Search Results for: blog teaching baby how to clean up

Teaching Toddlers Empathy

One important skill that we as parents can help our children to learn is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and experience the feelings of others, and to respond in helpful ways. No child is too young to begin learning about empathy. In fact, you have probably been modeling empathy for your child since the moment that she was born by being sensitive to her feelings and responding to her needs. As your toddler grows, she can begin to build on the empathy that you have shown her by reaching out to others in a caring way. Of course, … Continue reading →

Cleaning The New Apartment

At the beginning of February Hailey will get the keys to her first apartment. She and I have both taken the day off to get the apartment clean and ready for furniture. Some people say you don’t need to clean an apartment, the complex will clean it before you move in. I’m sorry, that’s just not a good enough clean for me. I’ve seen how those apartments get cleaned. I plan on teaching Hailey how to start with a clean home so it’s easier to maintain. We will clean all the cabinets inside and out and then line them with … Continue reading →

How to Teach Your Baby Table Manners

I think sometimes we forget that table manners are learned behavior. We’ve been eating our spaghetti with a fork for so long that when we’re confronted with the task of teaching our babies how to eat, it’s a little overwhelming. Sometimes it’s just easier to spoon feed them or limit them to “neat” foods. They’ll never learn, though, unless they practice on their own. Bring out the bibs, the miniature forks, and the spaghetti; it’s time to learn table manners! First of all, have a list of goals or milestones in mind and work towards just one at a time. … Continue reading →

Teaching Kids about Maintaining the House

This week I have really been concentrating on teaching my oldest child how to do the laundry. We have gone over sorting, setting the washer and turning it on, adding detergent, transferring clothing to the dryer, setting the dryer and turning that on as well. When the laundry is done, he brings it up two flights of stairs to the master bedroom, where I will fold it (we will work on folding another time). You may be surprised to know that my son is only seven. At his tender age, he also knows how to vacuum his room, wipe down … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Chores for Two Year Olds?

Question: I want to teach my child responsibility and feel its important that she has chores and allowance. She will be turning 2 in a month. Do you have any suggestions? Whoa nelly! Take a deep breath and repeat this sentence: She will be turning 2 in a month. She is still, technically, 1. I have written in forums before how we start our children quite young on doing chores. Yes, my twins who are about 32 months, have to help clean up. Certainly teaching your child to help and be responsible with his things is never a bad idea … Continue reading →

Relief Society: Visiting Teaching Blessings

Today I had a great visiting teaching visit. I woke up late this morning only to realize I had a doctor’s appointment that I had forgotten about. So I hurried and got the kids dressed and headed out the door. Since we were late I left the breakfast dished on the table. My living room was still a little messy from family home evening, so I figured I would clean it when I got home. After the appointment I went and ran some errands and did some grocery shopping. I arrived home to see my visiting teacher sitting in front … Continue reading →

House Cleaning Family Fun

Now that is an odd title, isn’t it? I know what you must be thinking, really I do. The phrase “Whoo-hoo! Time to clean!” never comes out of your mouth, not with an honest smile on your face anyway. And wait a gosh-darn-minute, how the heck are chores ever going to be fun for kids? Also, you may be saying to yourself “I cannot even think about getting anything clean, let alone orderly with my children running around the house.” Valid points, for sure. But as crazy as this notion may seem, you are indeed able to get your chores … Continue reading →

Cleaning Your Coffee Maker

Coffeemakers require special attention and they must be well taken care of if they are to continue to provide the wonderful eye-opening and delicious liquid that they are conditioned to produce from the time they are baby coffee makers. No matter what kind of coffee maker you own or how many, these tips will help you keep them happy. Consider them, if you dare. Aluminum Percolators Aluminum percolators are not fond of bleach and shun its presence in their insides. Bleach really doesn’t work well with anything made of aluminum and plain old H20 and some spice is much more … Continue reading →

Television is NOT a Good Babysitter

I know after my divorce, the television quickly became my best friend. I found that I was letting the kids watch more and more television so I could get things done without being distracted. After all, when I came home, I had to fix dinner, get clothes ready for the next day, finish work on occasions, pick up the house, pay bills, and so on. Soon, I was plopping my kids down in front of the television set so I could get everything done. However, I began to find that my kids were asking to watch television instead of playing … Continue reading →

Baby Nick Jr. Curious Buddies: Helping at Home

The Curious Buddies are part of Baby Nick Jr., which is of course part of Nickelodeon, the children’s television network. There is a series of videos with these cute little puppets that are geared toward infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. “Helping at Home” is one of the videos in the Curious Buddies series, and it continues the Curious Buddies’ tradition of teaching your child about life. My daughter only had “Curious Buddies: Let’s Make Music” on DVD, and she apparently saw it in the store when we were walking through the DVD section. I was looking at a different children’s video … Continue reading →