Baby C tells his Mom he wants to vote so they cast his ballot for the midterm elections.

Baby C’s Mom shares her feelings on an article in which Adele is quoted as saying she yearns a bit for the person she was before becoming a Mom. She ties it in to her experience of pandemic parenting and how something as simple as putting away groceries is so much different than she thought it would be.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/benhenry/adele-postpartum-depression-the-face-interview

We'll be on a little hiatus for the holiday.  Back in the New Year with more play!

Baby C's Mom describes how Baby C (almost 2!) is learning to clean up his toys.  

These are the fruit toys she mentions:  Battat Farmers Market Basket Toy Kitchen Accessories Pretend Cutting Play Fruit Set For Toddlers

Baby C's Mom describes how Baby C gave up his pacifier, his first dental visit and how they're brushing his teeth.  These are the videos (Cocomelon Wheels On The Bus & Songs For Littles) they use during teeth brushing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_04ZrNroTo

https://youtu.be/05Vj6rGCauQ

Please excuse the lack if intro and outro.  Baby C's Mom is solo parenting this week!  You can find us on instagram @playingwithbabyc

This is a non-critical book review of Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball, by Vicki Churchill.  This book is for ages 2-6 but Baby C has been enjoying since he was one.  Baby C likes to scream and we've used one of the rhymes (fun recording included) to help diffuse it.

Watch this video about wombats!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP8y8z58DZI

Baby C's Mom explains how they're using play to learn about trees.  While researching ETK (Early Transitional Kindergarten aka Public Preschool) options, Baby C's Mom gets inspired to talk to Baby C about trees.  She starts by learning songs.

These are the websites she mentions:

https://rachelmcclary.com/

https://rachelmcclary.com/2021/03/08/preschool-songs-about-trees/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJqy967xs1c

Baby C's Mom describes the mental gymnastics she experiences when Baby C plays at the park.

Baby C's Mom describes the simple ways they're playing at 20 months and how they're working through tantrums.  We hope you will relate and come away with a few play ideas.  The instagram account we (incorrectly whoops!) mention  is @joseph_and_mummy_playtime. This is the name of the toy stroller we purchased from Target.com: Perfectly Cute Fold Up Doll Stroller.  Thanks for listening!

This is a non-critical book review of Tow Truck Joe, written by June Sobel.  This book is for ages Baby-2.  Baby C is obsessed with transpo vehicles and wheels so this book has become a favorite.

Amazon Link:  https://amzn.to/3lLd0uO

It's about a tow truck named Joe and his pup Patch and how they help a town inhabited only by...vehicles!  The story is written in rhyme and there's a fun rescue mission involving cookies.    

UPDATE:  We'll be taking a little hiatus to reconnect with family.  Hooray!  Then back with a new episode about play.

Thanks for your support!

Baby C's Mom describes how they're playing inside and outside at 17 months old.  She gives an update on Baby C's development and describes simple play activities including chores and drawing games.  She mentions a new podcast that's helping her keep it simple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-simplicity-parenting-podcast-with-kim-john-payne/id1407320921

This is a non critical book review of Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman.  This book is for ages 3-7 but Baby C began enjoying it at 15 months.  This is a book of opposites with whimsical illustrations and statement driven text that is easy to understand.

Amazon Link:  https://amzn.to/3CwUTyY

An unaffiliated review of the Lovevery Inspector Kit.  The play kit is for ages 7-8 months.  https://lovevery.com/products/the-play-kits#playkits-info

In this episode we review the toys listed below and give examples of how to accomplish similar play without the toys.  

We also describe "do it yourself" alternatives and compare the value of the Lovevery toys to comparable toys on Amazon.

Lovevery Toys include:  

Ball Drop Box with wood ball set 

"My First Signs" Board Book 

"Things I See" Texture Cards 

Nesting Stacking Dripdrop Cups

First Puzzle

Felt Ball Set 

Treasure Basket 

Drinking Cup 

Play Guide 

This is a box of four board books that go over numbers, letter, colors and opposites.   The books are for ages Baby - 3 years old.   These are educational books that clearly illustrate their subject matter without the use of story.   

Amazon Link:  https://amzn.to/3CA6bSM

During one of their play sessions, Baby C's Mom talks about finding the balance between independent and interactive play.  

These are the resources she mentions:

Learn With Less Workshops:  https://learnwithless.com/

Podcast "Oh Crap I Love My Toddler But Holy F**K:  https://www.jamieglowacki.com/podcast

Baby C's Mom explains how they're interacting with his newest light up toy, the Munchkin Mozart Magic Cube, and why she feels guilty (but shouldn't!) about purchasing it.

Amazon Link:  https://amzn.to/3jGYiSW

Podcast update:  Baby C is keeping his Mom very busy and she will have to give up interviewing for awhile.  In this episode she explains how they're using play to help Baby C through diaper changes.

Our second non-critical book review is a book about encouraging children to dream.  Baby C and I love it! 

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3sbGG5K 

Thanks for tuning in!

Happy New Year everyone!  Baby C has been doing A LOT of crying while playing so Baby C's Mom decided to do a diary entry about it.  In this diary entry she explains what she does when he's crying to help him chill out.  It's not meant to be professional advice.  Just a tired, stressed out Mom explaining how she survives.  If you can relate we would love to hear from you!  There will be a corresponding post on Instagram.  Let us know what YOU do.  We need allll the help we can get.

Welcome to our first (non critical) book review!  We've been reading to Baby C since he loves books!

In this review we tell you the premise and our experience of reading the book to Baby C.  We also talk about the design and construction.

We purchased it as a board book from Amazon (support local if you can!):  https://amzn.to/3jCQRfI

Tell us what you think of the book by messaging us on Instagram - @playingwithbabyc

Happy reading!