I am excited to try out some of the ideas I have read about so far. However, after recently trying one ideas, I have learned that whatever I try better be something I am willing to do over and over...and over again.
I will add, that the book even mentioned that toddler's enjoy repeating activities and that they learn through repetition, so I had fair warning.
The book mentioned creating a chair tunnel. I set up some chairs in a row in the living room and my son loved climbing up on them with his vehicles and driving over the chairs and climbing down the other end. He loved it. Too much.
Today he asked to have the chairs set up again in the living room. I had my reasons and I told him "No, not right now." Telling him "no" when he asked to play with the chairs set him off, the way a two year old gets upset whenever he is told "no." I held my ground, but I do not enjoy those moments.
The tunnel idea got implemented later using some stools and furniture, a blanket and books for weight. Books were brought into the tunnel and read. One of his train sets was moved into it to play with. The tunnel (cave) was a hit. Today he was being a bit reckless and knocked the stools over/destroying the tunnel, hitting objects (and me) underneath, twice. I put everything away and said the tunnel was gone. Actions have consequences and oh how he cried and begged to have his tunnel back.
So with every new idea and every fun thing he enjoys will come the words "again?" or "more?" or some version of asking to repeat it. I had better make sure it is something I want to deal with. Lesson learned for now...and if I forget I am sure I will be reminded through a similar situation, thus also learning through repetition of mistakes. Repetition is indeed a fruitful way to learn. I will take my time to choose the next activity carefully and do my best to be prepared to allow repeated use of whatever activity/idea is introduced.
Singing off...London Bridge is falling down, falling down
Gina
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