Youtube in the LOOP

                              

Any idea how children and YouTube are linked? No, they aren't linked....but looped! You give a toddler an unlocked screen, and look at it after about 5 mins, you would be appalled by the fact that she has browsed about 50+ YouTube videos! Am not exaggerating. They are swipe experts.

YouTube is overflowing with videos from all around the world and it sure has influenced our lives to a great extent. The bitter truth is that it hasn't spared the toddlers. Well, no one understands YouTube better than them. She shows me different icons to select that paves way for a whole new variety of playlists, the icons I have never explored all my life! By the time the chosen song plays, she would have scanned the entire list of suggested videos on the side, thrice, and jumped 5 videos! A huge fan of pocoyo, little A is, that she watches the same episode in Russian, German, Portugese, French and Vietnamese!! She enjoys them as much as she enjoys the english versions and tries to repeat the funny 'noises' they make! There was this phase when I was a little worried (read concerned)  that she hadn't started talking at the said 'age', now, I dread the day she'll converse with me in Portugese!!


                                  
                                     Image: google
No doubt, YouTube is doing a commendable job of satisying their toddler customers. They have millions of brightly coloured, loud and cheerful versions of the same rhymes that the little index fingers can meddle on. Why would they be stuck to a melodious version of 'Head, shoulders, knees and toes' that mommy had selected when there's a hip-hop version of the same? Not sure if you've noticed this...there are rhymes playlists and cartoons that have crossed 4 lakh hits!! And my dearest daughter would have contributed about a lakh, from various devices lying around her!
I will not deny the fact that YouTube has been little A's guru. It has made learning a lot more fun! The other day when I was chatting with a group of friends, I realized how each was affected by the non-stop blaring videos their ipad would play all day long. The repetitive videos and the flashcards have enabled the toddlers learn colours, shapes, alphabets, numbers and likewise much easily than we can imagine. But at the same time, I was baffled at how the playlist of each toddler was similar! Videos of surprise eggs and play-doh are mandatory in their loop- of course, you'll wonder why such videos exist, but, YouTube seems to understand the little humans better.
The story of how YouTube entered each toddler's life may vary, but there's no hope for sanity! Tell me if you find it! ;)

How clean is 'CLEAN'?

                                 

         Toddlers and mess go hand in hand. Little A's most favourite hobby is to topple the whole tub of toys whenever she goes past it. All the toys certainly don't come out in one toddler push, so she makes sure to push it harder until that tiny piece of clay sticking to the base is out and she'd sit on it comfortably and sing "Lo lo lo a boat"! No it doesnt end there. You need to sing the entire rhyme and she'll do the required actions, and then walk out, heart content! As I bend down to clean up the mess, I hear a 'Nooooo' and there she comes paddling back through the clutter to frantically put them back on the floor, making it worse!

I mutter to myself as I retrieve a tiny toy fork tucked in between the cushions. 'Why is it that all the nicest and most interesting games have a zillion pieces!!?' But more than the expensive toys, its the bits, bobs and junk, that kids love. Empty milk cans, empty plastic pill boxes, milk powder scoops, disposable spoons, cardboard boxes, a wollen ball from the scarves, a tiny piece of thread from a dress, colourful flashdrives, cd boxes, combs and  everything that can be categorized as junk are much sought after! You may think its easier to shove them away in their absence, true, but they are replaced much faster than you think. Like the colonies of bacteria in a culture plate, the junk only keeps mutiplying.

                                         

There's no area that is free of clutter when the little one is allowed to have fun. The worst is the floor and you are sure to have your foot punched with lego blocks and clay tools while walking across to attend a phone call. You could be transfixed by little toy knives, or a toy toaster or her favourite sand shovel while you try to do simple things like sitting on a sofa! Beds aren't spared either. Balloons, a toy bread slice, dolls, shape cutters, cars, books, toy spoons and so many other interesting items that are freshly bought find their way into the bedroom to sleep next to the tiny tot!

                                                        

With a motherly intention to impart the knowledge that messes can be cleaned up too, I include little A in the process. I let her sort all the blocks, books, crayons and the rest and put them in different bags/boxes and happily wind up. But little did I know that my happiness is short lived. After all the sorting, little A would want that small yellow car to hold onto when she sleeps, yes, the very same car that first went into that green box that was tactfully tucked in between a huge collection of assorted puzzles. Trying my best to not disturb the arrangements,  I put my hand underneath to feel that green box, but finally, end up turning the tub upside down to desperately lay my hands on that yellow car to immediately stop her from crying! Sigh!

I'll choose playing with my baby over cleaning, anyday, anytime. "Do you want me to read that book again for you? Ok, here you go....that little bit of dusting can wait." "Err....You want me draw for you? Very well, come and sit down....I'll put this hoover away!"

Almost always, little A takes the role of a helper and excitedly throws the pieces into the storage boxes but all this only until she spots her long lost BINGO pup or a wooden spoon from her kitchen set that had disappeared weeks back! Her play would restart with soaring spirits and the story continues. But this time, I give up, I really don't have the heart to 'mess' her fun! After all, she'll be 2 years 6 months and 10 days only ONCE!

