Friday Faves

Here are five things we smiled at/ate/read/laughed with/awed over this week…

Playing dress up for Black History Month

We cooked up some homemade donuts in our air fryer this week that were not the best. But I found this recipe to try next, can’t go wrong with a can Pillsbury Biscuit dough. There’s also this “from scratch” recipe. Will report back. Maybe today.

Tiny Love Stories. Short, sweet, and comforting.

A dance party workout sure to get you moving, or laughing at yourself.

Mars. MARS!

Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele

Bonding with Baby through Play

By Michele

When parents/caregivers and their children are emotionally connected, bonded, and engaged in reciprocal social interactions both, the child and the adult, are happier, more well rested, and less stressed and anxious: and we could all use a little more of that right now. The awesome news is that simply enjoying your child; their smile, coos, smell, and touch is a beautiful bonding experience that strengthens the connections you will share for a lifetime. The bonds you nurture through infancy and the toddler years will be the foundation for those tough tween and teen years ahead. So here are some thoughts of how easy and enjoyable it is to create a
genuine and beautiful social and emotional connection with your littles. Bring on the snuggles!

Smile, sing, snuggle – What better way to spend the day than to snuggle a little baby! Make eye contact, gaze at their face, smile at them, and sing sweet songs while you hold them. When you have chores to do, use a baby carrier. Holding your baby close helps baby to relax. As your baby grows they will certainly be on the move however, make time each day (or several times a day) to hug, snuggle while reading books, smile at each other, and sing. A silly song can make anything easier (eating peas, potty time, getting in the car seat). It doesn’t matter the tune or the lyrics, your child will love the effort and may even sing along!

Be your silly self and laugh – Laughter bonds people together like glue. Think about if you’ve ever shared an “inside joke” with a friend, or bonded over a hilarious movie together. The same is true for you and your child. They love to see your face and your smile and as you make silly faces and noises to bring on their first smiles and giggles. As you do this you are sending powerful messages to your little one of love, caring, and attention. Continue to be silly, goofy, and funny with your child throughout the day and you may even experience less stress and less tantrums from your toddler.

Respond and Be Present – One of the best things you can do for your relationship with a spouse or friend is to listen, respond with respect and be present. The same is true for our babies and children. Turing off the TV and phone, or placing it in another room, helps to minimize distractions and to really focus on your child. Get down on the floor with your child as they play and then watch and listen to what they are doing and how they are expressing themselves. From infancy, we are communicating in a myriad of ways and participation in reciprocal communication with someone else is an important boding experience. So, respond to your child as they talk, babble, vocalize, coo, reach for you, and smile. Even if your baby hasn’t said their first word yet, you can still talk to them about where they are, what they are playing with, and how much
fun you are having together!

Now, go play!

Friday Faves

Here are five things we saw/ate/made/read/listened to this week:

Texas families are in a state of complete emergency. They are experiencing abnormal freezing temperatures and millions are without power, not knowing when it will be back on. Lines are wrapped around the block only to find grocery shelves are empty. Many homes have no water, tap or bottled. Help Texas families by donating to Feeding Texas, an organization that supports Food Banks across the state.

If you missed your dessert on Fat Tuesday, we’ll give you a do over.

A snowy backdrop makes the perfect movie night. Cuddle up with a bowl of perfect popcorn!

“There is so much I’ve grieved these past 11 months, but perhaps most acutely I miss the company of women.”

You didn’t know you needed that saxophone solo, but you did.

Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele

The Rules of Play

Each Play to Grow class begins with our three fundamentals.  And we hold true to these core values through everyday play activities with our own children as well as when we write, post and plan for classes.  Today we would like to take a minute to expand on the foundations of how we play to grow.

1. YOU are your child’s favorite toy. You do not need the latest app, smartphone, or a fancy activity gym from the baby store. All you need is you! Babies crave your attention.  So, set aside time to play with your child and BE THERE.  Put the phone on silent and turn off the television.  Even if you are simply watching your baby, you are mindful of the things she is doing.  Be present. 
   
2. Every child develops at their own rate. Books, charts, articles, podcasts, doctors, teachers, in-laws, etc.  Everyone has a thought on what your child should be doing developmentally.  And there are standard developmental milestones that researchers have coordinated to a specific timeline.  That being said, never be discouraged by your child compared to his peers.  Every child is different.  Each child grows differently.  So instead of focusing on what your child isn’t doing, focus on what they ARE doing.  By supporting and praising what your child CAN do, other areas will develop as well.
   
3. Follow their lead.  If she wants to wear the bucket lid as a hat let her.  If he wants to push the big block around like a car, let him.  When children decide how to play, they enjoy it more because it’s their decision.  And the more they enjoy playing, the more they are learning.

Now, go play!

Friday Faves

Here are five things we teared up to/awww-ed at/cheered for/believe in/pondered this week…

Emma Stevens brings light to her native language to raise awareness of Mi’kmaq and other native languages disappearing but you would know this song in any language…

Melt this heart and craft with your kiddos!

If she isn’t going to run for president, this may be the next best thing.

Finding play everywhere, from the bus stop to a city block.

These date ideas may not be brand new maybe they’ll light your spark for this weekend.

Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele

Gross Motor in Babies

By Michele

When we think about the developmental milestones our children reach as they grow some important ones come to mind immediately; rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and first steps! Each one is exciting and a thrill to see for the first time but there are many small, yet equally as significant, achievements that happen along the way and also long after their first wobbly steps are in the distance. The skills that involve the big muscles of your child’s body are called Gross Motor Skills and from day one your baby is working to coordinate and strengthen those big muscles so that they may eventually run, jump, and climb. Stretching, balance, strength, and body awareness are important skills that help build the supportive foundation needed for all of that body moving your baby is wiggling to do. So, here are a few ideas and tips to help you support and encourage all of the big and small achievements your baby is ready for.

Body Awareness:
Make sure to get your baby out of the carrier, stroller, car seat, rocker, etc. for lots of floor play and tummy time play! That’s when and where baby can feel their body in space, explore their body movements, and gain muscles for those “big” moments. While they are playing on the floor, help them gently to move their arms and legs, tickle their body gently and name all the body parts you are touching, and give them a massage after their bath with baby lotion and sing a song about their body parts. Continue to name body parts as your child grows and learns new skills (Are you holding Teddy Bear in your arms? Kick the ball with your foot!). Don’t forget to make time for sensory play, even when your baby is very small, such as splashing in a cookie sheet with warm water, sensory blocks to shake, paint or slime in a double ziplock bag for squeezing and squishing with their hands and feet.

Stretching:
Make a game of using big movements like bicycle legs and arm circles to warm up in the morning or after a nap. While your baby is gripping your fingers, move their arms and hands together in front of their chest and apart like a hug. Utilize your baby gym to hang interesting toys that baby will be motivated to reach or kick for. For rolling practice, place a favorite toy on either side of your baby while they lay on a soft blanket on the floor. Talk to your baby about what you are doing as you gently roll them to one side then the other to play and explore the toys. Keep the momentum going and instead of using equipment to position your baby, such as an activity seat, switch it up and let baby stretch and bounce as you hold them up face to face or in front of a mirror. They will get to apply the appropriate pressure to their legs and hips from pushing on the floor and, most of all, will love playing with you!

Balance and Strength:
Give your baby time to play in various positions to work on their strength. Tummy time is vital for growth and development of gross motor skills and can be started as soon as baby comes home from the hospital. It’s best to start off with small increments of time twice a day and increase as your child is successful. Add a minute, or even a few seconds at a time, as your baby gets stronger and more confident. Make sure you get down on the floor with them to offer that encouragement and motivation to lift their head to find you! As your baby gains neck strength, give them time to practice holding their head up while you are holding them. Sit by their stuffed animals or colorful picture books for extra motivation. For balance, lay baby on a soft ball (like a big bouncy ball or yoga ball or even a firm pillow) by first placing a blanket over the ball and then baby on their tummy over the ball. Hold the baby as you gently rock the ball back and forth and side to side so that they may feel the balancing of their body in space. When they are strong and can sit up on their own, you can hold your baby as they sit on the ball and bounce and rock gently while working on balancing skills.

Most of all, have fun, be gentle, be safe, and enjoy your little ones!

Now, go play!

Friday Faves

Here are 5 things we saw/cringed over/made us starry eyed/ate/laughed at this week:

This restaurant, THE dress!

J&J’s detangler can’t help these locks.

Only a legend would call Lenny Kravits’s mom on him and hang up on Barack Obama.

28 movies for the 28 day month

“A Love Ballad to Your Therapist” Insert all the laugh-cry emojis here.

Have a great weekend!
-Chelsie & Michele

Let’s Celebrate Black History Month!

By Chelsie & Michele

Black History Month, originally a week, started in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson during Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas’s birthdays. In 1970, it was first celebrated for the month of February at Kent State University. Six years later, President Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history”. In addition to celebrating black culture and history, Black History month should continue to open the conversation about systematic racism and how to withdraw it’s impact. You can read about our unlearning journey and find resources for yourself on anti-racism here. The more YOU know about racism in 2021, the more you are able to provide an example for your children.

We’ve compiled a list of ways to celebrate black accomplishments and important figures in history for all ages. Leave a comment to let us know how you are honoring famous Black Americans.

Books: Revamp your child’s library with books that feature characters of color, cultures, languages, and families. Check out some of favorites from What We Do All Day.

Activities: Honor famous black inventors with these fun ideas:
-Garret Morgan, inventor of the traffic light. Play Red Light, Green Light.
-Mark Dean, co-invents IBM color PC monitor. Draw with chalk on black construction paper
-Alexander Miles, invents automatic elevator doors. Sand behind a couch or table and pretend to go down the elevator
-George Grant, inventor of wooden golf tee. Balance balls on paper towel and toilet paper tubes. Balance other items on head and walk around the room.
-Mary Jackson, NASA’s first female and black engineer. Countdown from ten and then blast off- pick your child up high over your head like a rocket. Or try an alka-seltzer rocket.

Music: Listen to music of various genres and artists. TURN IT UP and MOVE YOUR BODY!
-Jazz: Jelly Roll Morton, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Nina Simone 
-Blues: BB King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker,, Bessie Smith
-Rock: Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Prince, The Shirelles, Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder
-Motown: Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson
-Soul: Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, James Brown, Al Greene, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Luther Vandross
-Hip Hop: Kendrick Lamar, Tribe Called Quest, DeLa Soul, 
-R&B:  Beyoncé, Janelle Monae, Usher, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige 

Now, go play!