Shape Sorter

I haven't posted anything for T for quite some time and I wanted to mention one of my favorite basket toys to use with him.  We have a bucket very similar to the one pictured below.  It is a basic shape sorter but also has nesting cups.    

Long before starting tray time with E, I used to sit and work with him on this toy.  With both boys, I only presented circles and squares to start with to give them a better chance of success.

Baby Basket Time

We have continued with Baby Basket Time this week and are still loving it (big brother included).  E and I have even come up with a song that we start with each time.  

E has been singing the Farmer in the Dell a lot so we changed the words to...

It's Baby Basket Time

It's Baby Basket Time

We'll do each one and have some fun

It's Baby Basket Time

I changed out most of the toys, but kept a few the same.  I added some finger puppets, a mirror, soft blocks,  color book, and a phone.

I tried to keep it simple for myself.  I didn't make a big point to plan what I would do with each one.  I really just explored each one with T.  By the end of the week, however, some sort of routine emerged with each.

For instance, the sock puppets were used to sing Old McDonald Had a Farm.  I would sing with them on my fingers and dance them around as T watched.  Then, I would let T pull them off my fingers and into his mouth they would go.

Baby Basket Time

This week we started, what we are calling, Baby Basket Time.

T is currently 5 months old and not ready for Tray Time, but for a while now, I have been trying to decide what I could do to make sure I am giving him the attention he needs.

I filled a basket by going around the house looking for age appropriate toys and books. I tried to find things with which I could sit and spend time "teaching" T to play. I remember how I used to do this with E naturally, but with the second child I am finding the need to be more intentional.

E's routine is established and it is sometimes easier to default to his activities rather than start building routines that are appropriate for T.

I decided that sometime before each nap and bedtime (roughly 3 times a day), I would sit and go through the toys and books one by one and investigate them with T. I talk to him about the toys, make up songs, point out things of interest, or simply show him the possibilities of what he can do with them.

After we are done, everything goes back in the basket and is left alone until the next time.

E is joining us for now (by choice). He sits next to T and has been told he can look at each item after T is done with them. I am finding it is good for him to learn new ways that he can interact with his brother as well as practice patience.