Born to be social?

    This little baby is working hard to keep her eyes on Mom and share smiles with her.  Baby doesn't quite have control of her head and body so she often loses eye contact.  You can see her work hard to get it back.  With this kind of encouragement from Mom, baby will soon be ready to start "talking" to Mom as well.

Coping with toddler overload at Christmas

     This little guy has a bad case of Christmas overload.  His family does a nice job of trying to show him that he has more presents without pushing him to open them.  He just can't get himself together, but a cuddle with Mom might help him settle down while the rest of the family opens their  presents.

Proud Daddy

      The best thing about this video is the way that Dad sounds. He is so proud and excited about his baby learning to walk. Really little kids can understand the feelings that Dad has even if they don't understand all the words.. Hearing Dad sound so proud helps kids want to learn and do more.

How many holiday presents does a baby need?

    This little guy is having a good time!  Does he care about what is in the present?  Maybe, maybe not.  Kids this age want to explore the ribbons, the wrapping paper, the box, and then maybe the present.  Many babies might enjoy opening two or three presents, but that is about all they need to have a good time.

Early Roller

You just want to help this baby, but it is best to let baby try on their own. Learning to roll over is hard work. It happens early if baby is given lots of space and time to learn. Good parents both keep baby safe and give them lots of opportunities to play on the floor.

Help me, Mama

     One of the big questions for parents is when to help and when to let the kid try or struggle to do it themself.  This mom does a great job of  lettting her little guy know that he can try more on his own, but that she will help him if he needs it.

Taking the baby to the grocery store

     This family has clean and secure way for the baby to sit in the cart. Dad is keeping a good eye on the baby. Baby is VERY interested in getting a package out of the cart and is finally able to do it. Letting him try entertained him for quite a while. Wonder how they will handle the tantrum that might happen when Dad takes the package away.

Good game: Where is baby?

This baby and Dad are good at this game!  Baby knows how to work to pull the towel off to see Dad.  Dad uses expression to let baby know what is happening.  Dad puts enough towel up so that baby has to do something to get out, but not so much that is it scary or hard.  It is a fun time for both.

What if we all cried?

 Three tired little kids, too tired probably.  What should Mom and Dad do?  Cry too?  This Dad sounds very calm and the camera seems to get the kids attention on something else.  This probably won't work the next time. He will have to think of another calming distraction.  That is a tough challenge. Maybe stories or songs?

Giving Mommy kisses

Learning to share affection is important.  Mom and baby are playing a fun game. Baby is learning to share kisses in a way that respects baby and Mom.

Learning to count: who has more patience?

 This Dad is working on counting. The little guy is more interested in naming. They are very patient with each other and find a way to work out their differences so they can have fun together.

Can you follow the lead of your toddler?

This toddler has found a fun game and wants to play some more.  Mommy is a good sport about going along with the game.  The best toy for a toddler is a grown-up who can play with  little kids and who can remember to take turns

Safe and secure in Daddy's arms

This dad has the touch.  He can do the baby "rock".  Baby is safe, secure and happy. Dad looks happy too!

How to play "3 little pigs"

What a great game these two are playing.  She is learning to wait, take turns, tell a story and have fun with Dad.

Play, exercise or a physics lesson?

Wow, look at him go!  He is having fun playing.  He is getting his exercise.  He is learning a lot about about how hard he needs to push the car, what direction it will go and what will happen next. Wonder if Mom or Dad taught him the game or if he figured it out himself?

Big enough to help

This Mom and Dad are teaching this little guy to help out.  It is hard work for him to lift the milk, but he can do it.  They show him where to put the milk, but don't help him.  They are very patient, as they could have done it themselves in half the time.  Their patience and coaching will pay off as the little guy learns to stick with his chores or a job.

Would you like it if someone washed your face?

Having the face washed or the nose wiped isn't something that most babies enjoy.  When it is done gently and calmly, it goes better, but  it just has to be done.

The art of reading to a toddler

 This Dad is really good at reading to a wiggling kid. He can read, ask questions, and keep hold of the kid all at the same time. Once the story gets going, the kid settles down and gets interested. It looks like reading is a special time of day for both of the them. 

