The Infant Toddler Toolbox Alaina Nace-Meyer and Jen Addleman

Pretend play offers young children the opportunity to explore and develop their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Through imitation and imagination they build a deeper vocabulary, hone motor skills, and develop problem solving strategies. Listen as Jen and Alaina talk about all the benefits of pretend play and share strategies for caregivers to create spaces that support and enhance this emerging skill.


Resources:
https://www.patagonia.com/stories/why-is-unstructured-play-crucial/story-33448.html


https://www.scholastic.com/parents/kids-activities-and-printables/activities-for-kids/arts-and-craft-ideas/importance-pretend-play.html


https://www.pentagonplay.co.uk/news-and-info/why-pretend-play-is-important-to-child-development


http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/The-Land-of-Make-Believe.aspx​

Almost a year ago, Jen and Alaina recorded an episode about self-care. During a time of physical distancing and extra stress there is an increased need to focus on such an important topic. On this episode Jen and Alaina provide guidance on the importance of self care and a variety of ways to squeeze in things that good for caregivers at a time where the care of others is intensive.

Resources:
https://www.janetlansbury.com/2011/11/how-to-stop-entertaining-your-baby/?fbclid=IwAR3dS9bF6TJIbEBQa6lATxdCnryCy-CgiprXBxWtSyY-_A36EI7xrAmqtzc

https://www.janetlansbury.com/2019/07/how-to-create-a-yes-space-outdoors-when-you-dont-have-a-yard/

https://www.howwerie.com/rie-yes-space-a-safe-play-space-for-your-independent-baby/

https://avirtuouswoman.org/the-one-minute-rule-printable/?variant=12553824403517

https://childmind.org/article/self-care-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/

https://www.childcareexchange.com/surviving-to-thriving/?fbclid=IwAR3VHk4LAGmCNKzB4R2_ZgxMuWUgRHjUhzmGxDmx-xWwwZGmo7bWSbczi1c

The weather here is changing and families are able to spend more time outside. On this episode of The Infant Toddler Toolbox, Jen and and Alaina share some of their favorite ways to bring nature and art together. With specific instructions and recipes this episode will add some variety to your outdoor adventures rain or shine.

Resource for this Episode:

Rhythms of Play https://rhythmsofplay.com/

On this episode of The Infant Toddler Toolbox, Jen and Alaina talk about cooking with young children. Families are home together for all meals while we are social distancing. That means some sort of food prep is happening at home daily and there is no better way to involve children in the work of the family and build skills through play than by bringing them into the kitchen. Listen as Jen and Alaina discuss the benefits of cooking with children, where you can find inspiration for recipes, and some key tools to have on hand to make everyone's life a little easier in the process.


Some of the helpful resources for this episode are:

C is for Cooking Recipes from the Street by Susan McQuillan RD

NAEYC
https://families.naeyc.org/WOYC/children-learn-so-much-cooking

Simple Toddler Recipes
http://simpletoddlerrecipes.com/blog/40/20-valuable-benefits-of-cooking-with-toddlers

Kids Eat in Color

https://kidseatincolor.com/


Look to our Facebook page The Infant-Toddler Toolbox Podcast​ for recipes and cooking projects to follow

There are few activities that are more soothing and beneficial to our senses than digging in dirt. On this episode of The Infant Toddler Toolbox, Alaina and Jen discuss the benefits of gardening with young children as well as offer tips and tricks to creating a garden that is family friendly.

Resource:
https://kidsgardening.org/

Over the last 4 weeks we have experienced a collective shift as a community, a nation, and a world. As parents and educators we have begun to adjust to life either working from home or working as an essential employee and caring for our children full time in the process. This shift has also left many adults and their children without the aide of typical support structures like grandparents, teachers/ schools and other special others. This podcast aims to answer some of the ways we can support our children in understanding and processing all of the big emotions that come along with these kinds of shifts.