Newborns
Take a walk around the neighbourhood, pointing out different smells, sounds, and sights. Talk, sing, and describe what you can see, hear, and smell. Talking to your baby from birth improves language processing and boosts future vocabulary.
Babies
Place a blanket or picnic rug on the grass and encourage your baby to explore tummy time in the fresh air. They'll encounter new things to see and hear. Plus, tummy time helps your little one develop strong neck and core muscles.
Toddlers
Try a spring sensory walk. Take your toddler to a nearby park or nature space and encourage them to explore. Show them different plants, bugs, and birds. Encourage your child to touch and feel various natural textures, like the bark of a tree or the softness of grass.
These outdoor activities are a fun way to bond, learn, and enjoy nature. And always remember to make sure they're safe while exploring outside.
Have your own outdoor baby activity ideas? Share them with us in the comments below, or check out our other parenting tips!
References:
Here are four simple ways to foster independence and confidence at home:
Empower Through Choices: Even before they master words, babies start displaying their likes and dislikes. Around the age of 7 months, you might notice them showing preferences. Offer your child a choice between two items and observe their reaction. An extended gaze or a reaching gesture may indicate their choice. When they display a preference, acknowledge it: "you like the blue cup!"
Guide Your Child: As babies and toddlers struggle through a task they build their competence and confidence. Try supporting your little one just enough to overcome the initial challenge, then take a step back, offering verbal encouragement as your baby problem-solves.
Demonstrate and Describe: Children are keen observers and love mimicking everyday tasks. When you see your baby observing you, narrate what you're doing. This not only teaches them about the world around them but also reinforces language development.
Celebrate Achievements: Embrace the moments of struggle and celebrate your little ones determination to overcome obstacles. Celebrating achievements helps strengthen your connection with your baby and encourages them to explore and try new things.
]]>Preparing for the arrival of your baby is an exciting time, and having a well-packed hospital bag can make your experience more comfortable.
Whether you're expecting your first child, second child, or supporting a fellow Mum-to-be, we've gathered the essential items recommended by our community to help you create your ultimate hospital bag checklist. Here are the top 10 must-haves for expecting Mums:
Lip Balm: Keep your lips moisturised and comfortable throughout labour and after delivery.
Toiletries: Pack travel-sized toiletries including a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, hair ties, deodorant, and face wipes for a quick refresh.
Slippers: Stay comfortable with cosy slippers, no-skid socks, or flip flops for those hospital hallway walks.
Glasses: Opt for your glasses instead of contacts during labour and delivery for ease and comfort.
Nursing Bra: Choose a comfortable nursing bra to support you while breastfeeding or opt for braless comfort if preferred.
Nursing Pads: Stay dry and protected with disposable nursing pads for those early breastfeeding days.
Phone Charger: Ensure you can stay connected, capture precious moments, and keep loved ones updated. Pro Tip: an extension cord is always handy too.
Snacks: Pack easy-to-grab snacks like muesli bars, crackers, or trail mix to satisfy those post-delivery hunger pangs.
Comfy Clothes: Bring loose lounge pants, a nursing tank, and a cosy zip-up hoodie or bathrobe for post-delivery comfort.
Your Own Pillow: A little bit of home is always nice.
While these are the essential items, some additional comforts like cosy blankets, a tablet for entertainment, and overnight essentials for your partner can also be considered based on personal preference.
Once you've packed everything, simply place the bag in your car or by the front door if you're taking a taxi to the hospital. By being prepared, you'll feel more confident and ready for your bundle of joy to arrive.
Independent play simply means when your little one plays by themself with a parent nearby.
Even a few minutes of independent play can have a significant impact on a child's development, fostering; creativity, problem-solving, and concentration skills. Research shows that children who engage in more independent play may even develop stronger executive function skills.
Here are our favourite tips to foster independent play at home:
Creating a "yes" space for your child can be a great way to promote independent play. A yes space is a safe and secure environment where your child can explore and play without being told "no." This space allows them to concentrate and engage in play without any distractions. You can read more about how to create a yes space in your home here.
The Montessori approach to playtime emphasises the philosophy of "less is more." Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children who have fewer toys engage in better quality play. Studies* have supported this observation, showing that fewer toys spark creativity and foster concentration. By offering fewer choices in your child's play space and rotating toys often, you can help them play independently and improve their concentration and creativity.
Making independent play a part of your child's daily routine can help them develop a strong sense of independence. Setting aside a few minutes of solo playtime in the morning and afternoon can be an excellent way to encourage independent play. Children thrive on routine, so making it a regular part of their day will help them know what to expect.
Setting up an activity for your child to do independently can be a great way to encourage independent play. You can start the activity with them, and then switch to observation mode, allowing them to continue playing on their own. By inviting your child to play intentionally and thoughtfully, you can help them develop their creativity and problem-solving skills while promoting independent play.
Fostering independent play in your toddler can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your little one. Remember, a few minutes of independent play can go a long way in your toddler's development, and don't forget to enjoy watching them explore and play on their own!
A ‘yes’ space is an enclosed space specifically for your child where they can move and confidently explore the area safely (without the risk of being told ‘no’). Inspired by the RIE parenting method which emphasises respect, freedom of movement and exploration – this enclosed area allows your baby or toddler to explore without restrictions.