Food for thought:

•  Cleaning should be a routine, not an obsession.  The more you are obsessed, more is the stress.
• Toys are to be played with, papers strewn about, that is childhood. Good if you understand.  Don't worry if others don't!
• Happiness is when the little girl holds the pencil right rather than clutching it in her fist because you spent that 20 minutes showing her how to, instead of scrubbing the kitchen floor!

15 Best and Free Android Apps for Toddlers

                   

    Worried about having to share screen space with the kiddo in toe? Well, it isn't that bad if they get to learn something from it, right? Phones and tablets are a blessing in disguise when you suspect a tantrum, especially when you are out with them in restaurants, malls or clinics. Sure to keep them busy in long flights and at home when you need that 'me time'!
Here is the list of 15 best android apps that makes learning fun for them, in no particular order. These are absolutely free to install.

1.Animal Puzzle for kids

Devoloper: Abuzz

           

Description: Like in the picture above, they are simple puzzles for the tiny tots that help them develop tactile and fine motor skills. There are 84 animal puzzles to keep them busy. Watch them get familiar with the names of the animals as they complete, without worrying about them losing any piece of the puzzle!

2. Learning colors for kids

Devoloper : Stork Studio Limited

Description: It's a simple game that would teach the kids 9 various colours.  The game interface is intuitive and even the youngest can get their hands on it with ease.

3. Kids shapes

Developer: Stork Studio Limited

Description: A fun game for the toddler to match shapes with the right one,  choose the right shape and also burst similar shapes. In short, enables them to differentiate the shapes as early as 1.5 years!

4. Shapes and Colors Music Show

Developer: Fischer Price

Description : Repetitive exposure to shapes and colours enable easy identification.

5. Phonics song

Devoloper : Laboratorio Android Expert

Description : A song to help learn the phonetics that requires no Internet connection.  How good is that?

6. Animal sounds for kids

Developer: Shemetenga

                                         

Description: This app enables easy identification of animals and their sounds. An easy-to-use app for kids.

7. Lego DUPLO Trains

                                          

Description: This is an animated, toddler-friendly app that will help them drive the colourful LEGO train from station to station, yes, the child plays the role of an engine driver! The child gets to live his dream by choosing and loading wagons, building bridges, stopping at crossings, refuelling and laying new tracks around pesky roads! 

8. Kids socks

Developer: Mimoteo

                                         

Description: A game for pre-schoolers and all they have to do is drag the socks with the same colour and pattern and match! A fun game to learn colours and patterns!

9. Talking Tom/Pocoyo/Ginger/Ben/Gina/Santa

                                           

Description: You can talk to the little characters and they'll repeat in a funny voice. Needless to say, it enhances communication skills. Try them and discover a range of activities!

10. Kids Paint Free

Developer: Virtual GS

                                             

Description: An alternative for virtual painting/drawing when on the move! It also allows saving the art to the gallery!

11. Potato Head Colour

Developer: Dexati

                                                 

Description: They are colouring pages and best suited for pre-schoolers. It doesn't require drawing but selecting the colours and tapping, and the colour auto fills in.

12. Picture Book

Developer: Shemetenga

                                               

Description: Colourful flashcards to learn words, the kids can relate to! Pronunciation made easy.

13. Kids Piano Lite

Developer: Sunny Day

                                                 

Description: You can choose what to play like 'Twinkle twinkle' and the piano will display the keys to be pressed in the side bar. It also has an auto music mode which makes it look like a music box!

14. Nursery rhymes

Developer: thehippoteam

                                                   

Description: Comprises a whole bunch of popular rhymes with videos that kids love to hear over and over again! However, it needs internet connection.

15. 50 Nursery rhymes

Developer: Shemetenga

                                                    

Description: Plays the 50 rhymes without internet connection. The toddlers can have fun singing along the lines without the hindrance of a video. Recommended for 3+ age groups.

Skype Time

                       


Online video chats a.k.a. skype or facetime, is a blessing for all those who are scattered around the world and a source of wonder for toddlers. I belong to the generation where online video calling was familiar only in our early-twenties. But my daughter, however, falls into the tech-savy generation and has been online since she was a few weeks old! Little A's excited aunt and gleaming little cousins would fill the screen to watch her coo, cry and vocalize and go 'awww sooo cute', 'I wanna cuddle her' and so on. The little one would in turn cheekily smile at the ceiling fan and get excited on hearing the happiness around. Skype was a boon for the new dad's lonely heart to find solace from watching her play, when he had to work from UK for a few weeks.

Skype meant more when we moved to UK after my daughter turned one. That was the only source of respite for the grandparents who were terribly missing her! She would be amazed to see familiar faces talking to her from the screen and gleam at them or just ignore them and go about her business of bringing the roof down. Either ways, the ones on the other side find joy in just watching her! The grandparents, uncles and aunts would be totally amused at everything she does, be it her attempt to converse with them or toddling away from them to play pretend games. After all, she is the only reason, they come on skype! A small grin with a 'hi' 'hallo' would light up their faces and they'd be bursting with pride when she goes about performing for 'wheels on the bus', 'If you're happy and you know it' and so on and so forth. Little A would in turn brim with happiness when she sees them clapping and cheering, and thereby strengthen her rights on this 'Skype' business as well!

