Georgena Bowmer

Information professional, passionate about literacy, loves travel.

[Cheryl Kernot @cheryl_kernot]

Needs constant repetition!

[vids that go hard @vidsthatgohard]

This is what happens when you don’t give your kid an iPad

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Is your toddler suddenly throwing (or dropping) everything they get their hands on?

Food, toys… you name it.

You’re not alone.

This week I’ve been introducing play schemas, 9 common patterns that can help to demystify your toddler’s seemingly random behaviors.

And you guessed it: this is one.

We call it the trajectory schema.

If you take nothing else away from this post, let it be this: your little one doesn’t throw things because they are misbehaving or “bad.”

Babies throw things because they are babies. 

And they are learning as they do so.

Learning about cause and effect. 

Learning about gravity.

Learning what (and practicing something new) they can do with their bodies.

Learning hand-eye coordination.

It’s a completely normal part of development. And the fascination won’t last forever.

The real question is, how do you manage it?

First, be proactive. Expect that anything your little one handles might reasonably be thrown or dropped.

So choose wisely, avoiding items that are valuable or might pose a danger to them or others if they suddenly took flight.

Second, depending on the age of your child, begin introducing some natural consequences.

Put the toy/object away temporarily after it is thrown (if throwing it is dangerous or inappropriate).

And involve your child in the subsequent clean-up.

You can also redirect. Explain which things are and are not for throwing. Model the correct use of these objects.

Finally, lean into it.

Recognizing that young children are drawn to throwing, provide items that are safe and acceptable to throw.

Soft toys. Socks. Balls. 

And look for opportunities and settings for your little one to explore this urge safely and appropriately.

How did you manage your toddler’s throwing phase? Welcome your tips and tricks!

This sweet little throwing machine was posted to TT by kristinnicole122.

[Heather Cooper @Coopshe1]

A must read: Librarians have good reasons to ‘weed’ books from their shelves. Why is book removal so controversial? https://t.co/Y7sZEaR7sD via @ConversationEDU

[Kate McClymont @Kate_McClymont]

Such a poignant piece by @bairdjulia: There’s no warning when you do something wonderful for the last time, so here’s what I do https://t.co/5juZOooneL

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Am I reading with my baby too soon?

(Spoiler alert: No. Never.)

A parent recently reached out with this very question, noting that her infant often seems more focused on her during reading time than on the books themselves. Perhaps she was just introducing them too early?

In reality, it’s never too early.

But it’s also important to realize that, in the earliest months of life, the goal of reading isn’t about your child attending to the text - or even to the illustrations.

Reading with your infant is a social activity.

It is an opportunity for bonding.

It’s an opportunity to expose your little one to rich and varied vocabulary.

If your baby spends the whole time looking at you, that’s just fine. In fact, it’s beneficial.

As you read, your baby is attuned to the way your mouth is making all these amazing sounds.

Watch this little one closely.

Her eyes rarely leave big brother’s face. I can’t say with certainty that she even glances at the book itself.

But we’d be hard pressed to suggest she isn’t eating the experience up!

She knows from repeated readings that this particular book (“Moo, Baa, La-la-la!” by
@SandyBoynton - who is, BTW, the patron saint of board books) is filled with new and unusual sounds - which she anticipates (and delights in) on every page.

In time she’ll begin attuning to the book. To how its pages work. To its colorful illustrations. And eventually to the strange marks on the page that seem to hold meaning.

But for now, savoring the experience with her brother is plenty. And hugely beneficial to her developing brain.

It’s never too early.

This literate brother-sister duo was shared to TT by nguyetanhbuu.

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

As a parent, lap reading is a joy. It’s a chance to cuddle your little one, while exposing them to rich vocabulary, concepts of print, and the wonder of books.

When it comes to infants, however, lap reading can deprive babies of their favorite (and most important) sight: YOU.

Which is why you might want to explore face-to-face reading as well. (With your baby facing toward you and the book simultaneously as depicted in the photo in the first reply below.)

Developmentally, there are multiple benefits to allowing your baby to see you as you read together.

Your little one is an expert at “reading” your face. This posture allows your baby to track your eyes to discover what you’re tuning in to. It also allows them to watch your mouth and learn how you’re making the words and sounds that accompany the pictures.

This clever little one illustrates the case beautifully, creating a face-to-face experience of her own.

Watch as our hero divides her attention between the book (and her important page turning responsibility!) and dad’s face - which she swivels her head to admire with equal (if not greater) interest.

Kudos to dad, as well, as he balances book time and face time with his daughter - taking time to honor her interest in connection and observation.

The logistics can obviously be a little trickier (consider reading face-to-face as your partner holds baby in their lap as one potential solution) - but the benefits are well worth the effort.

