Amelia

Play-dough People

Writing Sample

Amelia has really been practicing her letters and is writing "words" or strings of letters on her own just for fun. She also writes her name on all of her worksheets and is doing very well.

Help In the Kitchen

Mada wandered into the kitchen when I was putting away groceries and asked if she could help with the grapes. After washing up she began picking the grapes and placing them into the colander. She was very happy with the job she had done. What a great job for little ones to do when learning their way around the Kitchen! It also strengthens those fine motor skills.

Mama's Helper

Amelia is like me in so many ways. But especially when it comes to cleaning and organizing. Both my girls are pretty independent (even at 4 and 2). So when I walked by the bathroom and saw Amelia re-organizing the medicine cabinet I can't say I was surprised. LOL! She never mentioned a word to me. She just thought it needed a little touching up so she got right to work.

She loves to help me fold wash cloths and she has now moved onto things like folding her pants and putting her and Mada's shirts on hangers. She then puts all of their clothes away in her room. I am so proud of her!

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Mada is very independent and likes to work on getting dressed and doing things on her own. Usually she is very patient with herself and doesn't get frustrated easily. I found her sitting on the floor working on buckling her shoe so I got a picture when she wasn't looking.

Putting Clothes Away

Continuing with my posts on teaching my children life skills, I decided to discuss the work Amelia (almost 4) is doing. She has started putting her own clothes away...mostly pajamas, underwear, and socks. After I have folded the clothes on the dining room table, I call her to put her things away. Today she gathered them on her ride-on toy and rode off to her room, happily placing each item in the correct spot. Pajamas and bottoms go in the dresser drawers, tops and dresses are hung on a low bar, and socks and underwear go in separate baskets. Hanging the kids clothes on hangers in actually new to us. I used to fold all their clothes and put them in drawers. However, as the kids have gotten bigger, so have their clothes and they no longer fit in the small dresser. Instead of buying a larger one (which we really don't have room for) I decided to buy some small hangers for tops. We have been using this system for a couple of weeks and it seems to be working well. Amelia complains once in awhile about having to stop playing to put her clothes away, but she is catching on to the fact that this is just a new responsibility in her life and is for the most part openly accepting the idea.

Garden Tools

The girls have been excited to start helping outside, however, all of the tools I use on a regular basis are too big for them to use. I have decided to start putting some things together that are child-sized so they can help out on jobs in and around the house. They recently got some garden carts and "real" metal and wooden tools to use outside. We were ready to get out there on this beautiful spring day and try them out!

Purposful Work for Children

My kids are always wanting to help out with real jobs around the house. They are at the prime age when helping me around the house is lots of fun for them. Instead of being irritated by them "slowing me down", I have decided to embrace this time and organize some jobs that they enjoy doing. For Easter, my mom got them some garden carts and "real"metal and wood yard tools. They are so excited the rain finally stopped and a beautiful spring day is upon us. We are ready to get outside and use the new garden tools. As I put together more jobs for the girls to do around the house, I will post them as well.

Amelia wanted to practice riding her bike last night. She hasn't got the hang of the pedaling yet. But she was teaching an imaginary person how to ride the bike as she walked along beside it. She loves her bike!

Spending the Day in our Pajamas

It has been overcast and pretty chilly the last few days so the girls just wanted to stay in their Pajamas today. I found Amelia reading a story to Mada on the bed this afternoon. Amelia has been choosing books from the shelves and reading them herself after we read the story together. Using picture clues to 'read' is a great early literacy experience she has chosen to do on her own.