You'll have to follow the link to  http://youtu.be/dCdHTChPe1M  Reading Elmo

Helping "big" brother like little sister

     This little guy is singing "itsy bitsy spider" to his new baby sister.  Mom has set it up so the baby is safe and included but big brother is getting the attention.  Mom is really good about both encouraging him and letting him decide when he is done with the game.  A good way to help build brother's good feelings toward the baby.

Can you understand her?

   This little girl is naming her toys.  Like many little kids, she knows what she is saying,  but most people couldn't understand her.  Good thing her Mom can.  Mom does a good job of saying the names back to her.  As the little girl hears the names and  gets more practice talking, more people will be able to understand her.

Playing with cars

Playing with cars with Dad is a quick and easy game.  The fun part for this kid is having Dad push the car to him.  Dad can help him learn about things like fast and slow.  Maybe later, he will learn to push the car back to Dad.

Missing Mommy

This little girl misses her mommy.  Is mommy in the hospital because she just had a new baby?  Mom does a really nice job of letting the little girl know that her mom wants to be with her!  Mom helps the little girl change her focus from missing Mom to thinking about what she will bring to Mom.  This seems to really help her settle down.  Bet they were both really happy to see each other. 

Spinning with Daddy

This Dad has a great method of playing with his young baby.  He holds her steady, he lets her know when the spin is going to start, he goes pretty slow,  he just goes around once and he checks to see if she likes it before he goes around again.  She can trust him which makes it more fun for both of them! 

"Playing" drums

This little girl is using things she found to "play" drums. She has a very good idea of how drums are really played.  Mom does a good job of watching and talking to her without telling her what else she might do or how to be a better drummer.

1 way to entertain a 1 month old

This dad has found a way to entertain his baby.  She might not be able to play for very long, but she seems to really like looking at daddy, hearing the music he makes and feeling what he is doing with her feet.

"want my helmet off"

This little guy isn't so wild about his bike helmet. Dad does a good job of simply telling him why he has to wear the helmet.  No arguing, no negotiating, just "so you stay safe".

Baseball- learning skills, words and ideas

 While this little guy seems to have been learning about how to hit a baseball, he is also learning words for ideas like "home run" and actions like "home run".  Mom is playing in a way that lets both she and the little guy have fun instead of pressuring him to do hit it exactly "right".

Water play-fun and safe

Wild play in the water, kids love it.  This mom shows a good way to make it exciting but keep it safe and at the level of the kid.  She tosses her daughter a little bit high, but never out of her reach.  Both Mom and the the girl are confident that Mom will always be there to catch her which makes it more fun.

Playing blocks- full family involvement

This  family is teaching the little guy to knock down a tower of  blocks.  The whole family is involved in some way.  He figures it out fast, so maybe they will move on to teaching him to build.  It looks like he'd like to try that too.
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Learning to count takes time

This little guy is learning to count in 2 languages.  One concept, 2 ways to say it.  Dad seems happy to spend the extra time to help him learn both ways. What a great plus for the kid to be able to know both.

Brother teaches little sister

These kids are playing hopscotch. He is teaching her the basics.  Little kids can learn a lot if the older kids don't expect the little ones to be perfect on the first try or more.  Older kids learn how to teach from the way that you teach them.  This brother has had a good teacher in Mom and Dad!
 

Copy Cats

This video is from PBS and Parenting Counts.  What are your kids picking up from you?  Mostly great things, I think.

Tasty? Maybe?

    This little guy seems to know how to eat from a spoon.  Maybe this is a new taste or texture for him. 
He really reacts on the first bite.  Mom doesn't make a big deal about.  By the third bite, it seems like he is getting used to the stuff.  By the fourth bite he might even like it.

Not showing off

Mom is trying to get this little girl to show what she knows.  The girl has other ideas. Mom does a good job of changing the song.  You can see that the girl knows some of the motions for each of them but doesn't wan to play the game..  Mom stops filming when the kid isn't interested, instead of pushing her to do more.  Good job, Mom! 

Where's the baby?

A good game to play with little ones when you are too tired to do much else.

Maybe time to potty train?

I agree with the title of this video!  It seems like she has full understanding of her own need to go and the process of using the toilet. Time for bye-bye to the convenience of diapers-Hello big girl who goes in and uses the potty .

Splash

Splash,splash, splash. This little guy wouldn't even need the toys. Splashing in the pool seems like it will keep him happy until most of the water is gone.  Maybe Mom or Dad can show him how the toys make a splash later when he is interested in them.

