Babies Love Flashcards (Ro's First Maths)

Today, "Ro", my little crier, found comfort in something "most" adults would consider quite strange: math dots.

Now, granted, I have been around a lot of babies and a lot of little kids and it comes as no surprise to me that tiny tots love flashcards. Babies, especially, seem to have a special love affair with the math dots (quantity cards) which tend to produce smiles, laughs, and intense concentration and fascination.

But even Ro (nineteen months) surprised me today with his initial introduction to the math dots. Being my little crier (who doesn't appreciate being away from his mama) the quantity cards seemed to have an instant effect on him beginning with the usual peculiar yet fascinated focus, followed by smiles and then laughs. Typical response, really.

The surprising part? When I put them away, he started crying. When I got them back out and continued showing them to him, he would smile and giggle, and then burst with laughter and dancing each time I got to ten. Rewind and repeat fifteen times before I finally distracted him by showing him some presidents bits to look at on his own.

Yes, babies love flashcards. And Ro, well, he really loves them.

"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy..."

Ecclesiastes 2:26

"Ro", daycare child, is nineteen months old

Early Numerical Stimulation (Mathematical Mondays)

"Never forget that when you are giving a child visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation with increased frequency, intensity, and duration that you are actually physically growing his brain. We have never met a neurophysiologist who didn't know that - as we have rarely met a professional person who actually deals with kids who did."

-Glenn Doman

"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts."

Isaiah 28:9

"Ty", daycare child, is 9 weeks old

"I Can't Do It"

The other day Hunter had another one of his friends over, who we were watching for a few hours. They had been playing for a while and were looking for something to do, so we decided on making some new paper chain decorations (to replace the Thanksgiving ones). It's a fun craft we have done every year so we were excited to make more.

His friend (who just turned five and is in kindergarten) was excited to do the craft and eagerly started gluing away. He accidentally made it into a teardrop instead of a circle, and I showed him how to overlap the ends to form a circle. He smiled and went to the next circle, which he again made into a teardrop. I again showed him how to overlap the ends, when he smiled and told me,
"It's ok, I'm too young to understand. I will understand it when I get older."

It's funny (and sad) how parents' attitudes can affect their kids - and create (for better or worse) their attitudes towards learning and life.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." 

Phillipians 4:13

Young Picassos

Bathtub paints. Fun while it lasted, probably not too great for the skin.

Hunter's bangs were pink the next day, as well as his hands.

Not the greatest toy they ever played with but they sure had fun making mini masterpieces all over the tub, the walls, and each other.

"I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires."

Isaiah 54:11

Hunter is 3 years, 10 months old

Coping Mechanism for Cold Winter Days

What do you do with three rambunctious boys, ages three and under, on a very cold winter night that have a LOT of energy to burn off? Take them to the indoor play land, of course!

It was another one of those very cold and very long days were the boys were jumping off the walls. I had been corralling them all day and ended up loading them up into the car and driving to the Burger King play land, ordering a pack of apples and letting them run off some energy for an hour or so. I really needed the break, and they really needed it too.

In the winter it's somewhat more of an effort to find opportunities for physical exercise but it's worth the effort. All the running, crawling, sliding, twisting, turning, and jumping is not only good for their hearts and lungs (and sanity!) but necessary for the organizing of their brains. We'll be visiting the play land quite frequently between now and April, much to everyone's enjoyment!

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."

Psalm 119:32

Hunter is 3 years, 10 months old

Some day we'll laugh about this

Ah, Jordan. My chunky little nephew. You are the happiest, smiley-est, most charming baby ever one minute. Then the fussiest, most anxious and discontent baby the next. You have come in, rocked our world, and stolen our hearts in not even a half a year. And above all, you are certainly not your brother, nor your cousin. You are uniquely you, and you have changed everything we are used to about babies.

You always have me on my toes, sometimes reminding me not to be at the computer too long and other times to get down on the floor and play with Duplos for a little bit. And other times, giving me a hard time while I'm trying to read aloud a story. But you make up for every tear with a dozen shining smiles, and it makes it all worth it even more.

I sometimes have to remind myself of the wise words of your Nana, this too shall pass. We're here for you buddy, and we'll get through this. And as we were snapping pictures today, it made me think, that one day we'll look back and laugh at this. About the first few months of life when you cried nonstop. And about the following few month where you were full of smiles one second and full of tears the next. It doesn't always feel laughable, but in the end it will be but a fleeting moment in time to share a smile about. Love you little man.

~Aunt Liz

"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

Proverbs 20:11

Playmates

 It always amazes me how easily little children make friends.

Today while we were at a friend's house taking communion, there was a young mother there with her four-year-old son. At first Hunter stuck by my side, being quiet and polite in the presence of company but after a little while he casually made friends with this little boy, who was playing paper clips. While there was adult conversation and prayer and Bible-reading going on the two new friends quietly played tigers and other such games underneath the table without being any such disturbance. They were even sharing cookies with each other by the end of the afternoon after quiet time had ended, and parted for the day with a hug.

When we got back to their aunt's house he quickly went downstairs, only to find another little friend who was six-year-old Alannah, the Jackson's cousin. She was jumping off the couch arm onto an inflatable matress and Hunter quickly joined her in her game (not the safest, I know, but he survived). They later played with toys horses and board games and had a splendid time together, as if they had been friends for years.

