It's My Birthday!! Come Play With Me at the Toddler Carnival!!

The inspiration for this Carnival was sparked when I asked (pleaded) for other's ideas on what they are doing with their toddlers during this journey we call home schooling, and I recieved SO MANY GREAT REPLIES, that the idea just became a rapid reality!!! 

The other BIG REASON is to join us here at Sweetness and Light in celebrating our little toddler turning two today!!  So...without further ado Moms, let's gather around the playground and learn about what's working (and what's not) with our dear little people we so affectionately call our Toddlers!!!

"Boys and girls come out to play,
the moon doth shine as bright as day,
leave your supper and leave your sleep,
and join your playfellows in the street."

Nursery Ryhmes are a mainstay for a Toddler and are perfect as first books!  The sing-song approach is rich with language building skills and so fun for them to hear aloud.  This can be a regular part of a toddler's day and something for them to look forward to!  You will love the wonderful listing of audio books and music from the very lovely Painted Rainbows and Chamomile Tea blog!  She's having a great time learning at home with her little Citcat!!  Thanks Nina!

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the King's horses and All the King's Men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again."

Sometimes our days and weeks do not go as planned and we have to slow down and re-evaluate what's working and what's not!  This can happen hourly with toddlers underfoot, but please slow down a bit and relax with Lissa's inpspiring and heartfelt post about her decorating style, I mean her Waldorf inpspired days!! 

Then you absolutely HAVE to pop over to Suzanne's at Blessed Among Men and find out what love between brothers is all about!!  And sometimes a solution comes out of a problem that's just the right size!! 

Jennifer at As Cozy As Spring has decided to enlist a Toddler Bootcamp to manage and enjoy her little guys Toddler days!  Love your list Jennifer, it's great! 

Over at The Fairy Mum she shares how Eating With Preschoolers and Flex-Time is working for her little Fairies!  Thanks for joining the Carnival with a lovely blog!

Another new blog called the bean sprout has just the idea to keep her little one busy while she finishes some morning chores!  Miss Girl is precious!!

"Dear Father, Hear and Bless thy beasts and singing birds,
And guard with tenderness small things that have no words."

This is a prayer that we teach out littlest ones to say at bedtime.  It's usually the last thing we do before a blessing, kisses, and hugs goodnight, after all the read alouds and family prayer time, and it's very comforting to go to bed with a special ritual they can count on!  Learning how to sit quiet for a prayer can be so joyful for a little person.  Please see how Alice at the very beautiful Cottage Blessings helps her littlest ones with prayer time!  Alice, you are always an inspiration for all of us.  Your wisdom is sure to rub off even in the blogshpere!!  Blessings to you dear friend! 

Now it's time to visit Karen at none other than Karen Edmisten for some very sage and wise advice for us mothers with Toddlers, thank you Karen for these poignant reminders of the Patient Suffering of a mother's day and what it all means to us at the end of the day!!

"Wash the dishes,
wipe the dishes,
Ring the bell for tea;
Three good wishes,
Three good kisses,
I will give to thee."

Practical Life a Montessori term is BIG for Toddlers!!  They get more satisfaction washing a dish, or wiping up a spill than any mother, that's for sure!  The "do it myself" really comes in to play for this age group in the Practical Life activities, after all, they really just want to be doing what mom or dad or sibling's are doing and being included in the daily family life!!  As you visit Christine at Catholic Memories, you'll see how she has gracefully incorporated some Montessori activities to suit her little guy,and how a child's work is really his play!  Thanks so much Christine! 

And now I take you on a tour of Shawna's new blog As Simple as Two Plus Two!  I am so excited to launch her first posts here at the Carnival, so please indulge yourselves and enter the Toddler Zone!! Then see how she really makes Keep it New and Keep it Few to good use!!  What happy little people at As Simple as Two Plus Two!  Welcome to the world of blogging Shawna!

"The big ship sails on the alley alley oh,
The alley alley oh,
The alley alley oh;..."

Angela at Three Plus Two shares such a beautiful reflection of what her life is like with not one, but two toddlers at home!!  Her immersion in the Montessori activites and remembering Charlotte Mason's words that Toddlers are Born Persons has really made a difference in her boys lives!  Thank you Angela for reminding us that each and every day with our little ones is precious, even in the exponential form!!

"Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his night gown,
Rapping at the window,
Crying through the lock,
Are the children all in bed,
for now it's eight o'clock."

Then you will really enjoy how Genevieve is Trying to Focus with her little ones right now at The Good Within, what a perfect name for her blog!! Thanks so much Genevieve!

Another new blog joins us today called Over and Around Us, and she is right in the thick of Toddlerhood with her little guy!!  She's got some great ideas that are working for her!  Glad to have you with us Sarah!!

"Milkman, Milkman where have you been?
In Buttermilk Channel up to my chin.
I spilled my milk, and I spoiled my clothes,
And I got a long icicle hung from my nose."

This wouldn't be a Carnival without the wonderful words of Kim at Starry Sky Ranch, Montessori and Home Educator Extraordinaire!! (Sorry Kim, but it's true ; )  She shares a lovely post about her current Toddler and Weekend Reading of her Preschool Archives!!!  Thank you so much Kim, it's awesome!

Please also view this wonderful list Download towel_or_table_time_activities_for_toddlers.doc provided by Theresa (she's not blogging, but wanted to share) and Gill has these great suggestions, scroll down in the comments, they are ALL worth printing out!

Oh my Goodness!  This was such a big Carnival, and there's so much GOOD stuff here, I hope I haven't forgotten anyone!!  Please check your links and make sure I got them all right and then email me if I've missed something or someone!!  It's been a busy Birthday Morning so this is a little later than I expected, but I hope you enjoy the Carnival.

Oh, and I almost forgot, here's MY ENTRY, Happy Birthday sweet Sean-Paul, you've inspired more people than you know already!! 

"Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,
Bless the bed that I lie on.
Four Angels round my bed;
Two of them at my head,
Two of them at my feet,
All will watch me while I sleep."

Comments

[Suzanne]

Oh my goodness, Meredith! I can't wait to take a few moments to look at these. what a great idea!

[Theresa ♥]

I know what I'll be doing after the kiddo's head to bed.

Happy Birthday to your little toddler. :o)

Blessings,
Theresa

[Christine]

I am looking forward to sitting down and reading all of these wonderful submissions tomorrow. For now, thank you for doing such a wonderful job in putting this stupendous Toddler Carnival together.

[Angel]

Wow -- this is a great resource! Thanks for taking the time to put it all together! :-)

[Maryan]

Wow! This is quite the carnival! I'll have fun spreading out my visiting over a couple of days worth of naptimes!! Thanks Meredith!! And Happy Birthday to Sean-Paul!!

[Cheryl]

This looks wonderful, Meredith. Thank you for putting this together.

[Shawna]

Meredith, bravo. What a treasure this is. I've read each and every post, and I am inspired!! And I am encouraged to know that others share and understand the joys and challenges of homeschooling and toddlers. It is great to have company on this journey! Happy birthday to your precious one, and thanks again. This has been fun.

[Alice Gunther]

So very, very beautiful, Meredith!

And God bless your sweet little one on his second birthday!

[klh]

Is this carnival an on-going thing?