Beach Play- Just right

      Dad has buried his little guy in the sand. This sort of thing could be scary for the kid, but this Dad does it just right.  The kid's arms are free, the sand is swallow, and the minute the kid asks for help to get out, Dad helps. Family fun at the beach for all.

Toddler has issue with working at home

    This little guy knows Mom or Dad is in there.  He is frustrated because they won't come out.  They are frustrated by the crying while trying to work.  How to solve the problem? Only work when he's asleep? Send him to daycare for part of the day? Special toys to play with only when someone works?  Have somebody else watch him during work time?  Other ideas?

Going to the park

      This family is on the way to the playground.  At first the little girl seems unsure about walking that far through the park.  Dad makes it fun to keep on going.  She learns that she can cover the distance without being carried and she is on her way to more fun!

Where is your nose? What does a kitty say?

This Dad and Mom have helped their  little girl learn lots. She likes showing off how much she knows.  Mom and Dad just go on if there is a question she doesn't answer.  It seems like they all have fun with learning.  

Toddler catches Daddy?

Chasing Daddy is fun.  She seems to like chasing him better than catching him.  Dad is good at adjusting the game to what she likes. 

Getting down the steps

First they learn to go up, then they need to learn to come down.  This little girl uses a method other than sliding down on her tummy.  She has mastered coming down safely, but Mom is nearby just in case something goes wrong!

Will he always be this slow?

Teaching babies to be safe on stairs takes patience. It is faster just to carry the kid up, but this mom and dad are doing it right by taking the time to let him  learn to do it himself.  Soon they will have trouble keeping up with him.

Stack up, knock down

Everybody is having fun. Grandma stacks the cones, Mom helps the baby balance, Baby gets to make something happen and get lots of positive attention for it.

Roll the ball

Being on his tummy is more fun when he has something else to do. This little guy is learning about how he can move and getting some early sports training.  Mom is very patient. She just talks to him and lets him figure it out on his own.

Learning to share

This Dad is helping his little guy learn the basics of taking turns and sharing.  You might not want to try this

Toddler-Puppy Challenges

       The girl and the puppies are both so little.  How do you  teach her to get along with them? This little girl does a pretty good job of being gentle when one puppy gets her foot and one her face. She wants to crawl in the bed with Mama Dog, but minds when told not to. Her Mama does a good job of telling her what she should do- "Back up". Mama is really helping her learn lots!

v2 babysitting, bonding or goofing off?

Babysitting, bonding or goofing off? Which is going on here? This little guy seems to be having a good time. Dad can see, feel and hear what little guy is doing. Yet, the game isn't one for kids this age and Dad isn't really paying attention to the kid. I vote for goofing off. Sorry, Dad.

Puddle play

        These little girls are having fun! Mom is making it more  fun by helping them have words to talk about what they are doing!!

Will they sleep in a toddler bed?

This little girls family made her a nice, comfy, safe  place to sleep. She had other ideas.  Since she is fast asleep they just let her be.  Maybe tomorrow night she will choose differently.

 This little guy  is quite the acrobat! Some kids climb out of cribs. Is it because we don't get there quick enough or because they are determined to get what they want? These parents have done things right, there is nothing in the crib for him  to use to help him get out, like toys to stand on. Should they just teach him to climb out safely or move him to a toddler bed?

Putting baby to sleep. Who's in charge?

Today it is a game that baby doesn't want to go down for a nap.. Tomorrow night it might be a nightmare.  This Mom and Dad have a few things to work out with this smart baby!   Hope they teach each other a good routine so that baby learns to settle himself  for happy dreams.

What can baby do? Put self to sleep

Mom has helped this baby learn to settle himself for sleep. Wonder how long it took for him to learn this and how she helps him get ready  to settle down?

Sleep, where will baby sleep?

In a dim room, this Dad settles his baby for the baby's first night a big crib in baby's own room.  It looks like things are all set up for a good nights sleep.  How does it go?  We don't know.  Some babies do just fine and others have a tough time making the change.

What can babies do? Sleep!

     This baby seems really comfortable taking a snooze while Dad works.  Some babies can sleep anywhere. Some seem never to sleep anywhere.  Figuring out your baby and finding sleep routines that work can mean lots of paying attention to the little cues that baby gives you. 

What can babies do? Sit-ups!

