(Part 3) Best products from r/toddlers

It warms my teacher heart that my little likes books, when he was grabbing and bringing me books and turning pages reliably the correct direction I'm calling my librarian mom with a big ole "concept of print milestone!" But this is not a brag, this is truly because this is so unexpected. Also, he doesn't really want me to read them, he wants dad to. I love books and reading, but I knew that this love doesn't have to come early to mean a successful reader. Older cousins quite late to the game and big on it now.

Couple tips:

-no matter how great the book, too many words and kids lose interest. Even some Eric Carle (firefly, for example) can be too much.
-rhyming always wins
-try a [Bath book](http://www.Bath.com/ Time! https://www.amazon.com/dp/076114708X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uAr7yb5K3F88S) That one is cute, short rhyming and doubles nicely as a bath float... Any engaging with a book is good!
-read to animals. Read while they are playing, still those short, sweet board books type.
-books with songs, "read" them on YouTube. My favorites are Pete the Cat, and Pete the Cat and his 4 groovy buttons We see colors and sing the song, we count numbers and sing the song, it keeps bringing it home.
-books turned into songs. I dare him not to love this one Then, when you sing the book, he's into the connection.
-get the stuff you both like with music or music in it in the car for repetition and something he recognizes.

Remember too it's always OK to read and him not be looking at the book at all. He's still listening. In fact, the research about reading to kids is often this kind of reading, as kids get older and there are no more pictures... And establishing a habit of reading to or with up through elementary or beyond means continual growth. You are not behind!!

When i did a trip with my kid at 18mths old (he is the same will not sleep unless in his bed usually) I had multiple items at the ready and would swap once i saw him loosing interest. Things other than the ipad that he loved, books ( he loves when you read to him), water wow books from Melissa and Doug, I got a monthly pill organizer and filled each little spot with a treat like puffs, cherrios, fruit snacks etc and he would work on opening and closing the little doors to find what was inside ( he was more excited to open and close than actually eat it). I also had his fav stuffed animal, a little bear he could work on buckles etc.
I travelled early in the morning because he is well behaved in the morning. He slept like crap the night before we returned and only the ipad would work ( i got him little headphones we practiced using so as not to annoy others) he watched the ipad for about 30 mins and i noticed he was drifting and i took him out his seat and held him as he slept all the way back ( i actually had him just sit in the airline seat and sent his carseat as baggage, i know having them in the carseat is safer so please don't judge it was what worked best for him)

Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Activity Book, 3-Pack - Animals, Alphabet, and Numbers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPHX9JK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EpvdzbARWMV7E

Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Baby Book - Dress Up Bear https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P4CF5AO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Hxvdzb5W5D805

Something like this to keep stuff from falling like oball attached to his carseat Baby Buddy Secure-A-Toy, Safety Strap Secures Toys, Teether, or Pacifiers to Strollers, Highchairs, Car Seats—Adjustable Length to Keep Toys Sanitary Clean Blue-Navy 2 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Y3BH1G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RBvdzbW4J2R00


Also this was a hit Kidsthrill Doodle Magnetic Drawing Board – Colorful Kids Writing Sketching Pad – Assorted Colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AHK8OYC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VGvdzbV7S78SV

Previous commentHere are some great tips I read online about encouraging language development. But as a child I had speech issues please get him seen it might help him so much. So don't forget to give him space to answer. Ask him a simple question and wait and let him try to talk. Read books and occasionally just flip the page and see if he talks. Or just point to pictures in the books instead of reading the words. Like there's a cat meow!!! Games like 123 GO! Again sometimes see if he will say go.

https://www.speechtherapytalk.com/late-talker-therapy-activities.html

https://www.speechtherapytalk.com/toddler-talk.html https://www.speechtherapytalk.com/how-to-play-with-toddler.html Also these web pages sum up very well a lot the techniques my son's ei gave us to encourage speech. Maybe they will help give you some insight in how you can help.
Also new thing I just learned about aac devices. You can go low tech by incorporating baby sign language into your convos with him there are apps to help you easily access words or YouTube videos like baby signing time. There are expensive devices (like 300 plus) to help encourage more communication. Im ordering a cheap into book and device from Amazon called Lucas the lion loves the tiny talker. Lucas the Lion Loves The Tiny Talker https://www.amazon.com/dp/1612549721/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mSoHDbW0VEZYF

Definitely! Japanese is the one language my daughter has had a ton of progress on, so I can recommend what worked for us.

