For some reason, I frequently find myself with 3 overripe bananas. I know I am not the only one. Even though they are still OK to eat, I don’t want to pack them in Edison’s lunch because I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for the kid that has to eat black bananas.

I am also sick and tired of banana bread. Typically, we get all excited right when it comes out of the oven, and then we can hardly stand to choke it down over the next week.

So…This time, I wised up and searched for “things to do with ripe bananas aside from banana bread”. I found a great recipe for banana cookies that actually had half the sugar of our normal banana bread recipe. Yay!

The first batch turned out kind of bland, so we added fresh blueberries to the second batch and they were to die for. The best part was, my preschooler and I baked them together, so it was tons of fun and he got to work on his cooking skills.

Practice these Preschool Cooking Skills

• Cutting: I gave him a butter knife and he had a great time cutting the bananas into small chunks
• Cracking Eggs: Messy, but you never learn unless you practice
• Measuring: Edison got to practice using measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Stirring: I haven’t let him use the mixer yet, but he got to stir and learned how to scrape the bottom.
• Folding-in Blueberries: This is a little different than stirring. With folding-in, you have to be very gentle, a skill that seems to be extra hard for a preschool boy.

The Recipe for this Preschool Cooking Activity

Banana Blueberry Cookies

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 large ripe bananas, in chunks
1½ cups rolled oats
1¼ cups flour
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon soda
Fresh blueberries (Use your judgement on the amount.)

Beat butter with sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in bananas. Stir in remaining ingredients until well combined. Drop by level tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart. Bake at 375º for 15-18 minutes. Makes 40.

Resources for Preschool Cooking Activities

• Look at your local library for preschool cookbooks
• Amazon.com has loads of excellent preschool cookbooks
• Read more posts about Preschool Cooking Activities at WildEdisons.com

The post Preschool Cooking Activities: Healthy, Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Write a letter with a yellow marker and then trace it in black
I learned this one from Edison’s preschool teacher. She writes the alphabet letter with a yellow marker on white paper. Then, he just traces it with another color. This is an especially good way for children to sign greeting cards.

Use wipe-off alphabet tracing placemats
This is one of my favorite ways for Edison to practice alphabet tracing because it also keeps him entertained while he is waiting for dinner. I just give him a pencil and he traces the letters until dinner is ready. I keep a wet wipe handy and he just wipes it off as I set down his plate. As with everything like this, I got mine for cheap at Amazon.com >>

Cover a chalk board with chalk and use your finger to write the letter
Hold a piece of chalk sideways and use it to coat a chalkboard. Then, use your finger to draw letters of the alphabet. Give your child the chalk and have them trace the letters. When they have finished, just use the chalk to scribble over it and do it again. From the WildEdisons.com post: Toddler Alphabet Tracing Activity >>

Use the Wipe Clean Letters Alphabet Tracing Book
This book is fantastic for practicing alphabet tracing. We have had it since he was a toddler, but he still uses it as a preschooler. The book has heavy cardboard pages where my son can trace the letters and then wipe them off. I keep the marker on a shelf where he can’t reach it, but happily bring it down every time he wants to use it (which is a lot). He will trace the letter on each page.

When he is finished, I give him a baby wipe to clean the pages. (In the past, I have had issues with wipe-off books getting stained if you leave marker on it for a long time. We would rather be safe than sorry. Plus, he enjoys the act of cleaning up the alphabet tracing pages.) The last I checked, you could still get this at a discount on Amazon.com >>

Download Free Handwriting Practice Worksheets
Edison came home from school with alphabet tracing worksheets one day. I happened to notice a website address printed on the bottom of the pages. I went to the site and found that I could print pre-made worksheets or make my own. Click here to check out the site >>

Trace letters on signs
Any sign with big letters that is within their reach presents a good alphabet tracing opportunity. Obviously, they would use their finger instead of a writing utensil, but the principle is the same. I like garage sale signs and sale signs at grocery stores.

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Honestly, I thought the answer was a little cheap until I gave him a pencil and paper and watched him try to write. He kind-of looked like a pig trying to knit. I didn’t get it…He does great with crayons, pens, markers, etc. There was just something about using a pencil to write that was extra hard for him.

Nothing like a good challenge.

We picked up a package of those extra big, preschool pencils to make it a little easier. We also spent $1 on a manual pencil sharpener, the kind where the shavings are contained in a little cup. Then, we set about practicing with pencils. His fine motor skills and “writing” have already improved. Plus, he has tons of fun while accidentally learning valuable preschool skills.

