Just a little rearranging & small changes in our school{barn}. . .

Something about our school{barn} just wasn’t flowing, but I just couldn’t pin-point it.  After giving it some thought, I realized it was the “centers”/toys.  The Lego’s & building area was on one side with the play kitchen area & the other toys were on the other side of the room.  The boys were scattering all they “treasures” all over the room.  I decided to move things around & this is what I came up with:

ALL of my boys love this table I got from IKEA.  However, it just wasn’t wide enough for all of them to sit at at the same time so I purchased a second one to give them more space. 

I also decided to moved my desk & Tara’s playpen around.  I keep checking Craig’s List for a better desk, but so far I haven’t had much luck, but for now this will work. 

I thought about cleaning my desk off, but I think I’ll keep it real for ya – this is how it looks by the end of every week.  A fabulous DISASTER!

    

On a side note:  Tara loves to play in her playpen!  She is my first baby to actually stay in it without screaming fits.  Eventually, I plan to fill it with plastic balls for her to play with, but I am waiting for her to loose interest in the current toys she has in there. 

She is all over the play now – crawling & getting into everything – so I moved her play mat to the back of the schoolroom where there are more appropriate things for her to “discover”. 

Lil’ Buckaroo’s Tiny Tot Time 2010-2011

My Lil’ Buckaroo is ALL OVER the place now!  He has been sick A LOT, but when he isn’t spiking a fever & feeling lousy, he is such a fun baby on the go – ready to explore.  He loves being a little brother & thinks he is so big (already!)  Here are a few things I plan to add to his boxes this school year, in an attempt to keep him outta his brothers’ boxes.

Lakeshore Learning Giant Chubby Pegboard Set        or Discovery Toys Giant Pegboard Set

Wonderworld Rolling Ball

Big Oball

My First Animal Signs

Bright & Beyond Playtime Activities

Slow & Steady Get Me Ready

1st word cards

Measure Up Cups

As time passes, I may make him his own Tiny Tot Time board:

I’m also gearing up for next year’s Tot time – cowboy style!! 

I can’t wait to share with you what I am compiling!!

Tiny Tot Signing

Less frustration?  Better communication?  Increased confidence?  Stronger bond? 

These all things that I desperately needed with Trevor.  He is the younger of my Mustangs & suffers from “little brother/Irish twin” syndrome.  He is truly a sweet boy, but my second biggest challenge (next to his sister) in my mommyhood.  Our relationship is very rewarding, but is work to say the least. 

With knowing all of this & adding one more boy to the mix, I realized I could easily encounter the same problems with my Lil’ Buckaroo.  So, while I was at the used book store this week I picked up Baby Sign Language, A Practical Guide to Signing with your Baby.  It is not the least bit overwhelming & is just what I was looking for.  It gives detailed pictures of each sign & is categorized by: 

• An introduction – brief explanation & benefits of signing & getting started & signing tips
• First signs
• Signs at home
• Signs for out & about
• Playtime signs

This book recommends choosing four to five signs to begin with (using in context).  Here are our first five signs I will begin teaching my Lil’ Buckaroo:

1. Eat – put your fingers & thumb together as though you’re holding a piece of food, then tap them against your mouth several times.
2. Hi/Hello – Hold your right hand level with your face with the palm facing forward & make a small waving motion from left to right.
3. Mommy – Using the first three fingers of your right hand, tap twice on the open palm of the left hand.
4. Daddy – Form a C shape with your right hand & bounce it two or three times against the extended index finger of your left hand.
5. Brother/Bubba “Tyler” – Make both hands into fists and then rub them up & down against each other.

Next we will introduce:

• Wet
• Careful
• Stop
• Sleep
• Yes, No
• Down
• Sit
• I love you
• Play
• Book
• Comforter/blankie
• Which

I am eager to blog about baby signing, as this is my first experience with signing & I think it will be a great way to document our accomplishments throughout this new journey.  I am hopeful that this brings less frustration for my baby, as well as myself!  Wish us luck!

Lil’ Buckaroo’s Tiny Tot Time

I am almost sad to admit it, but because yesterday my sweet baby buckaroo climbed on top of the activity table & stood up – it is VERY obvious that he is quickly becoming a toddler & not a baby anymore. ((sigh))

If there is one thing I have learned in homeschooling my outlaws it is that I need structure & something ready to go to keep them busy while I’m working with a sibling. My Lil’ Buckaroo is at that point – he needs to be kept busy, rather than keeping me busy :)

So without further ado, here is my first post on Tiny Tot Time . . .

I have been looking desperately for the perfect touch & feel books & word books. I was delighted to find these at my most recent excursion to Barnes & Noble (BTW, B&N gives 20% off to homeschoolers):

They are a set of 16 touch & feel picture cards. I absolutely love these!! They come in a very sturdy box with a magnetic flip-lid that stands perfectly…

The picture cards themselves very sturdy with large, bight, colorful, life-like picture on them & the name of the picture printed out in bold letters. Each card has a touch & feel spot on the picture & the texture varies from card to card.

The back of the cards offer more information & activity prompts. At the bottom of the cards is a language section, which tells how to say the word in four other languages (Spanish, French, German, & Chinese). These cards are wonderful & have truly held my Lil’ Buckaroo’s attention as well as given us special mommy – baby tot time together.

For the time being we are using these cards in the simplest fashion imaginable; however, as my tot develops we will begin using them in all ways intended. I foresee these cards leading to many future activities. They will be fantastic for sorting, classifying, & even learning colors (they are outlined in a bright color & could be used for sorting colors). I only purchased the Farm set & First Words set, but will definitely add more to our collection. Here is a list of other titles in this series:

• Animals
• Colors & Shapes
• Things That Co
• Numbers & Counting

*On a side note – clothes are NOT a requirement for Tiny Tot Time :)