If your husband has relatives in Japan (or if you guys have the chance to visit Japan soon), get this:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/アンパンマン-にほんご-おしゃべりいっぱい-ことばずかん-SuperDX/dp/B01N0VQZYQ

It’s pricy, but it’s worth at least 10 books - she has learned so many phrases and words in Japanese (and some English) from it, this is the one “book” she keeps going back to every night. It’s great because they can learn the pronunciation of words from the speaker on the electronic pen. This book also keeps her busy for long periods of time, perfect when you need a break from constantly watching your toddler.

I just wish they made this in other languages as well :)

Also this collection of books are great. We started them when our daughter was 5 months, and she still enjoys them:


https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=ごあいさつあそび+絵本&sprefix=ごあいさつ&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_5

Someone gifted my son a blanket that I liked so much I read the tab and searched out another one. Lambs & Ivy is the brand, here is a link to a random one on amazon.

Lambs & Ivy Baby Love Minky Blanket - Pink/White with Gold Love Heart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BPVPN8X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_27G5CbN3101RA

They are his favorite blankets. My son is animal obsessed and has a zebra and elephant one. He specifically requests them by name.

I think they are the perfect size and super comfy. We also have a “daycare” blanket for naps. I recommend if you are able to have 2. I can’t tell you how many times the blanket is forgotten at the end of the week to bring home and wash. It is nice to be able to just swap them out when that happens.

Edit: here is another link because it is so cute, sorry I never get to shop for girls 😂

Lambs & Ivy Family Tree Coral/Gray/Gold Owl Blanket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BXR179Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.bH5Cb7DFDSX1

That does sound awful, I’m sorry. Kids challenge us emotionally some days. My son wasn’t aggressive toward me but he was being aggressive toward other kids at times (he’s two). We’ve been following conscious discipline since taking a series of parenting classes at my son’s preschool and it’s been really helpful in taming some of his tantrums. I’d definitely recommend it! Here’s one of the first books: Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline: The 7 Basic Skills for Turning Conflict into Cooperation https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060007753/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ENLXCbG6JN6NK
One of the main things is reflecting their feelings back to them (and naming them) and showing empathy but still holding the limit. It helps them feel understood and defuses the power struggle. Modeling calm as best we can. And tagging out when we can’t. Granted we still have our moments, especially when in a rush or overtired/hungry etc but overall it’s been a huge help.

For outside play, our daughter loves her picnic table because she can bring her art stuff outside and paint there. She also has a tee ball set like this one. Bubbles are definitely a favorite, and we have a brick patio so she enjoys drawing with chalk. And, really, she just likes to play pretend. She will set up a beach ball and random toys and pretend she's at the beach with friends... or she'll make a pretend boat out of a box and "sail like Moana" on our lawn, haha.

For inside, my daughter draws, builds train tracks, plays with magnet tiles and Lego, molds play doh, paints, colors, draws on her dry-erase board, uses her play kitchen, plays "picnic" with her lovies, and dances to music.

I haven't seen these resources yet, thank you!

A couple of others I've found that have been super helpful are How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen and Janet Lansbury's podcast.

I read It's Hard for Them, Too when she was really little and it gave me a good perspective of what they're going through. This age is really, really hard for them, and like u/whatisgreen said, you are their safe place. They are comfortable expressing whatever these emotions are to them. It's your job to help them understand these emotions, and how to manage them. It's totally not easy, for either of you. Best of luck, fellow warrior.

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