Author: S. J. Little

Coat Flip Trick

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Getting a toddler or preschooler ready to go outside can be quite the hassle. This is even more the case when one or two teachers must prepare a whole class of children to go outside.

Here’s a simple trick your child can learn to enable them to independently put their coat on.

How young is too young? I learned this trick from a preschooler whose parents taught him to put on his coat this way. Then, when my daughter was one and a half years old and desiring independence, I tried teaching her. Within a few days she was happily putting on her coat all by herself (though I still had to do the zipper).

 

 

The Coat Flip Trick

 

  1. Place the unzipped coat on the floor or a low ottoman with the hood towards your child.
  2. Direct your child to put their arms into the sleeves of the coat.
  3. Help your child lift their arms straight in the air, flipping their coat over their head.
  4. Assist your child with doing up the coat zipper or buttons as needed.

 

There you have it. A simple little trick to make your day go so much smoother.

Faithfully Working In Me

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

While my husband finished his breakfast, I let our toddler cuddle up on my lap, or what was left of it. At 36 weeks pregnant there’s not a lot of room left on my lap for her.

We chatted about the plan for the day.

I gave my daughter a little squeeze. “You get to stay with Grandma today while I go to a doctor’s appointment for baby.”

My toddler rested her head against me. “Strong and healthy.”

“That’s right. The doctor is checking to make sure baby is strong and healthy.”

I glanced across the table at my husband. “It’s a routine appointment. They’ll likely want me to book another one for next week since I’m so far along now. What are you up to today?”

My husband launched into a description of his expected meetings and the project he had on the go at work.

His words trailed off when our daughter sat bolt upright, shock covering her face.

I laughed. “Baby just kicked you.” I had felt the strong movement too.

Her shock turned to a grin, as she shifted to rest a hand on my belly.

“You really felt that didn’t you?”

“More?”

“He might kick you again, but I don’t know if he will. Sometimes he kicks a lot, but sometimes he is sleeping. I think he was sleeping just a minute ago, but then he kicked you.”

It wasn’t until the next morning that I found myself thinking about how the movements of my soon-to-be-born baby can stand as a meaningful reminder to me of how God works in my life.

Let me explain.

The kicks of an unborn baby are a wonderful, reassuring thing (though sometimes uncomfortable). Each kick is a reminder that he is alive and active. At checkups, the doctor asks if I’ve been feeling the baby kick because it is an important indicator that the baby is doing well.

Yet the baby isn’t always kicking. Sometimes he is sleeping.

More often than not, it is when I am busy or walking about that he sleeps. Then, within minutes of my sitting down or lying down to relax, I feel him start kicking.

His movements aren’t always the same either. Sometimes I feel his kicks on the right side, sometimes on the left. Sometimes he jabs at my ribs (those aren’t so comfortable), while other times he kicks deep within me. At times his movements are big and pronounced, visible to those sitting beside me. At other times, they are subtle and easy to miss. Still other times his movements are not kicks at all. Instead they are the steady rhythm of hiccups.

When I don’t feel him actively moving, does it mean there is a problem? No, unless the stillness lasts too long. He is most likely taking a nap while he continues to grow and develop.

Similar can be said of my relationship with God.

Sometimes I can see and feel that God is actively at work in my life. I know that I am walking with Him and He is growing me closer to Him.

Other times, I can’t feel Him. I sometimes start to worry – am I still following God? Have I become distant? Is He still at work in my life?

Just because I can’t feel God at the moment, doesn’t mean there is something wrong. God can still be at work in my life, even when I don’t feel it.

Often it is in the seasons of busyness that I feel Him less – such as the season I’m about to step into as the mom of a newborn.

That said, to help my baby’s growth and development be at an optimum, I must continue to eat a reasonably healthy diet, take my prenatal vitamins, and drink water – lots and lots of water.

Regardless of whether I have felt my baby kicking in the past while, I continue to eat for his optimum growth.

The same should be the case in my walk with Jesus. Regardless of whether I feel super close to God at the moment, it is still critical to be ingesting a healthy spiritual diet – Bible reading, worship songs, prayer, and times of fellowship with other Christians.

These elements will help keep me growing and learning more about God whether I feel it or not.

Today, whether I feel it or not, may I trust that, “He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 CSB)

My House – 1.7 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 7

My House

Vocabulary: Kitchen, Bathroom, Run, Puzzle

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

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

Can You Find…

Prep:

  • If needed, clear your hallway so that it is safe for you and your child to run through.

Time to Play:

  • Tell your child you are going to play a game. Be excited.
  • Explain that you will tell them which room to find and then they need to run and find it.
  • Start with the easy rooms such as:
    • “Can you find the bathroom?”
    • “Run to the kitchen!”
  • As your child catches onto the game, choose rooms or furniture they have to think about to find.
    • “Can you find the white bookshelf? It’s somewhere upstairs.”
    • “Run to the big couch.”
  • Optional: For more advanced children, add to the fun by including movement instructions.
    • “Can you crawl to the bedroom?”
    • “Now take big steps to the living room.”