Below are some preschool activities for pencils:

• Sharpening Pencils – Who would have thought that this chore would be so much fun for a preschooler. Edison is fascinated with watching the shavings curl. He also loves emptying the pencil sharpener.
• Erasing – Now there’s a mark…Now there isn’t…The first time I brought out the pencils, Edison spent a good 15 minutes erasing things. Can we say fine motor skill development?
• Name Writing – Having a preschooler practice writing his or her name kills a lot of birds with one stone.
• Correcting Misspellings – I wrote Edison’s name on a piece of paper and purposefully replaced the “d” with a “c”. He figured out it was misspelled, erased the “c” and did his best to write a “d”. We did this with a bunch of words.
• Educational Write-A-Mats – I just love these things. They are place mats that you can write on. (Click here to see what I am talking about…) We have the United States map, the world map, the phonics place mat and the one for learning to tell time. Not only do they keep his table space clean, but they keep him occupied while we are getting dinner ready.
• Drawing By Instruction – Sometimes, I will just ask my preschooler what he wants to draw. Then, I walk him through it. For example, if he says “a rocket!”, I say, “let’s start with a big rectangle.” I demonstrate by “drawing” a rectangle with my finger on the paper so he knows where to start. Then, I walk him through adding fins, windows, boosters, etc. This activity makes it fun to practice fine motor skills.
• Tracing – Whether my preschooler is tracing his hand, tracing cookie cutters, or tracing things from around the house, it is a great way to practice his fine motor skills.
• Shading – Did you know that if you hold a pencil at an angle, you get a wide line that is perfect for coloring in large areas? Of course you knew that, but maybe your preschooler doesn’t. Edison thinks it is pretty freakin’ cool.
• Quick, Travel Entertainment – Now-a-days, I always keep a pencil and a tiny pad of paper in my purse now, for those boring moments in waiting rooms or in the car. What a life saver.

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I always keep a few healthy frozen pizzas in the house for nights that we don’t have enough time or energy for a proper meal. By healthy pizza, I am referring to the whole grain crust, veggie pizzas that taste almost as good as the box you buy them in. You really have to add some unhealthy stuff for them to be palatable. We call this “doctoring” the pizza, and it is as necessary as preheating the oven.

This is the perfect activity for Edison. He pulls a chair up to the counter and crumbles bacon, distributes veggies, etc. We have one of those fancy, $3 cheese shredders with 5 sides, and each face of the shredder produces a different type of shredded cheese. Edison is fascinated by this thing. We end up with five different sizes of shredded cheese and way more dairy than we really need, but it is an activity in itself.

The best part is, when Little Man “helps” with the cooking, he is much more likely to eat well. All in all, this activity is messier and more time consuming than cooking alone, but it is totally worth it!

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• Design a simple puzzle for your toddler by gluing an interesting picture to a cardboard and cutting it into five or six pieces. It’s easy and cost-efficient!
• Engage your toddler in playing with dress-up clothes with buttons and zippers.
• Allow him or her to enjoy tearing those scrap papers of yours. Over an empty basin or box, probably. It will make for easier clean-up!
• Make play dough that your toddler can roll, pound, and squeeze. Here’s how: mix together 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Put food coloring in the water if desired. Add more flour if the dough is sticky. Store in an air-tight plastic bag or container until it is not sticky anymore. Wooden popsicle sticks and cookie cutters may be used instead of real knives that may come out to be unsafe.
• Remember to keep safe all the time! Let an older toddler use safe kitchen tools–a wooden spoon, plastic knives and forks, to use with play dough.

Provide and allow the kids to do simple chores. Toddlers use the muscles in their fingers and hands to do things for themselves.

• Follow a basic schedule and stick to it. Planning your day allows time for your toddler to wash, dress, and feed him- or herself. The child may take longer to put on sneakers than you do, but him saying, “Me do it!” or “Ako na!” are markers of pride.
• Arrange your home in a toddler-friendly manner. A refillable pump soap dispenser is easier for your toddler to use than a bar of soap, and a small plastic cup fits in the toddler’s hand. Keep the child’s toothbrush where he or she can reach it.
• Oftentimes toddlers imitate chores such as sweeping or mopping the floor, mixing up a beverage or simply switching off the electric fan. Allow and not hinder their desire, for as long as it is safe. It will be easy to just say, “You’re too little to do that” or “Marurumihan ka!” But remember that words such as those are discouraging and spirit-dampening. Let them give it a try. Sure, the task will take longer to do but it is confidence-building for him or her.

