Month: February 2020

Teaching your child to ride a scooter or bicycle

Posted on by amelioadmin

Kids grow up fast! Barely have they discovered their feet and started walking, that they are clamoring after bicycles and scooters. Before you know it they are wakeboarding and rollerblading. But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. At around 3-4 years old, your little one will start showing interest in using a bicycle or scooter, especially if they see other kids riding them. This is actually a good age to get them started since their balance, motor skills and hand-eye-coordination have developed sufficiently.

We’ve put together some points for you to keep in mind while you’re teaching your child how to use a bicycle or scooter.

Find the right size

Physical size isn’t an indicator of whether your child is ready to learn. They need to develop the motor skills and dexterity for it. Some kids might be ready at age 2, some only by age 5 – that’s okay! Whatever their age, when you are picking a scooter or bicycle make sure it’s the right size for them.

  • When your child is seated on the bicycle their feet should be able to touch the ground without bending the knee.
  • When it comes to a scooter keep in mind the weight limit of the model. Pick one that can safely support your child’s weight.
  • Whether a scooter or a bike, your child should be able to grip the handlebar comfortably. 

Safety first

Make your child aware of the importance of safety while using a bicycle or scooter. A helmet is a must! So pick one that fits their head securely and can be strapped under their chin. When it comes to scooters, knee and elbow pads might be a good idea as well, to protect your child if they fall. Wearing properly fastened footwear is very important.

Initially, let your child learn to bike or scooter indoors or within the house compound. When they are surer of themselves and have had enough practice they will want to venture out. Let them know which parts of the neighbourhood they are allowed to ride in, and to always stay on the sides of the roads.

Keep things fun

While your child is learning to ride a scooter or bike try not to push them. Some kids learn in days, some in weeks! Let the process be fun and encouraging. If your child isn’t ready to take off the training wheels, don’t shame them into doing so. They will in their own time as they build confidence.

Remember, your child might have a fall or two during the learning process. Offer comfort and once they are okay, encourage them to get back on and try again.

If your little one is getting stressed and not finding the learning process enjoyable, take a break or have someone else teach them. Keep in mind that your child has to not only be physically ready but also emotionally ready to learn to ride a bike or scooter.

Maintenance and responsibility 

Like most vehicles, bikes and scooters have to be maintained as well. Teach your child to take responsibility for keeping their equipment clean and in good working condition.

Have them wipe down the bicycle or scooter with a damp cloth, give them a brush to clean the wheels. Show them how to use oil or lubricant to keep it running smoothly. Most importantly, brakes need to be checked from time-to-time. You can start teaching them these things from an early age so that they learn to take care of things that belong to them.

Children need to enjoy the outdoors and get plenty of physical exercise. Riding a bicycle or a scooter is a fun way to do both. This is also an activity that they can do with their friends and explore their surroundings in the process as well. So, help your little one enjoy using a bicycle or scooter and once they’ve got the hang of it, watch them go!

Sleep Like a Baby – Creating a bedtime routine for your young one

Posted on by amelioadmin

As a new parent you quickly learn that while babies do spend a fair amount of time sleeping, they also wake up often. For a period of time during the early weeks they might sleep all day and be awake all night. They go through sleep regressions in their first year. And during growth spurts your baby might wake up more often in the nights than usual for feeds.  All this will make you wonder who came up with the phrase, ‘Sleep like a baby’?

Did you know sleeping is a developmental milestone? Like how your baby learns to roll over, or walk, or is ready to be toilet trained, in time they sleep through the night as well.  Some babies may learn to do this earlier than others, but that’s nothing to worry about.

But no matter where your baby is in the whole sleeping through the night development, try to set a bedtime routine from day 1. Babies thrive on routine and it will soon become a habit they find comfort in.

Here’s how to go about setting a bedtime routine:

  • Keep the baby’s room cool and dark and comfortable during bedtime. 
  • Give baby a bath and massage pre-bedtime to relax them.
  • Make sure your baby has a feed before bedtime.
  • You could even read a book to your little one before settling them in for the night.

Even with all this your baby might still wake up multiple times in the night and that’s okay. But try to stick to the routine so that in time they develop good sleep habits.

Naps matter!

Babies nap a lot. As they grow older they will drop naps, and once they reach the age of 3 they might only be on one nap a day or no naps at all. You might think by reducing the number or duration of naps, your little one will sleep better and longer in the nights. This is not true!

Your baby needs sleep to grow and develop, so naptime routine is as important as bedtime routine. A baby that naps enough will sleep better at night. So make sure naptime isn’t interrupted or missed.

Toddler bedtime routine

By the age of 2.5 years your child will be sleeping through the night but this is also the time they start play school, which can throw their sleep routine off a bit. They might drop their afternoon nap or be more exhausted by the end of the day due to all the physical and mental exertion at school and other activities.

At this stage, more than ever, it is important your child goes to bed on time and gets a good night’s rest. After dinner and some play time watch your child for sleep cues and accordingly set bedtime. Let the time before bed be a calm one, this means no television at least half hour before, no sugary treats and no over stimulating activities.

Have them brush their teeth, drink water and use the loo before settling in for the night. Read them a story before bed, and turn on a nightlight if needed and allow your toddler to fall asleep by themselves.

As a parent of a toddler, stick to a routine and keep things simple. Set healthy bedtime habits so that your little one gets all the rest they need and are recharged for a new day.

Whether you are a new parent struggling with sleep deprivation thanks to a baby who wakes up often, or the parent of a toddler who is fighting bedtime, there’s a parenting mantra, ‘this too shall pass’. So, hang in there! When a baby wakes up often there’s usually a reason (anything from teething or reaching a developmental milestone). Keep to a routine and know that all kids eventually do learn to sleep through the night. I promise you!

