Author: S. J. Little

Not The Garbage!

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

I placed the loaf of bread in the fridge and returned to the table to clear the rest of the breakfast items. Happy chatter reached my ears from where my older child played in the other room.

I glanced at my baby as he crawled around the kitchen floor exploring the toys left out for that very purpose.

Opening the dishwasher, I quickly put the dishes and cutlery in.

My baby made a beeline for the dishwasher.

“You’re getting faster,” I said, “but I’m all done with the dishwasher already.”

He fussed when I closed it before he could climb in.

Crouching beside him, I drove a car back and forth. “Vroom… Vroom…”

It only took a moment before he was reaching for the car.

“Yes, you can have the car. I need to finish clearing the table.” Fetching the dishcloth, I returned to the table and began wiping it.

I heard a thump.

Looking over, I observed my baby standing against the under-the-sink cupboard, pulling at its handle.

Pulling the door open, he peeked inside. Intrigued, he pulled it open further then dropped to his hands and knees to investigate.

I stepped around the table to wipe the far side.

He reached for the dustpan and broom I kept in the cupboard.

I spoke lightly, “You can look at that, just don’t suck on it please.”

His interest didn’t last long. Setting the dustpan aside, he looked up at the garbage can. He reached for the fresh bag my husband had put in the can.

“No, that’s not for you,” I spoke from the opposite side of the table.

My baby couldn’t quite reach the bag from where he sat. He shifted closer and reached again.

Disregarding the dishcloth, I hurried to his side.

“No,” I stated firmly, pulling his hand away from the garbage.

He looked at me, then reached for the bag again.

“No,” I said again.

He reached for it another time.

“No. That’s the garbage. That’s not for you. Here, you can hold the dustpan.” I tapped the dustpan loudly.

Yet again he reached for the garbage.

This time, I pulled him away from the garbage and closed the cupboard. “No. The garbage is not for you. Find something else to play with.”

He fussed.

I rolled a ball towards him, but he barely noticed. He was too busy heading back for the cupboard and pulling himself up against it.

I held the cupboard shut as he tugged on the handles.

His fussing turned to crying.

I scooped him up.

“Silly boy. Garbage is not good for you. Come, let’s find something better for you.” I carried him to the living room in search of a more engaging toy.

It was only later, after more run-ins of a similar nature, that I noticed the allegory hidden in these moments.

I love my son. I want what is best for him. When he wants to play with garbage, I say “no.”

The same is true of God. Our Heavenly Father is a loving God. He loves us so much that when we want to play with garbage, He says “no.”

As the parent of a very busy baby, I am considering putting locks on that cupboard to prevent him from opening it.

God, however, gives us the freedom to choose to comply with His “no.”

In my day-to-day life, what does this mean?

First off, in His Word, God has given me many laws and guidelines to live by. I’m sure you can name several of them.

“Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.” (Deuteronomy 5:17-19 CSB)

I could go on.

Why does God give me these laws? Because He knows they will keep me away from garbage.

Garbage is not good for me.

Beyond that, God sometimes replies to my prayer requests regarding specific situations or desires with “no.”

So often it is hard to understand why He says no when it is something I long for.

In the story I shared, my baby had absolutely no comprehension that the garbage can was not good for him. He got frustrated when I pulled him away from it. He cried.

Sometimes I must simply trust that God sees the bigger picture. He knows what the future holds. He knows what is best.

Yet it can be so hard to trust when the “no” makes no sense to me. I may feel frustrated, disappointed, and discouraged. I may cry. I need to take these feelings straight to God as the Psalmists so often did.

As I take these emotions to God, He will help me trust Him when He says:

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not My ways.’

This is the Lord’s declaration.

‘For as heaven is higher than earth,

so My ways are higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9 CSB)

Today, may I abide by the rules and guidelines God has laid out in His Word. Beyond that, when God says, “no,” may I trust that He knows what is best, even when I don’t understand.

Squish – 2.5 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 2 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 2.5

Squish

Developmental Focus: Colour Mixing / Secondary Colours

Want to learn more? Check out the Add A Little 2Y Parent / Teacher Guide

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Muscle Moving

Stomp That Colour

Supplies:

  • 3 blank sheets of paper that are the secondary colours – green, orange, and purple. (You can add more colours later if desired.)
  • Tape that won’t damage your flooring

Prep:

  • Clear an area for active running-around play.
  • Place a piece of paper on your floor and step on it to check for slipperiness. If it is slippery, tape each paper to the floor.
  • Place all three sheets of paper on the floor with some distance between them.

