Toddler Talk Thursday

  First off, I was featured last week, hooray! And yes, I will definitely work on getting myself a cute little button. As I've said before, I am a bit technologically challenged!  But I've been wanting one.  I just need to find an hour or so without grubby little fingers "helping" mommy type, and demanding to watch online episodes of the "amnimals and baaa"  (shaun the sheep)    Thanks so much for spotlighting me, made my morning!!!  This week's topic is music, and unfortunately I don't have any cute videos or pictures of the peanut dancing.  I really wish I did, because it's super cute when she does it. Problem is she's notoriously camera shy when she's dancing.  I'm not sure why.  She might get it from me.  I may or may not have spent last night watching the CMA music fest and dancing around my living room while my husband watched a movie in the front room.  (If you really get into it, it totally counts as exercise!)  But there is almost always music going in our little apartment.  Most of the time, I just make her listen to my music because I'm selfish that way.  Also, she doesn't care about the words so much yet, unless there's a really catchy repetitive chorus.  (like a lalala kind of thing, then she will sing along)  Some of her favorites include:EisleyAll American RejectsRascal FlatsPostal Serviceand Guster 

I do happen to have a husband who is very musically talented, and comes from a musically talented family.  He plays guitar, violin and the drums (if pressed).  Sometimes he will pick up the guitar and sing for us a little on Sunday mornings, and Emma likes to "help" daddy play the guitar by plucking at strings while he plays.  I really hope she gets his musical genes because despite my name (Melody) I don't have a musical gene in my body (or family tree-sorry guys!)

Below is a picture of her clearly enjoying some guitar time with her "bappa" my FIL

 

She has also been "singing" to herself a lot lately (which is beyond adorable!) I catch her doing it a lot when she is laying in bed.  She sings herself to sleep at night, and if she has had a good night's sleep, she'll sing to herself in the morning before I go in to get her up.
If you'd like to join us (and I'd reccomend it!) you can head on over to Crazy about my baybah,  Family and Life in Las Vegas or The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom

Toddler Talk Thursday Week Five!

Today's TTT is about TV / Movies

I have talked about this before on this blog, but I personally do not see any harm in letting the Peanut watch TV.  Of course I would never just plop her down in front of the TV and let her watch all day long, but a show or two a day is not going to do anything negative to her development.   In fact, I have noticed a positive effect, in that her vocabulary has increased from watching children's programming.   You may be rolling your eyes, but it's true.   I catch her parroting words from shows all the time.  For example, on Sesame Street when they do the letter of the day, she often will repeat it with them, same thing with words they emphasize. 

Most of the time, I try to make the shows as interactive an experience as possible. I ask her questions about what is going on, and what she thinks the characters will do next.  It is also just a good excuse to get some great snuggling time in, as sometimes that is the only way I can get her to sit still for a few minutes!

Her all time favorite show is Curious George.  I'm really not sure why, except that she is really into naming animals at the moment, and there are usually plenty of opportunities for that in this show.  But she gets ridiculously excited if I let her this show in the morning (there is a little happy dance, clapping and a "hooway Geowge!" involved)  A few months back we took her to see the Curious George exhibit at the Children's Musuem in Boston and it was a big hit! 

Emma hugging her favorite character "Geowge" at the Children's Musuem in Boston

Another favorite of hers from Peep- this was a super fun exhibit, highly recommended!

Another favorite of hers is the Peep & the Big Wide World show, also on PBS.   Something about the big blobs of color (that represent different birds) must be really appealing to the toddler mind.  Plus the fact that the shows are so short and the storylines so simple is also appealing to both mom and Peanut.

And a third show that we just discovered online this weekend is "Shaun the Sheep".  If you are the type of person that enjoys Wallace and Gromit, you will love Shaun the Sheep.  It is by the same person, and it is one of those shows that both kids and parents can really enjoy watching together.  Each episode is only 20 minutes long, and each episode contains three shorter episodes, so the plots are super simple and short and you can choose how many you want your child to watch.   This show is accompanied by tons of giggling, and lots of animal noises and excited gesturing in our house.  Although I will warn you that the theme song is waaay too catchy.  It has no business being that catchy.  It is turning me into that weird lady humming "Life's a treat with Shaun the Sheep" in the grocery store.

As for movies, we're all about Dreamworks and Pixar over here.  But I also throw in some Veggietales, classic Winnie the Pooh, and Christmas shows.  Movies once or twice a week is ok with me.  I make a big deal about letting her choose which one she wants to watch, and then we get a special snack (usually some popcorn or fishies) and we snuggle in together.  This lasts about ten-twenty minutes and then we're on the floor playing blocks or reading books, and once in a while remembering that there is a movie on (at the exciting parts)

So that's what we've been watching over here, what are your kids favorites?  Feel free to link up with us each week and let us know what your toddlers been up to! (and maybe get some great tips and ideas from other mommies going through the same stages you are!)  You can link up at any of the three lovely hosts blogs:
Family and life in lv   Crazy about my Baybah or Sippy cup mom