Toddlers learn most experimentially. They learn about writing by scribbling, watching you write, and seeing words around them.

• Look for inexpensive large pads of paper and large, nontoxic crayons, and washable markers. Save scrap paper and paper bags. Keep a supply of drawing and writing materials where your toddler can reach them.
• Invite your toddler to get some paper and crayons so you can write together. The child will learn about writing by watching you make a list, sign a check, or do a crossword puzzle. The child might even begin to scribble after observing. His or her scribbles are a way of copying what you are writing.
• Point to written words around you and read them out loud to your toddler. “Here comes our bus. It says ‘Baguio‘ on the front. That’s where we’re going.” “The speed limit reads 40 kph. Forty is four-zero.”

The post How to Help Build Your Toddler’s Muscles For Writing appeared first on Wild Edisons.

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Part one…
Pick up a cooking magazine and look through the pictures with your toddler. Talk to them about the different foods that you see. Ask them what they like. Have them look for ingredients in the pictures of dishes.

“This stew has carrots. Do you see the orange carrots?”

“Oh! This pizza has peanuts in it. How do you think that would taste?”

Talking about foods with your toddler can peak their curiosity and make them more open to trying new tastes.

Part two…
Pay attention as your toddler gets excited about certain pictures. Help them choose a favorite dish. Then, cut out the picture and the recipe and make it!

Involve them in as much of the process as possible. At the store, reference the picture as you find the ingredients you will need. In the kitchen, let them help you set out the ingredients on the counter. As you cook, make sure they can watch from a safe place and give them little activities to help; stirring, pouring, etc.

When the dish is complete, look at the meal and the picture from the magazine and talk about how you made it together.

“Do you like it? Should we make this dish again?”

“Is that how you thought it would taste?”

The post Plan a Meal with your Toddler appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Monitor your toddler very closely with this activity. Make sure that the bottle is always pointed away from their face and at the object they are supposed to be spraying.

Instruct your toddler to spray in batches of 3 and to count as they spray. That way, they practice their counting while keeping the amount of spray at a reasonable level.

To mix things up a bit, try trading places. Sometimes, they get to spray while you wipe. Sometimes, they get to wipe while you spray.

Your toddler can help you by…

• Spraying the glass cleaner while you wipe down the windows
• Spraying the dust polish while you wipe down the furniture
• Spraying air freshener
• Spraying odor eliminator on couch cushions and pillows

The post Director of Spray Bottle Technology appeared first on Wild Edisons.

What you Need for this Toddler Activity…
* A selection of different leaves
* Typing paper
* Crayons

How you Do It…

1. Take a walk with your toddler and help them find interesting leaves.
2. Place a leaf face down on a table and cover with a piece of paper.
3. Peel the wrapper off of a crayon and rub the side of the crayon over the entire leaf.
4. Viola! You have a leaf rubbing!

Taking it Further…
* Place a number of leaves under a single piece of paper and make an instant collage.
* Staple leaf rubbings together to make a book.

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Toys that are popular in toddler development to assist in their learning the different textures and shapes are building blocks and stuffed animals. You will want to get building blocks in as many sizes as you can to help your child learn that there can be bigger and smaller objects. Having your child play with rubber balls also is a terrific learning tool because they learn about another shape and how that one functions. At this young stage of their lives, it is imperative to give your child as many different shaped and textured toys as possible. This will help them utilize their imagination when they play.

Musical toys also be a huge part of children’s development. This is critical in the development of emotional intelligence in your toddler. These toys contribute to inspiring their minds through the interesting melodies of the songs. You can achieve this through toys or even through educational television shows. As your toddler gets a bit older, you can move them onto things like puzzles and matching games. This will help connect and create the neuron networks that your toddler needs for the rest of his or her life. Developing their reasoning and logic is an important part of childhood development.

Although it is tempting to get the multitude of computer and television games available, many people think that traditional toys are the top for toddler development. This is because it causes them to sit and play with one thing for a while. With television shows, children can become distracted easier and do not notice the important learning message. Many people believe that toddlers are able to establish listening skills and increase their focus when they play with traditional toys. So next time you purchase your toddler toys, reflect on the learning factor.  The fun activities for toddlers are endless.

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