What a Toddler Taught Me About God

I wrote before about how when my toddler first started walking he reminded me of how much God loves me.  I would squat at one end of the hallway with my arms opened, and he would get a huge grin on his face and come running into my opened arms.  That's how God is waiting for us with arms wide open waiting for us to run with a huge grin onto our face into his opened arms.

God used a toddler this time to remind me of how he's always there to help us when we need him.  J is at the age where he is Mr. Independent; however, every now and then he shows he still need our help.  The other day we were outside playing and there's a step off our driveway. He knows it's there and when he got to it he reached his little hand upward waiting for me to grab it.  When I took his hand, an analogy of how God is waiting for me popped into my head. Just like I was waiting on him to reach for my hand, God is waiting on us to reach up and say,  "God help me." He let's us be independent, but when we need him he's waiting on us. He's waiting there with his hand ready for us to reach up and grab and ask for his help. He already knows when we're going to ask for his help just like I already knew little Mr. Independent was going to reach his hand up for help when he got to the driveway. I love how God uses even the youngest to teach us lessons! How powerful and wonderful is HE that he can use even an infant to teach us what he's been trying to teach us all our life!  From the minute J was born and probably before, I realized just how much God loves me by that love He allowed me to have for my little boy.

Must Have For Toddlers

So I posted what you needed for infants and babies.  Now I feel I need to share with you what I feel is important to have with toddlers.  I have my own along with watching two others.  I'm not sure if it's all toddlers or just my group of them, but they love to climb, and I mean on everything including: the couch, lawn furniture, tv stand, ottoman, couch, end tables, play kitchen set, picnic table, book shelf, toy box, gate, etc. Therefore, we are about to move and I plan to have a room just for the toddlers.  Below are a list of things I feel are important to include in this room:

1. Sensory table: these kiddos love sensory play whether it's water, sand, mud, socks, blocks, cards, paper plates, napkins etc.  They will play with it!

2. Something safe to climb on: I plan to have a slide with a rock wall for them to climb their little hearts out!

3. Foam mats: with the slide being inside I feel I need mats so if they do fall, they won't get hurt too bad.

4. Ball pit: I plan to put a bigger ball pit at our new house.  One where all the toddlers can play in it together and not fight over it.  We are currently using a sand box, but it's not quite big enough.

5. Sand box: I plan to have two sand boxes,  outside of course, for the little ones to enjoy.

6. Lots of outdoor play equipment and toys. I have been stocking up on these sorthings if things: slides, swings, riding toys, balls, basketball goal, sand toys, etc.

7. A hideout: wow do these kiddos love secret hiding places; therefore, I plan to make a safe, secret, getaway just for them.  Not sure how or where but there wI'll be one.

8. Art supplies: Paint, crayons, gluesticks, paper, etc. These toddlers love to work, and why not make it a daily priority.

9. Chairs: they love having chairs to sit and read books at; therefore, I have been collecting chairs of all sorts including an elmo chair, little tikes, noise making one, not sure what it's called, and I plan to get one of those soft couches that fold out into a bed when we move.

10. Books!  These babies love looking at books and listening to stories. Board books are a must.  They don't rip as easily and hold up much longer.

11. Library: with their love for books, I plan to turn one of our basement closets into a library.  I'm hoping to take the toddlers to it a few times a week to enjoy new books and to just listen to stories and not be distracted.

12. Tunnel: they love crawling thru things; therefore,  I'm hoping to have the tunnel up all the time for them.

13. Stuffed animals: They love their babies!

Home Summer Camp Ideas

Make It Mondays:

1. God's Eye
2. Paint a Rock
3. Material bracelet or key chain
4. Ice Painting
5. Homemade Ice cream
6.  I Spy Water Bottle: add small toys and items in a water bottle filled with colorful rice or noodles.
7. Speed Ball Tshirts

Trip Tuesdays:

1. Zoo
2. Lloyd Pool/Park/Nature Trails
3. Ice Cream Outings
4. 
   

Wet Wednesdays:
1. Slip n slide
2. Baby pool
3. Watery balloons
4. Hose
5. Water squirters
6. Water table
7. Sprinklers
8. Neighborhood pool

Thinking Thursdays: 
1. Science projects
2. Learn how to do magic

Fun Friend Fridays:
1. Kids choice what we did: usually they wanted to play in the water in the back yard or play baseball at our church field. They were not a hard group to please.

Games/Activities:

1. Pool Noodles and balloons: it balloons with pool noodles.  See who can hit the farthest or play keep in the air.
2. Paper cups, buckets,  and ping pong balls: Race to get ball from one bucket to the next by floating the ball on top of a paper cup filled with water
3. Sidewalk Chalk: Paint a mural on privacy fence or in driveway