   This little girl understands the fun in the game!.  She can grab on to Mom's fingers  and pull up.  It is best to play this game on the couch or something soft, in case baby loses her grip.

What can babies do? Babies can tear paper!

Babies can play with paper. Baby fun is baby learning.  This baby is learning about how to use his hands to crumple, shred and rip! He is also learning about keeping his balance in sitting.  I think that he won't get to try to eat the paper. That is good.

Good clean fun for two's

   Teaming with an older brother or sister to help clean up is another way that little kids learn to help out. Just be sure to use kid-safe products.

Is she really helping Mom?

This girl wants to help out by bringing in the garbage can from the street. There are times when this doesn't feel like "help" because it takes soooooo long to let them do the project. If we can wait while they "work", kids learn a lot about both "helping" and get a sense of accomplishment that makes them want to try again.

Toddlers can learn to help

Letting toddlers dispose of diapers might seem kind of yucky, but toddlers can learn about helping take of themselves. This would be a good time to learn about hand washing too! It also looks like this little girl is learning about getting dressed, since Mom had all the clothes set out on the floor.

Too young to learn to help out?

This 2 year old knows exactly how to help out. He can get the laundry out and put in the basket. Dad encourages him but doesn't give him a lot of directions. Really young kids like to help out with these basic sorts of chores.

Stuck indoors w/ kids? 1 way to keep them busy

Weather have you stuck indoors with fussy kids? This Dad has found a good way to keep his kids busy. Both kids can play in their own way.

What is he telling us?

This little guy is really telling us a story. Wish we knew what it was about. He has got all the tones of real speech. Watching him, it looks like he is using his imagination and acting out the story.

Riding Horsey- Movin' up

This grandma shows a great way to play "Horsey" with a two year old. This seems to be the first time they've played. She is very careful with her movements and knows how to help the child learn to get down safely. Next time the kid will probably being saying " Giddy-up Grandma, faster, faster"

Toddlers like to play horsey too!

This is another way to play the game. It is a lot more work for the person being the horse! The amount of bouncing should be "just right" for the kid, meaning fun but not rough.

Older babies like to play horsey too!

This family has a different way to play the game that is good for older babies. Everyone has fun and everyone is safe.

Horsey: A good game for babies

This Dad is making the game "right" for the baby. Dad is holding on up high under the arms and doing very easy bounces. Baby can keep control of his head and have fun.

Eat it and wear it: Learning to feed self

This little guy can feed himself, but he sure is sssllloooowww. Good for mom and dad for giving him lots of time to learn to do it himself.

Can you hear yourself talking?

If she could say words, this little girl would be telling us what to do! Little kids copy what they see us do, and what they hear us say, right down to the tone of voice.

This Mom has done a good job of trying to get her little girl ready to give up the pacifier. Giving up something like the paci is a big deal in a little kids life. Planning ahead, explaining and getting the kid in on the action help make it easier for kids this age, even though there still might be a lot of crying when bedtime comes.

How do you decide when to move a kid out of a crib?

This little guy is very good at getting out of the crib. I don't think this is the first time he's done it. Is he ready to move to a regular bed? Is he safer in the crib when he is sleeping?

Bounce, Bounce Baby

These girls are using up some energy and having fun. No special equipment needed. Dad and Mom have set it up so they are safe.
Dad and Mom do a great job of including the older sister in the game, when she could have made problems because she felt left out.

NYR:: Only do things ourselves that we want our kids to copy

This little girl is copying someone. She shows that she has watched a lot of things that go on in the house. She is too little to totally understand cleaning, but she has a lot of the basic ideas. It is important for us to be aware of what we are doing so we are happy with our kids choose to copy.

New Years Resolution: Have fun teaching your toddler new things

This mom and dad are having fun and teaching their toddler. They are teaching the toddler to play catch. What else is going on? I see that they are teaching about taking turns and helping him think about what happens next. They are being careful to make the play "just right" so that their little guy is really has a equal part in the game. They show us a great way to end the play time.

New Years Resolution: Help your baby learn the basics

Baby basics are: sleeping, eating, learning that the important people in life are there for the baby, and learning to get those peoples attention. You can help your baby learn the basics by looking for the signs that they are tired, hungry, bored, mad, etc and doing something with the baby to meet their needs. Sounds so simple, but it can be so hard to figure out. Time, patience, and attention help. This Mom and baby seem to be getting the basics down.