Kid- friendly activities to celebrate the day of love

Posted on by amelioadmin

February 14th is just around the corner. And you know what that means– Valentine’s Day! This day celebrates love and affection in all its forms. So, why not get the kids involved? From heart-shaped cards to creative crafts check out these list of activities to keep your little ones entertained as we approach the day of love.

  • Heart-shaped cards are a staple when it comes to Valentine’s Day, but you can get your kids to up their card making game. Try this heart symmetry painting, cut a piece of chart paper into the shape of a heart, fold it in half and then open it. Have your child add splotches of different coloured paints on one side and fold the card again and press. Open to see a one-of-a-kind artwork that doubles as a card. 
  • You know how kids love to collect rocks and pebbles, combine that with Valentine’s Day for this next activity. Have your little one go out and pick some smooth rocks, wash them clean, and allow them to dry. Apply glue on the rock in the shape of hearts, stars, etc. Have your child apply glitter or sequins in different colours where the glue is and shake of the excess to create a sparkly shape on the rock. You could also cut out fabric in the shape of hearts and have them stick it on the rock, this is a great way to upcycle old clothes and create something special. 
  • Valentine’s Day calls for sweet treats. So why not bake something with your kids. Heart shaped cookies are a great idea. Your child can help you make the cookies and also decorate it with everything from colored sprinkles to pink and red icing.  Another idea is to get heart shaped molds and make chocolates together, check out this easy recipe. Place the chocolates in little pouches and tie a ribbon around it to gift to loved ones.
  • Here comes the sun, why not make a Valentine’s Day inspired sun catcher with your child. All you need is a clear cellophane sheet, coloured cellophane, coloured chart paper and the craft must-haves glitter, sequins and glue. Cut out the outline of a heart on the chart paper and stick it on the clear sheet and remove the excess clear sheet to make a transparent heart. Cut out smaller hearts out of the coloured cellophane. Let your child stick the cutouts on the transparent heart and sprinkle glitter and sequins here and there. Place the finished product against the window and you have yourselves a sun catcher.
  • Check out these heart-shaped bookmarks. This is basic origami and you can use red or pink chart paper (maybe, even newspaper) and make a few. Gather some sketch pens, stickers, glue, sequins etc and have your little ones decorate the bookmarks. Finally, help them write little messages on it for their friends or loved ones. 

Not only are all of the activities mentioned above fun and interactive for the entire family, your little one can hand out the final products to loved ones on Valentine’s Day to show them their love and appreciation.

Imaginary Play – What To expect And When To Keep An Eye Out

Posted on by amelioadmin

One of the amazing things about being a parent is watching your child develop their imagination and start to interact with the world around them. This starts in toddlerhood and is such a special time.

Your little one, who is just finding their feet, will pick up a building block, hold it to their ear and try to imitate you on the phone.  At around 2-years-old you might catch your child putting their doll to sleep, or feeding it from a bottle. And by age 3-4 years-old get ready for pretend tea parties, make-believe battles, role-playing scenarios with dolls and figurines. An imaginary friend might even make an appearance—this is all completely normal!

Pretend or imaginary play is a part of your child growing up. It’s vital for their development and they learn a lot of awesome things from imaginary play—language, problem solving, handling emotions and social situations.

 Here’s how!

  • Watch your child having a pretend tea party, you might find them using new phrases and words you didn’t even know they knew. They are constantly listening to everything happening around them and using the words they pick up. There might even be a situation being played out that they came across in real life—this form of pretend play will help them deal with and work it out.
  • Your child and their friends are dressed up and involved in imaginary play. Yes, they are having fun. Yes, they are playing. But your child is also learning to be in character, and knows that the world doesn’t revolve only around them. The kids while playing make-believe will learn to work together and take turns.
  • When your child is busy, for example, turning an empty cardboard box into a rocket ship, they are developing their problem solving and decision-making skills. Yes, you read right!  They’ll be deciding on what colour to paint it, figuring out where to put what, redesigning the piece of cardboard till it meets their exact specifications of what the rocket ship should look like.

The Imaginary Friend

There might come a time in your young child’s life, mostly between the ages of 3 and 11 years, where they will have an imaginary friend. There isn’t any real science behind why this happens and not all kids develop one. But, if your child does have an imaginary friend, please know that there is nothing to worry about.

As a matter of fact, having an imaginary friend allows your child to develop their imagination and creativity. In your young one’s head this ‘friend’ is very real and they have proper interactions with them. An imaginary friend can even be a source of comfort to your child.  Allowing them to better cope during a difficult or fearful situation.

When to take action

For your child, their imaginary friend is someone they see and talk to. So they might expect you to do things for the friend as well, such as make room on the sofa, or make an extra snack. Play along when possible. Ask them questions about the friend.

But there will be times when your little one might blame their fictional friend for a mess they’ve made, or needing to consult said friend before doing something. In these moments be strict, tell them they have to clean up the mess, or decide for themselves what they want.

While it’s very, very rare, sometimes pretend play can get out of hand. There can be unkind behavior, or blaming imaginary friend for manipulative behavior. Intervene in a calm manner, and make sure that your child knows that that behavior isn’t on. Otherwise just let your child enjoy playing and growing.

Finally, there’s a therapeutic element involved when your child is pretend playing or interacting with a fictional friend. Allow them to indulge in it. Ask your child questions and learn more about their thoughts and what they are feeling. You could also use your child’s pretend play and imaginary friends to teach them life lessons and explain real life situations. While your child enjoys this phase, you should too.