Music Play: The 4 Best Toys

 In honor of the Week of the Young Child, we are celebrating 5 main themes this week!  Today we are celebrating Music Monday! 

I love to watch how children respond to music!  Music includes creative expression, fine and gross motor skills, and rhythm.  This post includes affiliate links so you can find your own music toys!

Here are my favorite music toys that I think every play room should include:

1.Melissa and Doug Caterpillar Xylophone

I love the wooden xylophone look.  Children can explore the cause and effect of hitting each key. More advanced players can follow the color patters to create songs, or can write their own music!

2. Musical Instrument Set

 

Start your own parade with this set of percussion instruments!  If the thought of these inside your house gives you a headache, head outside!

3. Dancing Scarves

Children will love moving these scarves slow and fast to match the music.

4. Bluetooth Speaker

I like using a Bluetooth speaker when playing our favorite music from YouTube or Apple Music.  This way children are not fixated on the screen and can instead watch each other or the teacher.  In my experience, children are more likely to participate in fingerplays and songs if they are not watching a video.

Nervous to Refer your Child for Special Education?

 Are you a little nervous to make the call to seek out intervention services?

That is completely understandable. Most parents are. The people on the other end of the phone will know that and will be ready to help.

There are 2 possible outcomes to the entire process:

1. Your child will be assessed and the team will decide that your child qualifies for intervention services. You and the team will write a plan and your child will get the help he/she needs.

2. Your child will be assessed and the team will decide that intervention services are not needed at this time. They will give you suggestions on how to continue to support your child.

Either way it is a win-win! Nothing is lost!

How to make a self-referral for intervention services

Okay...so I got to you :) You are ready to make the call to seek out intervention services for your child! I'm proud of you!

If your child is under the age of 3, you are seeking early intervention services. Early intervention services serve children birth up to the child's third birthday. These services are very family focused and often are conducted in your own home.

Here's the kicker, every state calls their early intervention program something different. You can probably find yours by searching for

"[your state]+early intervention services"

Here are links to Kentucky and Ohio early intervention services.

You do NOT need a physician to refer you. YOU can call today! Just call with your calendar ready. Tell them about your child and which developmental milestones you have concerns about.

You got this!

If your child is 3 or older, you will have a different phone number to find now that you are ready to seek out intervention services.

Once your child is 3-years-old, they can qualify for services through the school district. Children ages 3-5 years are eligible for preschool special education services and children kindergarten and older are eligible for school-age special education services. Your local school district is in charge of providing both of these services.

Here is the really confusing part...some school districts partner or contract with other agencies to provide the preschool services. Calling your local school district and asking to talk with the director of special education will get you in contact with the correct people.

If you need my help, let me know!

If you are still nervous read this post!

5 reasons why NOW is the time to seek out intervention services

You have heard me say before that intervening early is so important! The majority of brain development occurs within the first 5 years, making this the perfect time to support young children with services.

I’m sharing 5 reasons why you should seek intervention services (early intervention or preschool disability) NOW versus later. If you need help finding out who to contact, let me know!

REASON #1 to seek out intervention services NOW for your child...

Intervention helps your child build a strong foundation of skills BEFORE life becomes more demanding in elementary school.

REASON #2 to seek out intervention services NOW for your child...

Services will help your child develop skills that are needed in social situations.

So much of early learning occurs within peer groups and social settings. When children have a delay in communication, motor, self-help, social, or emotional skills, research shows that they have a more difficult time interacting or playing with children their age.

Intervention services will teach children the skills they need to interact and play with friends

REASON #3 to seek out intervention services NOW for your child...

Increased self-esteem through competence!

You know how great you feel when you can finally do something you have been working towards?! Children feel this, too!

Imagine being a child who has found a way to communicate her wants, needs, and ideas to others.

Imagine being a child who has gained control over the small muscles in his hands so that he can now hold a paintbrush and make a beautiful painting.

