take a little time to wean it off. Relax!

Day 5: Remember 2 things:

Kids don't wake up at night for milk. It’s a myth and our wrong perception. They wake up only because of two reasons:

1.      Comfort

2.     Thirst

Note: Keep the sipper/water glass always nearby. If they wake up at night, first check on AC and the environment. They MIGHT BE FEELING COLD/HOT DEPENDING on the weather. Second, take him/her in your arms and do a little walk and then they’ll fall asleep slowly. You can sing their favorite songs or chant “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” etc. depending on what you used to make your baby sleep.

Day 6: Stay Consistent

I hope you’re getting things more clearly now. Repeat all the above steps. Hide the bottle completely and offer cup/mugs/Tumblr/sipper every time.

Day 7: It’s not a 7-day process. It took me 10 days to wean it off. Once I started, so many doubts and strategies appeared automatically. Like, in my case, she used to sleep in her father’s arms more easily than compared to me, but I asked my husband to sleep in a separate room for a few days until I wean the bottle off.

 Second, One day when she slept in his arms quickly, we made a habit that I’ll follow all bedtime rituals during and before sleeping like “Brushing Teeth, washing feet, hands, and face, etc., Om Chanting, saying Gayatri Mantra, Reading a book, and acting like its time to sleep. Mumma and the soft toy want to sleep now. This bedtime ritual takes around 30-45mins and then I chant Hanuman Chalisa and she is almost 70% sleepy by now. Don’t forget, the light should be dim and the environment should be soothing.

 After that, I call her father and he makes her sleep, which takes him around 15 minutes. This way I could follow a 10-day challenges to wean off the bottle. It all depends on the team efforts put in by you and your husband.

Now I can sleep peacefully 

3) Direct Communication: Infants mostly understand more by their mother’s expression. But once they enter the stage of being a toddler, they can understand your words properly. They can understand what you're trying to communicate with them. This made it a little easy for me too.

4) Don’t give up: No matter how much effort I put in to keep her mind diverted, she always asked for the bottle before sleeping. We fixed it in her mind that sleeping means a bottle, whether it’s an afternoon nap or sleeping time at night. Slowly, she started forgetting about the bottle.

It’s my personal advice to all the mothers who’re in this process. Kindly don’t stress yourself much. Just keep on putting in your best efforts. And take care of your health.

I tried strategies: 

1.      I ordered an extra pair of the nipple and cut down the nipple into two pieces and gave it to her to play with. I gave her so many times in a day like during her bath time, too. First, her reaction was like Mumma. Ye tut Gaya..how. I replied, yes! It's broken. Oh, no! then I made her understand like you’re a grown-up girl now. You need to drink like Mumma and other big kids drink from the glass.

2.     Thank God! My family is always supportive. They also tried to convey the same message that used to get recorded in her mind. 

3.     I made her bottle dirty by using Turmeric powder, clay, etc. Then I asked her to throw it in the dustbin as the bottle is dirty. You’re not supposed to use this bottle anymore now.

4.     The last strategy is that I told her that monkeys need the bottle more than you. Monkey has a small baby. Monkey has taken your bottle. He’ll come back tomorrow. That tomorrow never came. Hahaha!

Blog 1: Vision Board for Expecting Mothers

Let’s discuss what problem are you facing with your little one now? What strategies and tricks worked out for you during the bottle weaning process. Kindly share your thoughts in the comment box below.