Let’s Explore

Home-Made Puzzle

Supplies:

  • A file folder, or a sheet of cardboard, cardstock or other stiff paper.
  • A marker or pen
  • Several familiar household items or small toys. Be sure they have unique shapes. Consider:
    • A tablespoon
    • A soup ladle
    • A clothes pin
    • A measuring cup
    • A role of masking tape
    • A block
    • A toy car
    • A toy animal
    • A teething toy
    • A rattle
    • A plastic chain link

Prep:

  • Lay the sheet of paper flat. Position several items/toys on top of it. Once satisfied with their positions, trace each item creating outlines.
  • Place the items/toys nearby.

Time to Play:

  • Show your child the sheet of paper with all the outlines on it.
  • Model how to match an item to its outline.
  • Encourage your child to try. Be excited when they match an item correctly.

Let’s Sing

Welcome to My House

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Zacchaeus

For lyrics and actions, click here.

Let’s Read

I Love My Home

By Sebastien Braun

Today Is The Day!

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Having cleared the breakfast dishes, I followed my little one to the living room. Pausing by the cabinet, I studied the to-do list.

I glanced at the date on the top. “Today is the day!”

I skimmed down one side of the list. It laid out all the things we had to do prior to today.

  • Clear conditions – complete
  • Choose insurance company – done
  • Set up utilities – yup

The list went on. Everything was checked off.

The memory of late nights and earnest discussions filled my mind. We’d asked so many questions and done so much research.

Now it was done.

Today is the day.

I glanced at the clock. The hour wasn’t here yet. I still had to wait until the time for the key handover. Then the new house would be ours.

I scanned the other side of the list. Everything we needed to do after we received the keys.

  • Set up internet
  • Update the address on our driver’s licences
  • Figure out where the mailbox is
  • Move in

My mind raced forward as I glanced around the living room. Already we had packed several boxes, thanks in large part to my mom’s help. Still, there was so much more to pack!

“Mama, play with me.”

My little one’s voice interrupted my musings as she tugged on my leg.

“Okay, I can play for a few minutes.”

We settled down to build with blocks.

Later, when Easter was on my mind (it was coming soon), I found myself marvelling at God’s perfect orchestration of it.

The day Jesus died on the cross was the day He paid the price for all my sin. It was The Day. Yet throughout the Bible we see decades of prep God did to bring all of history to that point.

God’s to do list involved cultivating the nation of Israel and sending prophets – so very many prophets.

To the people of Israel He gave traditions, such as the Passover, which so beautifully point to Jesus’ death on the cross.

Through the prophets, God hinted again and again at Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.

Then, so many, many years later, Jesus was born. The appointed day was drawing near.

Finally it came. Jesus endured the cross for my sake. He died that I may truly live.

But God wasn’t finished yet.

Three days later, Jesus rose again – evidence of His victory over death itself.

Now, just like after we got possession of our new house, God is still at work.

Even today, He has purposes in mind and is actively working toward the day Jesus returns.

He is drawing people to Himself and stirring many hearts around the world. He is transforming people’s lives and bringing hope to the hopeless.

Am I a part of this? Have I willingly offered my life to the Lord that He may work His purposes through me?

Or am I too caught up in my own life?

As I celebrate Easter this year, may I marvel at the beauty and perfection of what He has done and may I join with Him in what He is doing today.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

 

Easter – 1.E – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit E

Easter

Vocabulary: Egg, Surprise, Carton, Inside

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

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

Surprise Eggs

Supplies:

  • Plastic Easter Eggs that open and close, large ones if possible. (Alternatively use small boxes or hide the toys in cloths.)
  • Small toys that can hide inside the eggs (but are not choking hazards). Consider:
    • Small stuffed animals
    • Small cars
    • A soother (if still in use)

Prep:

  • Hide one small toy in each egg, then place all of them around the room “hiding” in plain sight.

Time to Play:

  • Hand your child one egg with a toy hiding inside. Encourage them to open it.
  • Next, tell your child there are more eggs hiding around the room. Encourage them to hunt for the eggs. If needed, walk around the room with your child. Be excited when you spot an egg.

Let’s Explore

Egg Carton Insert

Supplies:

  • One empty, clean egg carton
  • Popsicle sticks (alternatively consider Q-tips, spoons, or washable markers if your child can’t open them yet)
  • Optional: Markers or paint

Prep:

  • Turn the egg carton upside down and poke one popsicle stick into the egg carton creating one hole in every place that held an egg.
  • Remove all the popsicle sticks.
  • Optional: For children who have begun sorting things by colour, consider colouring the holes and popsicle sticks to make it a matching game.

Time to Play:

  • Show your child the egg carton and model putting one or two popsicle sticks into the holes.
  • Encourage your child to try.

Let’s Sing

Can You Shake Along With Me?

Grab a couple of plastic Easter eggs (or small plastic containers), put some dried rice or beans inside and use these as your shakers.

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Ho-Ho-Ho-Hosanna

For lyrics and actions, click here.

Let’s Read

Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs?
[a Lift-the-flap Book]
Katz, Karen

Let’s Read

Christian Book

The First Easter Day
Author: Jill Roman Lord
Illustator: Kimberley Barnes