Imagine being a child who has learned how to ask to play, running through a playground playing tag with her new friends.

Skills build confidence.

REASON #4 to seek out intervention services NOW for your child...

It will improve family relationships.

Let’s be honest, nothing happens in a vacuum. A child’s development affects EVERYONE within your home. With more skills, your child will be able to interact with everyone in a more positive way and will be able to engage in more family activities (mealtimes, game nights, trips, etc) in more meaningful ways.

Intervention helps families support the child at home. It gives families realistic expectations and teaches them how to practice the skills at home.

REASON #5 to seek out intervention services NOW for your child...

It is a process, but the sooner you start...the sooner your child will get help!

Depending on your child’s age, it could take up to 45-60 days for evaluations to be completed and an intervention plan to be created.

If you are wanting evaluations outside of the education field, waitlists can sometimes reach 18 months long

All that to say...don’t wait any longer. Once you make the decision to call...you will have some waiting to do.

 

Sleep Anxiety and Children

 

It is not unusual for one of my children to end up on my floor during the night. Sometimes I actually leave extra pillows out for them. It seems like it rotates....it might be our youngest, maybe our oldest, or one of our middles.

Anxiety at night is normal. Your amygdala (the part of the brain that is in charge of fight or flight) reacts to being tired. So, it is usually in overdrive by the time night arrives. 

Wonder why it is so scary to hear a bump in the night versus a noise during the day? Your amygdala is to blame.

 Instinctually, it is just trying to save you from predators. And instinctually, our brains tells us we are safer when we are with our caregivers. Our ancestors used to sleep in packs. Sometimes my kids still do 

Do your children have nighttime sleep anxiety?

Try these tips:

• Validate their feeling even if the worry isn't rationale.
• "I know you are scared.  I don't like to feel scared either.  You are safe.  We are safe."
• Have the child draw or talk about their worry. 
• Teach the child mindfulness techniques.
• Tell me 5 things you can see in the room.
• Tell me 5 things you can hear in the room.
• Tell me something you can smell.

Mindfulness employs different parts of your brain, which means your amygdala (remember the fight or flight part) is not in control.

• Offer attention before your child seeks it. Bonus points if you give a choice.
• "It will be bedtime in 5 minutes. Would you like to sit on my lap and read a book or lay in your bed and listen to two songs?"
• Shift the child's focus to the future.
• "Pick out a game we can play in the morning when you wake up."
• "Do you want to find a book we will read in the morning?"
• Make bedtime a SAFE time.
• This means letting the child associate their bed with positive feelings and letting them feel some control over it.
• "When your clock says five minutes have passed (you may need to write this on a sticky note), you can leave your bed and come lay on my floor."

You can continue to extend this time gradually.  The goal is that over time, the child may fall asleep on their own while waiting.  If the child is not able to make it the set time (say 15 minutes, try saying "Okay, we didn't quite make it to 15, let's see if you feel brave enough to make it to 12 minutes."

For my children, the rule is they can come to my floor as long as they do it quietly.  I just want them to start in their own bed.  We are at the point that they usually fall asleep and then come down in the night occasionally.  They know where to get pillows and blankets :)

What You Should Know about Sleep and Babies

 I am not sure that there is a more polarizing topic for parents of young children than that of SLEEP.  Let’s talk about sleeping through the night. There is so much guilt, worry, and comparison that parents face when their children do not do it.

We have all heard about the mommas who can get their 4-month-old baby to sleep through the night.  We hear that and can feel inadequate when our children are not yet sleeping through the night.

Guess what...even by 12 months of age, not all children sleep through the night. 43% of children do not sleep a consecutive 8 hours. And of these, 28% do not sleep a consecutive 6 hours.

If your baby falls into this percentage, he/she is completely normal!

My four children were not great sleepers.  None of them slept through the night until they were 2-years-old.  I am here to tell you, you will survive!  You may get a few more wrinkles, but you will survive.

