Try making this meatball and veggie kebob for a delicious snack or meal.
What You Need:
- 1 pkg frozen but fully cooked chicken meatballs (you can also use turkey or beef meatballs)
- Kebob ingredients of your choice: e.g., cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, small squares or cubes of cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, smoked gouda, etc.
- skewers
What To Do:
- Warm the meatballs in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, just enough to get them warm so the flavors come out and the skewer goes through.
- Thread the meatballs and ingredients on the skewers in a pattern (e.g, meatball, spinach, tomato, cheese, meatball, spinach, tomato cheese). Note: 2 or 3 meatballs per skewer should be fine for a child’s appetite.
- Ready to eat! Enjoy!
Trading teaches children how to use their words to engage in conversations with friends and is the first step to learn how to negotiate. Try this activity to practice the skill of trading.
What You Need:
- 2 objects that mean little to your child and are similar, such as 2 blocks
What To Do:
- As you play with your child, give him opportunities to learn the skill of trading. For example, say to your child, “I have a blue block. Can I trade for your red one?”
- You can also use puppets or toys to practice how to trade. For example, “Oh no! Thomas the train does not like bananas. Can Bertie trade him for the strawberry?” The follow up to this interaction is also important. “Wow! Now they are both happy and have food they like.”
- Trading can be useful when working through disagreements between siblings. For example, if one sibling is playing with another sibling’s favorite toy, you can say, “I know how frustrating it is when your sister takes your special car. Look here is another one! Tell your sister, “We can trade!”
- You can also use trading as a possible solution to a problem. For example, if two children are fighting over a ball you can say, “There are two boys and only one basketball. Would you like to play together or trade for the soccer ball?”
Giving your child choices is a great way to reduce your “No’s.” Try providing your toddler with choices throughout the day.
What You Need:
None
What To Do:
- Giving your child choices is a great way to reduce your “No’s.” As much as possible, let your toddler decide for himself but limit the number of choices you give him, and make sure they are ones that you approve. For example, “Do you want to wear your blue t-shirt or your striped t-shirt?” “Do you want to brush your teeth before or after you put on your pajamas?” “Do you want to put away the blocks or the balls?”
- If there is no choice about what he can do, such as holding hands while crossing the street together, explain the reason to him so he understands why.
You are your infant’s first and favorite playmate. Play this simple peek-a-boo game to help develop turn taking, an important building block for later social development.
What You Need:
- Lightweight baby blanket
- Baby’s toy and a washcloth large enough to cover it
- A mirror
What To Do:
- Cover your eyes with your hands, then take your hands away as you say, “Peek-a-Boo.” Next, place baby’s hands over his eyes, and gently move them away as you say, “Peek-a-Boo!”
- Hold up a blanket or a large stuffed animal between you and baby. Peek out from the side, the top or the bottom of the blanket or stuffed animal as you say, “Peek-a-Boo!”
Variations:
- Hide baby’s toy under a wash cloth or behind a blanket, then lift up the washcloth or blanket to reveal the toy, and say, “Peek-a-Boo!”
- Show baby his reflection in a mirror (either handheld or on the wall). Play peek-a-boo with baby’s reflection.