There is this peculiar stage in today's toddlers, when they get the sense of 'ownership' and think they own the laptop and everything it plays since start to shutdown, is for THEM. I warn you about the cold long stares or screams you'll be showered upon if you touch 'their' laptop for anything apart from rhymes or children shows!

As they grow older and understand things, they look forward to the skype times. Infact, my daughter was so familiar with her grandparent's and aunt's faces that she dint take time at all to gel with them during their visits. Now at 2.4, my little one excitedly says 'Sype' and shows me where to click and how to go about for a call with her Paati or Thatha or her cousins whom she calls as Akka! She wants to show them all her new toys and clothes as and when she gets them and tell stories from school,  that sounds more like gibberish. When we are about to end our chat, she flies from where she was engrossed with her toys and automatically waves bye, sreams seeeyuuuu, blows a kiss and waits impatiently for her rhymes to restart! Thats a sample of the techie generation for you!

Whatever is skype for adults, for kids, it is a fantasy world where they are always in popular demand by the people they adore!
A big bow to the latest technology that connects the longing hearts, old and young!

Image courtesy: freedigitalphotos.net

The Potty Training Mantra.

                  

       Motherhood is a bliss but challenging in its own way, the major area being 'potty training'. A lot of mothers I have seen tend to postpone this to as long as possible and try to be happy with nappies. But be sure that the little ones aren't too happy with the pee and poo sticking to their bum! Having said that, let me consolidate all that has to be taken care when you decide to potty train your little dragon.

When is a child fully potty trained?

 Your 10-month-old peeing or pooping whenever you take him/her to the restroom doesn't necessarily mean that he/she is potty trained. However, it means that he/she has got a hold of what you mean to communicate and yes, you're in the first step to potty training success! A child is completely potty trained when he/she can control his/her bladder/bowel and communicate to someone that he/she needs to pee/poop.

When is your child ready?

You may come across mums bragging about their 'wonder babies' who were potty trained by 7 or 8 months. Its good to appreciate that and lead your life your way. Please do not compare your baby with the rest. I'd say, on an average, a child needs to be at least 15-18-months to clearly grasp what you say and communicate to you their urge. Girls are supposed to be smarter and faster in learning this art :); however, this is NOT a rule.

Well, are you ready?

Yes, you need to be ready first. Are you okay with a no-nappy child running about in your rooms? Wet floor? Frquently wet carpets? More clothes to wash? and eventually more to dry? Its time to build some patience before you kick start this training for your child. And remember, once you start, you're not going back. Call up your friends/relatives to postpone the house parties/get-togethers or kitty parties. Don't be scared, its not going to be long at all. My daughter was potty trained in just 1.5 days! Hey, I can see you smile already :)

How to equip yourself?

• There are numerous potties and potty seats with different colours/themes. I always feel a cushioned potty seat with the handles on the sides (the child feels secure by holding onto them) is the best as you just have to place it on the regular potty seat and don't have to again dread shifting the practice to a regular potty.
  
  
  
  
  I use this for my little one and she absolutely loves this product. You can get it delivered at your door step.
• Get loads of panties as they're likely to get wet every 15 minutes.
  
  

  

  
  
• Get rewards that interests your child. It can be a sticker, balloon, whistle or even colourful ribbons.
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
• Get some small picture books that are light weight. This can be interesting when they have to sit there for a while. (My daughter loves carrying them even when in a hurry!)

How to start?

• Choose a period of about 2 weeks when you'll mostly be home and  have most of the day to spend with your child. The day when you're emotionally, mentally and physically fit is the best day to start the venture.
• Let your child play with the potty seat and get familiarized by sitting on it so that its not too much of a hassle for both of you.
• After a good night's sleep, make him/her sit on the potty seat (of course attached to the potty). Also give a new small toy in hand to explore.
• The first try needn't be a success but use only cotton panties for the rest of the day.
• Have an alarm and spend the rest of the day with the little one. Order food from a favourite resto- you deserve this little treat!
• Have code words for pee and poop that's easily pronounced by the kiddo and keep mentioning the code frequently thereby asking if he/she wants to do it.
• It may take time. Depends on the child but never connect this with their intellect. There's no relation.
• Don't consider this toilet aspect, a dirty thing! Let them understand that mom, dad and everybody does this and that's how nature works.
• But let them know that soiling the house/floor/bed IS a dirty thing to do.
• Praise them more often. Some of them are happy with just claps. They feel so proud when appreciated and try to get more pats on their back.

Night time potty training:

Once they master this art during the day, slowly wean them off nappies during nights. Avoid liquid diet 1.5 hours before bed. Set an alarm during night to take your child to the loo. Talk about the night time loo during the day so that he/she is prepared to be woken up from a good sleep. Do the talking about potty habits and any others frequently. You'll not realize but they do understand and register everything they see and hear. Amazing creations!!

           Potty training isn't a nightmare any more. It does test your patience and makes you go NUTS, but, the effort is well worth it. Go ahead! All the very best!