A yes space can be a whole room, or only part of it. Your child’s bedroom or playroom is a great natural choice. A baby gate can be helpful when creating an enclosed yes space in a common area, like the living area. This can make it easier for you to be closely to your baby or toddler while they play.
How to create a yes space
The first step to creating a yes space is to ensure the space is free from all hazards. This includes moving cords, plants, and unsafe items out of reach. Furniture should be secured to the wall and the area should be regularly evaluated as your little one grows and becomes more mobile.
What to include:
The best materials for your baby’s yes space are simple, safe and engaging. Developmentally appropriate play items including: toys, books, and learning materials are a great choice.
The benefits of a yes space
A yes space can provide your child with the freedom and space to develop concentration, independence, and play without restriction. Yes spaces can encourage play, learning, creativity and agency, while parents get to enjoy one of the great pleasures of parenting - observing your little one as they explore the world around them.
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Babies and toddlers thrive on everyday routines and rhythms. Children like to know what's going to happen and routines help children to understand and prepare for what comes next.
You might be surprised to learn that babies as young as three months of age understand daily rhythms as they see the same activities happening at approximately the same time each day. By twelve months, toddlers can predict what will happen next - after dinner, we brush our teeth.
Routine cards are a great simple way to help your little one tune into rhythms and routines. Simple visuals help them learn about patterns, order, and sequence. This helps children think in more advanced ways and explore reasoning, judgment, and anticipation.
Here are our favorite tips for using routine cards at home:
Download your free printable routine cards here.
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A recent study compared how children play when offered 4 compared to 16 toys. Toddlers who were offered 4 toys engaged more meaningfully with each toy. They spent more time exploring and experimenting. The toddlers also played with the toys in a more meaningful way; when compared to the children who had 16 toys available. On average, the parents of the toddlers in the study had 90 or more different toys at home.
The Montessori approach encourages having fewer toys and organising items in a way that encourages children's independence. Organised play spaces mean that pack-up time is quick and easy too!
Whether you're new to toy rotation or looking for new ideas, here are our tips on rotating toys in your home:
At Totli, we love how toy rotation engages children in new ways and encourages creativity, focus, and problem-solving skills. Parents often find rotating toys mean their children become deeply interested and engaged with some of their old toys again, often more than before!
It’s a time to celebrate how much they have grown. From a tiny newborn to the little person you’ve fallen in love with over the last 12 months. You have the cake smash ready, but you’re stuck for ideas on first birthday gifts. Here are our favourite first birthday gift ideas, packed with things that will spark their interest and encourage skill development. This list has everything from crayons to our play couches!
Paint brushes, chalk, crayons, and washi tape are great tools for developing your toddler's fine motor skills, focus, and hand-eye coordination. They’ll keep your little busy and inspire their creativity too.
The soft and versatile cushions of the Whatsie are perfect for getting your toddler moving and exploring. Ideal for building forts and obstacle courses, it’s a great way to give your growing toddler new ways to build on their gross motor skills.
Toddlers love to explore how objects work together. Your one-year-old will love the Totli Box for exploring object permanence, playing peekaboo, and posting, pushing, and pulling.
In our opinion, bath time is one of the best parts of the day! Having toys in the tub helps your toddler learn about cause and effect, and bond with you too.
Sensory play is amazing for your littles developing brain. Having a sensory table in your home means that (most) of the messy play can be easily cleaned and contained to the one area.
Books make a great gift for any occasion. Giving a book to your one-year-old for their first birthday is a great way to celebrate the joy of reading.
Bubbles are magical for toddlers who love to chase and catch them. A bubble machine is a great first birthday present, allowing the fun and excitement to guide their curiosity and learning.
Museums, zoo’s, theme parks and play center memberships are the gift that keeps giving all year long! They can be lots of fun, but expensive if you need to go home early for one reason or another. Having a membership means you can visit as many times as you like throughout the year.
Toddlers love helping in the kitchen! Learning towers help bring your little one up to bench height so they can better help with practical activities. This learning tower by Little Big Learning is the perfect addition to your home to explore a whole new world of helping.
We love this transformable Pikler from Mounty as it's adjustable for your toddler's age and stage. Pikler triangles are perfect for gross motor development and provide just the right amount of challenge as your little one learns to walk, run, jump and climb.
Remember, there are countless ways to celebrate this special milestone. Your one-year-old won’t remember how many gifts they received and they’ll most likely just want to be with you to celebrate their special day. However, if you do choose to mark this occasion with a special gift, we hope we have you covered!
]]>DIY sensory bags are a great compromise for mess free fun. They are a perfect way to introduce your baby to sensory play and allow babies to explore without the mess that can come with other sensory set ups.
Here’s how:
Fill a zip lock bag with a variety of materials like pom poms, rice, water or shaving cream. Reinforce the seal with strong tape, then use painter’s tape to secure the edges of the bag to the floor, wall, or a table where your baby can play.
As they squish the bag and move its contents around, your baby absorbs new information about the world through their fingers, eyes, and ears. Sensory play is also great to developing concentration, language skills and hand eye coordination. Always be sure to closely supervise your baby when they’re playing with a DIY sensory bag.
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