By: Naomi Tripi

http://tripibabytips.blogspot.com

Now that your baby is entering the world of the big kids, it’s time to have some fun! Not that there wasn’t a great deal of fun to be had watching your baby suck on her own feet, but now that she’s starting to walk, talk and interact more, you can play too! Many games will spring up naturally between you and your little pal, but sometimes it helps to get an idea or two for new games to try.

1. Chase me!
This is the “Monopoly” of toddler games. You can play one-on-one or with a lot of friends, it can go on for a very long time, and depending on who you’re playing with the rules might be slightly different. Basically, you either let your toddler get a little ways ahead of you, and then make a big deal about how you’re going to catch him, or you can run away very slowly, shrieking about how scared you are that your toddler is going to get you. Whenever anyone gets “caught” kisses, hugs and tickling are the result.

2. Funny face.
This is a great one for a quiet Saturday when you just want to sit with your little jitter bug on the couch. How it works is, you hold her on your lap facing you. Then you poke your cheek and make your eyes cross as if there were a button in your cheek that made you cross your eyes. Then when she pokes your cheek you do it again. You can also touch your nose and stick out your tongue, pinch your chin and wiggle your eyebrows, or any other variation you might think of. This gets really fun when you bring in a mirror and watch your sweet little clown-bottom try some funny faces of her own.

3. Where did you go?
This is a good toddler game to play if you have missed the gym and need a workout. What you do is sit on the floor, and wait for your toddler to walk behind you. Then you make a big show of looking for him while purposefully missing where he is over and over. As your toddler tries harder and harder to show you where he is, you can actually pick him up to look under him. Then toss him onto your shoulder and lumber around the room turning quickly from side to side when you hear him laugh, saying “I know your around here somewhere, I can hear you laughing!” When you are out of breath, you can find your toddler again and tumble to the floor expressing to him how much you missed him and showering him with kisses and tickles.

4. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… BLAST OFF!
This is also a good exercise game. This one is excellent for little climbers. In this game, you sit slightly forward on a chair, with a good sized space between you and the back of the chair. Then you encourage your little jaguar to climb up. As soon as she gets right behind you, reach back and get a good hold of her then start the count down. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… BLAST OFF!! At which point you jump up and run around the room, giving your little astronaut a good bumpy piggy-back space ship ride, complete with the best sound effects you can produce. Dump her in a pile of pillows and cushions, or carefully on the couch, then return to your chair. Try to act like you don’t know why she is laughing and climbing up behind you again until she gets all the way up, then repeat the flight around the room.

5. Wrong words.
This is one of my son’s favorites. When he brings me a book that I have read a hundred times and I need to spice it up a little for my own sanity, this game comes in real handy. It’s pretty simple, You start reading the book, but when you come to certain pivotal moments in the storyline, you say the wrong word instead of the one on the page. Most likely your little smarty pants will correct you on your “mistake”. If he doesn’t, you can pretend to try to correct yourself, substituting sillier and sillier words for the one you got wrong until your toddler either corrects you or turns the page. Then you can continue to make mistakes on the next page. If my son isn’t enjoying the game when I substitute funny words, I will often change my strategy to substituting funny sounds. Sounds which toddlers find particularly funny are squishy sounds, ding-dong’s, woo-woo-woo’s and “stinky” sounds.

It is amazing how quickly playing a game with your toddler can transform a dull or frustrating afternoon into a fun and special bonding time for you both. It can seem like it would be hard to shift gears from grouchy and grumpy into giggles and grins, but it happens very easily when I hear my little guy laugh. I hope you find these tips helpful. Please forward them to any parents of toddlers you know who might also like them, and as always, questions and comments are welcome. Happy parenting!

Born In The Internet Age brought to you by TheOnlineMom.com

If your child was born in the 21st century, the things that make up her everyday life are markedly different from the things you grew up with. The phone is no longer tethered to a wall, but can be carried all over the house, or all over town. And it’s no longer just for talking, but for sending text messages and photos, playing games and surfing the Web. The television is often not a big black box, but a movie-like screen on the wall – or a handheld device downloaded with favorite shows. And chances are that the “home” computer, as we know it now, simply did not exist when you were young.

While many of these devices primarily are tools for adults, young children – perhaps picking up on the entertainment value – view them more as sophisticated toys. Which perhaps isn’t a bad thing: It fosters a comfort level that many adults never achieve. (Remember how many people had 12:00 perpetually blinking on their VCRs?)

Double-edged sword?

All those gadgets – with their fast-paced streams of information and their innate portability – have become ingrained in our, and our children’s lives. Some say a little too ingrained: a 2006 Kaiser Family Foundation report estimated that children age 6 and younger spend an average of two hours each day with screen media – computers, TV and video. That level of exposure can have a profound effect on a child’s development. Some education experts believe the rapid-fire images of visual media impair the ability to develop a mature attention span – which certainly would have serious ramifications throughout the learning years. Other studies link screen time with childhood obesity.

That’s something to give one pause. Especially if, like many parents, one recognizes the potential educational benefits of visual media. Studies have indicated that children as young as 3 or 4 can be taught to use computers correctly, and can benefit from the experience. Partner sites to trusted resources, such as PBSKids.org, can introduce the Internet to children in a familiar context. Some educators and affiliated groups, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children, note how technology can improve cognitive and relational skills.

At home and on the go

Not only are computers and such part of the home lives of our children, they are increasingly part of life away from home. The laptop – with either a wireless modem or built-in DVD player – lets us bring the Internet or entertainment on the road. Our children don’t understand the concept of waiting to get home to use the phone – it comes with us. And video games – which we parents played on a home television or – gasp! – at an arcade – are portable enough to tuck into a backpack or hoodie pocket. And as wireless devices offer more connectivity, chances are that exposure will increase, across all age ranges.

What we should understand, from our own experience of growing up with the hot new things of our youth, is that technology doesn’t go away. It’s our responsibility to manage our children’s use of tech devices. Some tips:

• The computer is a tool; learn how to use it - and teach your children to use it – to your and their benefit. Read comments from the National Association for the Education of Young Children here.
• Set limits on computer, television and video game use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one or two hours a day.
• Teach the value of patience. Think about your own use of cell phones and other wireless devices: What example are you setting?
• Resist peer pressure: Your kindergartner may want a Nintendo DS, but does he need one now? Not to mention the pain of losing $130, should Junior lose or break it. It’s OK to wait.
• Stay a step ahead: Keep current on gadgets and technology, so that you stay more informed than your children. Cnet is a good resource for reviews and other information on all things tech.