Time to Play:

  • Invite your child to play a game with you.
  • Run around the area with your child.
  • Call out a colour, for example, “Green!” Run with your child to the green paper and stomp on it.
  • Repeat the game calling out other colours.

Brain Boosting

Sponge Painting

Supplies:

  • 2 small containers (washed plastic applesauce or cream cheese containers work well)
  • Paper
  • 1 unused dishwashing sponge
  • 1 paint smock, or old shirt you don’t mind getting paint on
  • Optional: newspapers or plastic tablecloth to cover the table
  • 2 colours of washable or tempera paint
  • Tip: Limiting to only 2 colours often results in a better overall painting experience. The child focuses more on painting and less on choosing which colour to use. For a more attractive final result, choose colours that mix well such as yellow and blue instead of colours that create brown when mixed such as red and green

Prep:

  • Cut the sponge into pieces approximately 2.5 x 2.5 x 7 cm, or 1 x 1 x 3 in. (see picture below).
  • Pour a small amount of paint into each container (one colour per container).
  • For crisper colours, use 1 sponge piece per colour.
  • Optional: cut the paper into approximately 22 x 28 cm, or 8.5 x 5.5 in. (half a letter-sized paper). This tends to encourage children to fill more of the paper with paint.
  • Optional: covering your table with newspapers or a plastic tablecloth to prevent staining.
  • Tip: After painting, the cut sponges can be rinsed clean and used again the next time you paint.

Time to Play:

  • Invite your child to sit at the table. Put a piece of paper in front of them and another piece of paper in front of you.
  • Demonstrate how to dip the sponge into the paint, then press it onto your paper.
  • Encourage your child to have fun painting.

Let’s Sing

The Colour I’m Seeing
Adapt this song by Amy Essen to whichever colour you are learning about.

 

Let’s Read

Colin Collects Colors
By: Jess McGeachin

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Who Did Swallow Jonah?

 

Let’s Read

Bible Story

Jonah
Jonah 1:1-3:10

Beginner’s Bible Chapter:
Jonah and the Big Fish
Page 257

Receipt Pile

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

I took a deep breath. I had a few minutes to myself while my husband took our kids on a walk.

It was time to tackle one of those old boxes taking up space. They had been sitting there far too long.

I squared my shoulders. I didn’t feel like doing it, but this was my opportunity.

Lifting the lid off a box, I peered inside. A heaping pile of receipts caught my eye.

I lifted a lengthy receipt from a grocery store, not worth keeping for more than a month or two (in case of recalls). I searched for the date. It was from two years ago. Certainly not needed now.

Setting the receipt on the floor beside me, I started a “To Be Recycled” pile.

I glanced at the next receipt. It was from a similar time period. Into the recycling pile it went.

Pausing, I studied the receipt pile. I could probably toss them all without a second glance.

“But there might be something valuable mixed in.”

With the thought that maybe there was a receipt from some big item with a warranty still valid, I began shifting through the receipts one by one.

As the pile on the floor grew, I found myself becoming reflective.

What an incredible amount of stuff we bought in the past couple of years! Groceries, household items, kids clothes…

The majority of the receipts were from the grocery store – the food we bought long since consumed.

I lifted a receipt to see which store it was from – Staples. I glanced at the item purchased. Immediately I recalled buying that computer mouse.

A pink paper caught my eye. It was the alterations receipt from my bridesmaid dress for my sister’s wedding.

At the bottom of the pile was a separate box of receipts from my own wedding: ribbon, flowers, thank you cards, and my husband’s wedding band.

So many memories.

Many of the items I was thankful to have decided to buy. Other items were long since forgotten.

I found myself wondering, “What about in my life?”

If I saw all the receipts of how I spent my time and energy this past year, would I be pleased with what I saw?

Would God be pleased?

Before I go further, it is at this point that, as someone who has dealt with chronic fatigue, I often must stop to remind myself of 2 Corinthians 8:11-13.

“For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” (CSB)

I am only responsible for how I use what I do have, whether that be the energy, time, or resources God has given me, not for what I don’t have.

If today all I can do is rest in bed, God understands.

That aside, how did I use my life this past year? If I had a receipt for every action and thought, what would each say?

Was I pursuing Jesus and active in the work He has given me to do (whether parenting, or doing my best at my job, or whatever that may be).

