Making Paper Chains

Today we did our first Christmas activity - making paper chains! I had always loved making paper chains when I was a kid so I thought this would be a fun one for Hunter to do.

He did really good at this and did a lot on his own!

I showed him how to use the glue and make the links and he made his own chain of about 12 links by the time the night was done.

It was a great exercise for developing concentration, small motor skills, and patterning (red / green / red / green...).

"And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathenchains to the ouches." 

Exodus 28:14

Hunter is 2 years, 8 months old

Imaginative Anatomy

"That's Grandpa's surgery" Hunter explained.

He had emptied his 88-cent anatomy man and filled it with this foam-ball reusable molding material he has, apparently to replicate the picture I let him see of my dad's intestines spread all over the place mid-surgery last Friday.

I had showed him the picture and explained, "They had to make an incision in his abdomen. These are his intestines. That's where the food goes when we eat it, and they help us digest our food."

He seemed intrigued, to say the least, although I wasn't too sure how much he totally understood, I at least gave him the opportunity and exposure.

But the anatomy man really surprised me. He really "gets" it, I thought to myself.

And then, I was glad that I didn't leave him in the dark about it, as is the natural instinct of modern society. The typical two-year-old explanation (if any) would be no more than "Grandpa was sick and the doctors fixed him".

This is the beginning of a whole new world of discovery for him (and me). We are very excited.

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." 

Psalm 147:3

Hunter is 2 years, 8 months old

Hunter Meets the Ocean

Hunter saw the ocean for the first time today. We had been talking about seeing the Atlantic ocean for days now, and when he finally got to see it he was very excited.

The ocean beach was very different from the Lake Michigan beach that he's used to. The waves were much bigger and stronger, and the sand was covered in seaweed and a hundreds of tiny seashells, rather than just the smooth rocks that wash up at the Indiana dunes.

He mostly played in the sand in the beginning, and eventually worked up the curiosity to venture out to the water. However, once he got out there he became aware of the loud, crashing waves and decided to head back to the safer, quieter shores. I can hardly blame him - the waves were strong enough to send me doing flips underwater, so I'm sure they must be pretty intimidating to a two-year-old.

But we eventually went out together. He was scared, but I held him, reassured him. I'm a big supporter of, um, pushing your kids limits. That is, gently encouraging them, supporting them, avoiding coddling them. Not to push them to the point of tears or anything. But it did end up paying off, because he overcame his initial fear and, once he found out that there was really nothing to be afraid of, had a wonderfully good time.

"He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength... Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea."

Job 9:4,8

 Hunter is 2 years, 7 months old