Help your 4 to 6-month-old learn to roll with the blanket wrap.

1. Position baby at one end of the blanket with his head above the edge of the blanket
2. Slowly roll your baby wrapping him up as you go
3. The roll the other way to unwrap him out of the blanket

If your baby is already crawling, he’s getting a lot of good experience with balance. Challenge him even more by having him crawl over pillows, folded up comforters, even sofa cushions. ​

After toddlers learn to walk well, they challenge themselves. Doesn’t it seem like they carrying things wherever they go? And they’re constantly bending down and picking things up. These guys can really balance. If your toddler is bending and carrying, challenge her balance a little bit more:

1. Make a balance beam with a board or tape a line to the floor
2. Have her step on an off a pillow, cushion or folded up comforter
3. If your toddler is ready, you can practice walking up and down the bottom step of the stairs or on and off a step stool (with you nearby)

Challenge your preschoolers balance by helping him:

1. Stand with his eyes closed and sing his favorite sone
2. Stand on one leg
3. Walk across the room on his tippy toes.
   
4. GAME: Place a bucket (container / basket / box) filled with items at one end of the room and an empty bucket at the other end of the room. Use a bord, the edge of a rug, or even a line of tape on the floor. Encourage your preschooler to walk on his tippy toes to the bucket. Pick out an item. Walk the line on the floor to the empty bucket and drop it in.
5. Obstacle course. Allow your child to design a balance obstacle course with squishy surfaces (pillows), balance beams, ramps and more! Be sure to check it out for safety before he begins the course and stand by if needed.

There’s a lot to balance these days. What things in your life are balancing just right today? Which things are close to toppling over? Is anything out of balance?

Take some time to take a breath, to prioritize, and figure out how to get everything in balance for today. In order to give balance to our kids, we need to find some for ourselves. Take the time you need to take care of yourself so you’ll be better able to take care of you child / children.

Remember the most important thing isn’t the blanket wraps or the obstacle course. The most important thing is that you are there for your child.
​
With love,
Angela

​Tips: Help your baby practice sitting by:

1. Cut a sturdy box in half diagonally, reinforce with packing tape or duct tape if needed. This gives you a sturdy corner for baby to sit in. Sit in front of him to give him something fun to look at

2. Remove the cushions from the couch and prop him in the corner, stay close just in case

​3. Prop him in the corner of a laundry basket with a few toys
​
4. Sit on the floor with your legs out and position him face out so he can lean against you and put his hands on your legs for support

In & Out & On the Go!

Game 1:
Fill that box up with books, canned goods, or even rocks. Heck, throw in a brother or sister if you have one hanging around. Now, encourage your toddler to push that box around the house. She may find emptying and filling the box just as entertaining.

Game 2:
Put your toddler in the box and push her around. Encourage language skills by saying “Ready? Set?” and then move on “Go!” After she gets used to this, pause and wait for her to say “Go!” You can also add in fast, slow, front, back and even spin and really get the conversation going. 

Imagination box
Really a box is anything and everything to a preschooler. Give him some markers, crayons, or paints. Let him make his own house, store, or vehicle. Give him some time to creat on his own. Later, ask him about the box and what he was able to imagine. You might be surprised at all a box can be!

If you're a parent, chances are you have a thing or two laying around the house. Maybe a pile of toys? Maybe some knick-knacks here and there?
Take one box and fill it.
Maybe you're one of those parents with a really clean house. Even so, I'd guess you might have stuff tucked in your drawers and cupboards you’ve thought about cleaning out or giving away.
Or you have stuff laying around because you haven't had the time or the energy to figure out where they go. That’s fine because for now, they go in this box. It doesn’t have to be a big one. There’s no need to clean the whole house, or even a room, just fill a box. You can deal with that stuff later.