Did I waste my time, energy and resources on meaningless things that have now been long since forgotten?

Ultimately it is my heart He is after.

My thoughts and actions are merely an outpouring of where my heart is at.

Do I love God? Am I trusting Him? Am I praising Him? Am I resting in the fact that He is in control? Am I thanking Him?

Where my heart is at will be evident in the receipts of my life.

One day, I will need to give an account to God for each of those thoughts and actions. (Romans 14:12)

As I look forward to the new year, may my heart seek after God, so that, with His help, I may not be ashamed of the receipts. May the receipts of my life in this coming year be pleasing in God’s sight.

Christmas – 2.C – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 2 Year Old Curriculum – Unit C

Christmas

Developmental Focus: Imaginative Fun

Want to learn more? Check out the Add A Little 2Y Parent / Teacher Guide

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Muscle Moving

Snowman Bowling

Supplies:

  • 3-6 empty plastic pop bottles or water bottles
  • White paper
  • Tape
  • Markers – black and orange
  • Scissors
  • A medium or large ball

Prep:

  • Rinse the bottles and allow to dry.
  • Cut the paper into strips about 3 inches wide (1 strip per bottle).
  • On each strip of paper, draw a snowman face and tape it onto a bottle. This transforms the bottles into snowman.
  • If desired, place a line of tape on the floor for the children to stand behind when bowling, and place a piece of tape where each bottle should stand.

Time to Play:

  • Set up the bottles at one end of the room or hallway. Help your child stand a few steps back from the bottles.
  • Give your child the ball and encourage them to roll it at the bottles. The goal is to knock the bottles over.
  • Continue rolling the ball at the bottles until they all fall over.
  • Set the bottles back up to play again.

Additional Tips:

  • If the bottles tip over too easily, consider adding a small amount of water into each bottle. Securely close the lid and try playing again.
  • To make the game even more Christmas-y, consider decorating the bottles as Christmas trees rather than snowmen.
  • If you have more than one child playing, consider using two balls and/or setting up two separate groups of bottles to roll the balls at.

Brain Boosting

Package For You

Supplies:

  • One small bag, box, or blanket (to hide a toy in)
  • Various small toys

Time to Play:

  • Select one small toy. Hide it in the bag.
  • Approach your child and declare, “Package for you!”
  • Hand the bag to your child.
  • Encourage your child to guess what might be inside the package as they open it.
  • Be excited about what it is.
  • Put another toy in the bag to deliver, or encourage your child to wrap a toy to deliver to someone.

Extend the Play:

Get creative and have fun while you play together, consider:

  • Pretending to read the shipping address. For example: “This package is for Peter.”
  • If you have a playhouse, go to the door and ring the doorbell to deliver the package.

Let’s Sing

Shine Shine Christmas Lights

Find the words and actions here.

 

Let’s Read

Biscuit Gives a Gift
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Pat Schories

A Christmas book that does not discuss Santa or the Nativity.

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Jesus Came At Christmas Time

Find the words and actions here.

Let’s Read

Bible Story

Jesus’ Birth
Luke 2:1-21, Matthew 2:1-12

Beginner’s Bible Chapters:
An Angel Visits Mary
Baby Jesus Is Born
Shepherds Visit
The Bright Star and Three Visitors
Page 266-281, 286-290

Jesus Came At Christmas Time

Posted on by S. J. Little

I was trying to remember a simple Christian preschool song about Christmas to sing with my toddler. I ended up creating my own easy song to this catchy tune.

I hope you enjoy this song and that it sparks as much interesting conversation with your children as it has with mine.

This song is featured in my 2-year-old Add A Little Curriculum Christmas Unit. Check it out here.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

 

Jesus Came At Christmas Time

Tune: Praise Him, Praise Him (Composer Unknown – Pre 1974)

Song by: S. J. Little

 

Jesus, Jesus,

Jesus came at Christmas,

As a tiny baby.

Jesus, Jesus,

Jesus came at Christmas time.

 

Shepherds, shepherds,

Shepherds saw the angel,

And hurried to the stable.

Shepherds, shepherds,

Jesus came at Christmas time.

 

Wise men, wise men,

Wise men saw the star,

And traveled from afar.

Wise men, wise men,

Jesus came at Christmas time.

Looking for more original simple preschool songs for Christmas? Check out the following:

Baby Jesus, Welcome Lord

Shine Shine Christmas Lights

Simple Gingerbread Man Song