[blparent] what to do with a toddler?

[Deborah Kent Stein]

Dear Pipi,

I agree with the others that it sounds like you are providing a wonderfully 
rich environment for your daughter.  The only thing I can think of adding 
would be contact with other kids.  Are there any opportunities for Savannah 
to play with cousins or neighbors?  When my daughter was two I discovered a 
nice weekly program called Moms 'n' Tots which was run by the Chicago Parks 
District.  The kids had a gym to run around in, playing with hula hoops and 
lightweight cloth balls.  There were some structured activities such as 
somersaults on mats, but also some free play during which the moms could get 
to know each other a bit.  I really looked forward to it as a chance to get 
out and be with other adults, and it was great for Janna to be around 
children her age.

Debbie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pipi" <blahblahblah0822 at gmail.com>
To: <blv-moms at googlegroups.com>; <blindparenting at googlegroups.com>; "NFBnet 
Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 11:40 PM
Subject: [blparent] what to do with a toddler?


> Hey Y'all,
> Sorry, I didn't really know how to title this email. Ramblings of the 
> exhausted probably fits better. I'll try to keep it short.
> Savannah turned 2 in November. I feel like all of my previous early 
> childhood education has gone out the window and has no intention of coming 
> back anytime soon.
> I am wanting to do a more structured routine with her. I want to start 
> preparing her for a routine of preschool and the likes. Other than simple 
> routines such as bedtime, meals, brushing teeth twice a day, we don't have 
> many others.
> My first question is, is she too young for a home preschool atmosphere?
> Another question, what should I be working on with Savannah? I've seemed 
> to have forgotten these things. I know letters, numbers, colors, shapes, 
> but what else? Is there some sort of online lesson plans I can look at to 
> get ideas?
> To get an idea of some of the things we do now, a typical day is filled 
> with tons of book reading spread out, savannah watches sesame street, 
> super y, or one of her dvd's,  she loves her play kitchen where i both 
> play with her and let her play alone.  we color, occasionally get out the 
> paint, play with mega blocks and wooden blocks, physical time with 
> dancing, running, jumping, or playing in her tunnels. she has the tag jr. 
> that she loves, clay, fridge phonics and other magnetic letters, numbers, 
> and shapes.  There are other things that are escaping my brain now.
> Obviously we don't do all of that in one day, but i do my best to keep her 
> doing something, and then a break with a dvd or free play without me being 
> involved thrown in there every so often.  I just want more of a routine 
> for her, and also for myself so i can track the progress. I'm very list 
> and chart orientated, and I don't have that now.
> what should i be focusing on, for fine motor skills? large motor?  the 
> basics i mentioned above? what am i forgetting.
> what are some of y'all's daily routines?
> I also want to try this out to gage my ability to possibly home school in 
> the future if that is the path i choose.
> I feel like I don't have much control right now. I don't mean over 
> Savannah, but over how I'm raising her. I've finally started reading Dr. 
> Sears and have other books that are coming up soon to read. I just need my 
> nice neat list of things to do and i don't have it and it's driving me 
> crazy.
> Please help if you can.
> Pipi
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