Face-to-face reading for the win!

This adorable father-daughter duo was shared to IG by mylittlemissameliaa.

[The Smith Family @SmithFamily_org]

Brooke Boney's message of support and encouragement to the students we work with. A big thank you to her for sharing her education journey as she heads off to Oxford University. Find out more about how we help children get the most out of the education at https://t.co/GHLfZ42UAn

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Looking for a fantastic, low cost way to light up your toddler’s brain?

You can’t go wrong with bubbles. 🫧

As simple it may seem, bubble play promotes a whole host of developmental benefits.

Let’s unpack just a few on display in this video.

First, blowing bubbles promotes the development of oral motor skills. In order to produce them, we must coordinate the muscles of the mouth, jaw, tongue, lips and cheeks. If you’ve ever tried this with a toddler, you know that the action of blowing - particularly with precision and directionality- is one developed only with time and practice.

As the bubbles leave the wand, take careful note of our hero’s eyes. He stays perfectly still for just a moment, visually tracking both his success and the movement of the individual bubbles.

Then comes the fun part, chasing and popping each one.

This entails the precise activation of both his gross (large muscles) and fine motor (small muscles) systems.

After walking forward to the vicinity of the floating bubbles, watch how he then relies on his developing hand-eye coordination to touch and pop each one. This is a particularly complex task, as each remains in motion.

Finally, the act of popping each activates the body’s tactile sense. The bubbles are wet and slippery - information transmitted through the skin to the brain, providing information about both the texture of the liquid residue and where on his skin it has landed.

For the brain, the whole activity is quite a feast - and costs literal pennies.

This little bubble master was shared to TT by kayleigh.gray.2020

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Can you cuddle your baby too much?

The short answer is no.

You might have heard guidance that being too responsive to your baby will spoil them.

But that’s really not the case in infancy. Indeed, being responsive to your baby’s desire for comfort is an important part of bonding and attachment.

When you respond attentively to your infant’s cues it helps to create trust, love, and a sense of safety - all cornerstones of longterm mental health and wellbeing.

Don’t forget that your baby has just spent 9 months in close quarters, surrounded by gentle pressure in utero.

It’s little wonder then that they find skin to skin contact and cuddles such a great source of comfort.

No parent can be fully responsive 24-7, of course, so be kind to yourself.

But infancy definitely isn’t the time to skimp on the affection your baby craves for fear of spoiling.

Love them up.

This cuddly pair was shared to IG by cute_baby_reels_12.

[Jimmy Barnes @JimmyBarnes]

It’s always special when you sit down for a meal with a friend. The best chats I’ve had are over a dessert. Retweet our recipe, and $5 will go to @blackdoginst.

#plateforamate #theblackdoginstitute @jane13barnes

[Nature is Amazing ☘️ @AMAZlNGNATURE]

Please enjoy these ducks changing their minds.

[ALIA Students and New Graduates Group @ALIANewGrads]

State Library Victoria named one of the top libraries in the world https://t.co/Kgm4tHi8xy

[ABC News @abcnews]

Reading to dogs at school is helping students improve their literacy and confidence — and giving some a reason to turn up. https://t.co/aTQziHNVKi

[Adam Grant @AdamMGrant]

A new reason to work out in the morning: it builds confidence to overcome obstacles.

On days when people exercise before work, they’re more engaged and less exhausted. They see tasks as challenges to conquer rather than threats to avoid.

Early wins boost energy and efficacy.

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Let’s talk about language-rich environments.

One of the determining factors in both the speed at which your child develops language and the size of his/her early vocabulary is exposure to (direct & interactive) caregiver speech.

Even before your baby is using language conventionally, he/she is soaking up all of yours. (And I do mean ALL… keep it G-rated.)

One way to support your baby’s language/brain development is to narrate your life together. (Engage your child by talking about the steps you’re taking as you fold the laundry, for example. Or describe what you’ve received as you sort through the mail.)

This grandpa gets a gold star here - not only narrating, but turning the simple act of rolling a ball back and forth into a thrilling TV sports play-by-play that includes the baby’s name and actions over and over.

What a lucky little guy to be so immersed in language. He’ll be better off for it… just you wait and see!

What strategies have you used to ensure your child is surrounded by interactive talk?

🎥 Kesler.Brian IG

[Dr. Nicole LePera @Theholisticpsyc]

Sensitivity is a gift. To still be able to feel is something to be celebrated. Being sentimental is a gift. To be moved over things most people don’t even notice, is a rare trait.

[Sahil Bloom @SahilBloom]

Whenever I catch myself rushing through life, I think about how much I’ll miss these moments in the future.

How many more times will I go for a walk with my parents?

How many more times will my son crawl all over us in bed?

Slow down—you’re gonna miss this.