It made me smile seeing him make friends so easily and effortlessly, having lots of social interactions with all sorts of different people just as a normal and natural part of life. It's not that today was anything new or different, as this sort of friend-making occurs all the time, but today was one of those packed days, and he made friends everywhere he went.

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 4:8-11

Hunter is 3 years, 8 months old

In the Doghouse

Don't worry, she's howling being silly, not about to bite their heads off

The boys have been really into playing in Madison's kennel since we set it up in the breezeway a couple days ago. They are pretty obsessed with it and want to play in there all the time.

I was actually pretty amazed that Hunter instantly figured out not only to open and close the latch but also how to do so from the inside of the cage.

These are kind of funny pictures because not only is Hunter in his underwear, but it also looks like Madison is about to bite Anthony's head off. She was actually just barking and she wouldn't hurt a fly, but the picture's funny.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

John 15:11

Hunter is 3 years, 7 months old

Jordan's first Maths

My nephew, Jordan, is three months old and I introduced him to the quantity cards a few days ago. To say the least, he LOVES it. He smiles and laughs and wiggles his arms and legs the whole time I'm showing him. He's gotten to the point where whenever I say, "Do you want to see your numbers?" he gets very excited and smiles.

At three-months-old he will sit through an entire set of cards one - twenty easily, usually wanting more. Of course once he gets mobile it won't be this easy to show him his cards, but right now he sure is having a great time watching them!

I took some pictures he was so happy, I just had to share.

"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy..."

Ecclesiastes 2:26  

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"Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee."

Psalm 116:7

Hunter is 3 years, 5 months old
Jordan is 2 months old

Apple Crisp

The boys really enjoyed helping me in the kitchen today. We made apple crisp with some apples that were close to going bad if we didn't do something with them.

They both ate up the peels as I peeled them off of the apples, which was a nice healthy snack. Measuring, pouring, and stirring was a big hit, as usual. The recipe was great, as it was sweet but not too sweet, had very little added sugar to it. Tastes great with ice cream or delicious all by itself!

6 to 8 apples, sliced
1/2 c. raisins (optional)
1/3 c. water
1 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. whole wheat or rye flour
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. butter or oil
1/2 c. brown sugar or honey
2 t. cinnamon



Put sliced apples in buttered 9 x 13" pan. Sprinkle with raisins and water. Combine the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle evenly over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until apples are soft. Serve warm or cold, plain or with a topping.

"Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much..."

Exodus 30:23

Hunter is 3 years, 5 months old

Musings on Socialization

Did you ever wonder how children survived before the invention of nursery schools? I mean, honestly, how could they have possibly developed properly without being around nineteen other kids their exact same age for six hours a day, five days a week?

Were children of the past who were deprived of institutional-socialization isolated, lonely, poorly stimulated, and aggressive? Certainly, without institutional-socialization, a child won't know how to share, won't know how to work with others, won't know how to make friends, and in general be a social misfit and outcast, right?

Yesterday we were sitting on the lawn at the popcorn fest, relaxing for a bit. It was just Hunter and I at the moment, and we started to play frisbee, until Hunter saw a brother and sister running around nearby. He told me he wanted to "play with the kids", and gave me a glancing smile as he ran off to join them in their game of tag.

The kids were probably two and four years older than him, but none of them had any reservations to their newly selected playmates. They quickly had fun in their game before ever learning each others' names, before ever sharing any information other than smiles and laughs. They soon switched their game to hide and seek, carefully discussing the rules at a nearby tree. No adult intervention, training, or hours a week of "learning how to play with each other", they made up their own rules, made their own friends. Hunter's never been to daycare, nursery school, and doesn't even attend Sunday School. Nor do I spend all my time trying to sign him up for as many play dates, sports leagues, or classes as will fit into my day. But he's socially competent, well-adjusted, and generally charming to people of any age. Yet he spends most of his life with me, his mom, not with two dozen other three-year-olds.

Watching him run around, laugh, giggle, and converse with perfect strangers (as he often does) made me laugh about how ignorant we have become in regards to the realm of socialization. Hunter defies all of the current folk wisdom about preschoolers and socialization.

How did mothers of the past schedule socialization? Well, they didn't, really. And you know what? All of our great leaders of the past didn't suffer from being social misfits. They played with other children at parks, gatherings, when families came to visit. They had siblings, neighbors, relatives. Do you really think that children who don't spend all their time locked up in an institution have no contact with other people and are going to turn into little hermits?


"And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."

Zechariah 8:5

Hunter is 3 years, 5 months old

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"Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."

Psalm 107:43

Anthony is 1 year, 10 months old

Hunter and Anthony on Trampoline

Developing balance and growing brains.

"Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever."

Psalm 68:16

Hunter is 3 years, 5 months old

Beautiful Boys

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Psalm 127:3

Hunter is 3 years, 4 months old

Anthony (cousin) is 1 years, 9 months old

Jordan (cousin) is 1 month old

Baby Kierra

Hunter and Anthony both love baby Kierra. She is a two month old I just started watching her. Although she sleeps a lot, she is all smiles when she is awake.

Hunter gets so excited when she comes over and loves to sing to her, read to her and kiss her. We're really enjoying this little addition to our clan, and I'm getting practice having three under three, in the mornings at least! What fun!

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby"

1 Peter 2:2

Hunter is 3 years, 0 months old