Tot School Week of 4.6

Colored Water: we played with a big tub of water and made it blue just like the ocean! we put blue bath tub toys in the water and watch them SINK or FLOAT! we used a 'basting brush' to wash the toys and get them clean! Then we splashed and felt how cold the water felt on our toes!  I love playing with texture and exposing Reid to new ways of learning! He loved placing the objects in the water that sunk to the bottom. If anything, I think the activity reinforced the word 'water' or 'wa wa' and started his thought process on the concept that some toys stay on top of the water for him to grab and some object sink to the bottom where he has to dive in to reach them.

Throwing: We did this in a two part game....first we rolled balls back and forth to grandma and practiced holding the ball and then letting go.  Then, during pack n play time, we asked him to throw us a ball. He eventually was able to throw the ball and not just drop it! He was so proud to see the ball go FAR! We tried to tie colors into this game, asking him to throw a particular ball color, but that did not go well, so we'll try to add that when we've had more color play later down the road.

Stacking: every morning we do our ring stacker two times and the skills are getting better and better and faster and faster! 

Shape Sorting: I am normally sitting right there with R-man during his learning time, but this afternoon, left him on the play mat with just a shape sorter and blocks with music in the background. This activity normally doesn't interest him at all, so I was very curious what would happen. As I rounded the corner to peek in at him, he was putting blocks in the holes through trial and error- moving from hole to hole until the block fit!  I did witness some frustration, but he stayed with it, until I walked over to him and stole away his attention, of course! There were about six blocks inside the box. Wow! I am so proud! I know we are a long way from id'ing the shapes, but the motor skills to put them in the proper hole is my current goal for him. (baby steps!)

Learning Happens All Day Long Not Just in Tot School: for example...

R-man is now putting the lid on the aquaphor lotion jar, correctly! I will take it off, he will go get it, and place it gently on top of the jar.