There is a TON of info out there!
For us to get started I thought that I needed a couple of weeks to experiment and see if Bee was ready for more activities and what his current interests are. I'm so glad that I did!
He is ready to learn. He wants to learn. He loves when I show him how to do activities but he more so loves to show me what he can do. He often surprises himself. I have given him activities that he had to struggle a bit with but he found a way to accomplish the activity. Not always exactly the "right" way but he found a way. I really want to encourage his creativity and I think tot school will help direct his play into learning experiences.
Generally speaking I used toys he already plays with independently but I worked with him more to teach other than just letting him explore. We moved to a different spot in our living room so he couldn't see all the other toys. I bought him a tray/table to help him focus. Some times these two changes make a huge difference and sometimes none at all!
What types of activities have we done? How did we change the purpose of play with specific toys?
Blocks - Bee loves blocks. He likes to put them in his block tray. Instead of using the tray we stacked blocks and knocked them down again and again. I flipped the cubes so the same color was showing on the top side. He isn't able to match colours yet but he was turning the cubes looking at the different colors/pictures. We also played hide and seek with them. For hide and seek I brought the tray back out so he would know when he found them all. We counted blocks, lined them up and even just played guess which hand it is in.
Coloring - he loves to draw or at least hold his crayons. We color often. Especially when I am busy working or on the phone. Bee will sit on my lap and color. I have given him his own clipboard, with paper, so he can color away. I originally gave him a box of crayons then 1, 2, then finally 3 crayons. Three is perfect, too much to hold in his one hand but he still has choices. He then has to use both hands or put down one to pick up another. On his paper we trace hands, draw pictures, write letters and focus on his grasping skills. I have tried giving him a picture to color but he turns it to the blank side. To teach colors I have given him only one color but various shades.
Shapes - We have a ball with shape cut outs and also a box. I have used both of them quite often. The box is wonderful. The shapes are all on one side so Bee gets frustrated slower. He has figured out that it is easier to just take the top off and put the shapes in the box. Smartie pants. I love the ball, he is great at putting the shapes in once I rotate the ball to the correct shape. This is a good one for us to work at together. He is getting better at rotating shapes to fit in the holes in right. We are still a ways away from shape recognition.
Language - He doesn't use many words yet so we are still focusing on signing until he is interested in speaking. I am getting better at remembering to take the time to do a few signs with him everyday. He is great at signing milk and walking to the fridge for me to get it for him. We watch Signing Time. Not often mostly when I'm exhausted or need to get something done. He doesn't sit down long but he likes dancing to the music. I LOVE that they sing so many songs. Reading a ton - one day I read "I'll teach my dog a lot of words" at least 50 times. We have now lost it..... When we read I point out shapes, colors, we count and I ask him questions.
Movement - We have started dancing more. It's easier now that I don't have to carry him as much. Freeze movement is where we dance, I press mute and we have to stop til the music starts again. He hasn't quite figured that out yet but he likes to wiggle around. When it's nice we play outside, hasn't happened much since it's January. In the house we climb furniture, run down the hallways and play hide and seek. I even try to incorporate counting.
Life Skills - Bee loads the washer for me, front load, and helps put his clothes away. They end up in all the wrong drawers but he loves it. In the mornings he gets his pants out of the drawer. He also knows to lift his legs individually to put pants on. Bee sweeps my floor. Aka moves the mess around for me. He brushes his own hair, mine too, and brushes his teeth.
Please remember that we DON'T do all of these everyday. Bee loves to play independently so I let him explore for most of the day. I try and help him focus for 10 minutes. Sometimes it turns into a half hour or just 30 seconds. We do our first activity after breakfast around 915am then something else when we wakes up from his nap at 230pm or before his nap at 1230pm. Whatever he needs that day. I try and listen to his needs.
There are many other things that we do and have experimented with. Don't be afraid to try something new. You have to get to know your specific child. His likes and dislikes. We have taken 2 weeks, mostly since half of that time we spent in bed sick, if you need more time take it. If not jump into your own version of tot school. You can do it! Just follow where your child leads you.
When Bee is 14 months we will start learning colors. Check back for what activities we do.
Ps. I will try and do better at taking pictures.