With my first baby, I felt enormous pressure.  I tried everything.  I read the books.  Followed the Babywise schedule.  Let her cry it out.  None of it worked for her.  If anything, it made it worse.  

Once I learned that it is normal, and actually healthy for babies to wake during the night I was able to relax.  I took the pressure off of myself to "conquer the sleep issue" and instead I just followed my children's rhythms.  Yes, I was tired.  Yes, I was a working mom.  But we made it.  

Just know that every child is different and has different needs.  The next time you are with another group of moms, pick a different topic to chat about :)  It will make you all feel better!

Do you have older children who are not sleeping through the night, it might be nighttime anxiety.  Find out more here.

Dear Grown-Ups: This is How You Can Make Christmas Easier for Me

This is a great post to share with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends that may be hosting a Christmas celebration.  Maybe they are not sure how to accommodate young children who have some sensory needs.  These tips will make the holidays more enjoyable, not only for the children, but for everyone!

Dear Grown-ups,

As we get ready for all of our holiday get togethers, let’s remember to give our children a CHOICE and a VOICE. Don’t make them hug anyone they don’t want to.

Grown-ups, the best thing you can do is sit on the floor and play. Do what the children are doing. Let those nieces, nephews, and grandkids warm up to you. Play with cars, rock the baby doll, and draw on the paper. That quality time will not be forgotten. Plus play will be good for you, too 🥰

—photo disclaimer: my daughter totally initiated this hug with her daddy ❤️

Dear Grown-ups,

I know you want the Christmas dinner spread to be Pinterest perfect.

If you are hosting children with food sensitivities or food aversions, go ahead and make everyone happy by fixing one of their tried and true favorites.

Ask what you can have on hand.

🍽 apple sauce pouches

🍽 mac n cheese

🍽 Ramen

🍽 What would make your kiddo’s list?

If it makes you feel more festive, serve it in a fancy bowl 🙂

Dear Grown-ups,

I know you have so many fun things planned for me today.

The day will be a little out of my routine. I will able to enjoy myself even more if I know what to expect.

You can show me what will happen on our special day by using a visual schedule or a first/then board.

You can use this printable: click here

Dear Grown-ups,

As you plan this year’s get together, set up a quiet room for the children coming to visit.

This room can be used for sensory breaks or even naps!

Put a few pillows and blankets in there with a basket full of books. Bonus points if you can provide some white noise (fan, sound machine, white noise app on an iPad).

Sometimes all the hustle and bustle can be too much, and your guests may just need a place to regroup.

Dear Grown-ups,

As you plan this year’s get together, set up a quiet room for the children coming to visit.

This room can be used for sensory breaks or even naps!

Put a few pillows and blankets in there with a basket full of books. Bonus points if you can provide some white noise (fan, sound machine, white noise app on an iPad).

Sometimes all the hustle and bustle can be too much, and your guests may just need a place to regroup.

Dear Grown-ups,

After my last post about allowing children to open gifts where and when they are comfortable, I know you may be a little concerned about offending those great aunts and family friends.

Are you worried that it will appear rude if your children open the gifts on their own time?

Take a photo of your children enjoying the gift in the days to come. Snap candid pictures or posed picture. Whichever your children prefer.

Dear Grown-ups,

I know we will look so adorable in our coordinated outfits as we sit in front of the tree, but please bring me some comfy clothes to change into.

I don’t like the way those tights squeeze my belly or the way that tag itches my neck.

Sometimes it is way too hot for my cute Christmas sweater in a house filled with people.

👕Go ahead and pack a bag now. Even if your kiddo is past the bathroom accident phase, throw in an entire change (socks, underwear, pull-up, pants, shirt). You never know what is going to happen.

👕 Pack for different temperatures. I was the kid who was always HOT

👕Pack some pajamas. You can change into these before the trip home...or whenever your child wants to be comfy.

Get your cute picture op and then let your child be cozy on Christmas. Trust me, I always choose comfy over fancy for myself! I’m sure your children will, too.