Posts Tagged ‘toddlers’

If you plan on taking a baby out with you anywhere then you need to take a substantial amount of items and supplies with you too. A blanket, a toy, dummies, bottles, tissues, a change of clothes, spare nappies, wipes, and creams, being just some of the essentials that you need.

It goes without saying that you need a bag to carry these things; it would literally be impossible to cope without one. Fortunately, there are plenty of baby bags on the market to fulfill your needs, but they are not all equal, and some, frankly, are a waste of time. So, how do you choose the best one for your needs?

It must, of course, be lightweight – that is essential. With the weight of the baby, and even the smallest get heavy after carrying them for a while, and the combined weight of all the odds and ends you ca not do without, the last thing you need is an excessively heavy bag. So, clearly, the lighter, the better. A lightweight bag that is made out of a flimsy fabric is no good though, it needs to be tough, sturdy and well-constructed.

A bag that is both washable and waterproof is necessary, so look for ones made out of materials that meet those criteria. Washable because inevitably it will get dirty; there are just too many creams, bottles and dirty nappies around for it stay clean for long. Waterproof because you will get caught out in the rain at some point, and wet baby items and supplies are of no use to you until they have tried out again, and crying babies are not known for their patience!

You will also want a bag that has been well designed so far as pockets go. While this might seem to be overly specific, it really does make a difference. It should have all of the following: lots of pockets (so that items do not get mixed up); some large pockets (because changing mats and nappies take up a lot of space); sealable pockets (to prevent items falling out, or rain getting in).

The next thing to consider is what added features it has. Whilst these are not essential, they can really make your life easier. Examples being having a bag with see-through linings, so that it is easier to find items hidden away at the bottom, or one with an insulated bottle carrier.

Then, there is the overall design of the bag. Whether you opt for a rucksack, holdall, or satchel style bad is really down to personal preference, though you do need to bear in mind that some put extra pressure on certain points of your body, and some are easier to put on a push-chair than others.

After all these considerations, the rest comes down to style and price. This may range from a few dollars secondhand, to as much as you are willing to pay. As for the style, well, choosing that is the fun part, with so many attractive bags on sale, so choose something that reflects your dress sense and lifestyle.

To you’d like to know more about what I think are some of the nicest baby bags available in the UK, take a look at some of these baby changing bags I recommmend for my readers to look at.

To the casual observer a child who is drawing or coloring in, is merely doodling. The marks seem to be decidedly random, almost meaningless. But there is much more happening in your young child’s mind as s/he engages in the physical act of drawing and coloring.

In fact, examining children’s drawing may give us important insights into how drawing fits into the overall physical, emotional and cognitive development of the young child. From toddlerhood through to primary school, children choose to draw and color, but the process actually starts much earlier – during toddlerhood.

At around the age of a year and a half toddlers become interested in scribbling. It seems to provide sensory enjoyment, but the child is also interested in the marks that are made. The act of scribbling can serve several useful purposes for the young child. Small muscle coordination (also known as fine motor skills) and control improve with practice, cognitive abilities are exercised, opportunities for social interaction arise, and the physical movements provide emotional release.

Because a toddler’s small muscle control is not fully developed, he or she may approach the coloring sheet by grasping the marker with his or her fist and may well find it difficult to place the marks exactly where he or she wants them. Movements are typically large, involving the entire arm with very little finger or wrist control. This is because the pattern of physical development proceeds from the center of the trunk outward.

With practice, the toddler will naturally improve his or her control, full control, however, will not be achieved until much later. Some toddlers will rest their forearm on the drawing surface to give them additional control. A repetitive scrubbing motion is common among two-year-olds. This provides them with sensory enjoyment and making drawing a very physical act.

By providing children with the materials and opportunities to scribble we can promote physical skills. Just as babbling is a natural way to gain language, scribbling is the precursor to muscle control and coordination.

Intellectually toddlers care much about both the process and results of their art. They really do not intend to represent objects at first. Instead, they are concerned with color and line. However, they may look at the marks and scribbles they have made and, in surprise, recognize a shape and name it. While they may not have intended to draw a car, a house or a tree, the scribbles suggest the shapes. Children interpret, rather than intend. In child development circles this is referred to as fortuitous realism and becomes common as a child approaches three years of age.

As a parent you can encourage your child to draw and color by offering him or her opportunities to do so. Provide them with blank sheets of paper to let their creativity run wild or supply a coloring book or coloring sheets – many of which are available free of charge online. Little boys may enjoy coloring images of  cars and trucks or of favorite characters such as Spiderman and at sites like Spiderman Coloring you’ll find coloring Spiderman pages as well as coloring pages, funny pics and more. For little girls search for coloring pages of princesses or fairies or anything else she may be interested in such as Disney characters or even trucks!

Remember however that toddlers need constant supervision while coloring due to the choking hazard that crayons pose.