Weekly Message 08.12

Hi mama!

Two weeks ago, I shared Emi’s daily schedule, and a few of you were wondering what I actually meant by “Guided Activity”.

Well, in my world a guided activity is something Emi hasn’t done before and needs a demonstration or an activity that requires guidance or supervision. Usually, the activities I share in these emails are guided activities.

Read on to see the ones I use almost everyday.

And, let’s make this week a joyful one!

EAT: Ok, this recipe isn’t the healthiest, and it’s not very kid-friendly, plus it didn’t give me leftovers. But WOW! This Jalapeño Popper Soup was absolutely delicious. I’ll be making it again—this time doubled to ensure we have leftovers.

READ: Last week’s book, The Rose Code was a 10/10 for me! I love historical fiction, and this book delivered everything I needed. This week, I’m reading Firekeeper’s Daughter, set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—a place my husband’s family has a special connection to, so I’m excited to dive in.

CRAFT: I work on many projects that serve no purpose, but I recently made some sleep sacks that are actually being used! They’re super cozy, and we let Emi pick the fabric, so she gets excited every time she puts them on. I used an old sleep sack to make the pattern, but this video is pretty good if you need more guidance.

HOME: In our ongoing mission to organize every nook and cranny of our house, we tackled our pantry and the dreaded junk drawer. If you’re thinking of tackling a similar project, just get a bunch of these—they work wonders!

Ok, here’s the tea on these activities.

I do three guided activities a day, so that’s at least 15 activities a week. While some are new (maybe 5 per week), it’s the tried-and-true activities that really make the week run smoothly. Some of them I do almost every day, which adds a nice flow and consistency to our routine.

Here are my MVPs:

• Puppet Shows: Emi is obsessed with puppets, and at this point, each one has a theme song and a rehearsed monologue worthy of a Tony.

• Yoga: I love this one because it allows me to squeeze a little workout into my routine. I usually do a simple routine, and Emi tries to climb on top of me, but recently, she’s started mimicking some of the poses.

• Music Time: We either sing songs and play instruments together or have a dance party with a playlist we love. 

• Books: Ah, the true classic that never fails. Emi loves books and often hands me her favorites to read aloud. She also enjoys looking at pictures of animals, interacting with sensory books, and playing with her sticker book. See our July reading roundup here.

• Puzzles and Games: During her independent playtime, I like to leave out some puzzles and games for her to explore on her own. However, we often play together, which adds a different dimension to the experience. This cactus game, for example, is great and can be played solo or with a partner.

• Watering Houseplants: Emi has loved this activity since before she could walk. It is lovely to watch her go around with the water meter and her watering can, making sure all our houseplants are happy.

• Playing with Her Pikler Set: Another classic that only gets better with time. In the last few months, she’s become more interested in the different settings the Pikler set has to offer and loves to send her teddy bear down the slide over and over again. Click here to see other indoor movement options.

These activities might look different for your little one—the key is to pay attention to their interests and use that as inspiration.

And regardless of what your routine looks like, remember that you are doing your best and you are a kick-ass mama!

ps. All my free printables are available here.

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