Comments on: Entertaining Our Toddler http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/ A rich life without a lot of money Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:10:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: I survived generic cereal « This Thrifted Life http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-28318 I survived generic cereal « This Thrifted Life Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:49:01 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-28318 [...] they’ve really needed for their one year old so far. You can check out some great posts here, here, and [...] [...] they’ve really needed for their one year old so far. You can check out some great posts here, here, and [...]

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-28195 FrugalBabe Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:17:24 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-28195 Thanks Cass! Just to clarify, our son has several toys that light up, sing songs, and are made of plastic :) Most of them were gifts, but a few were things he stumbled upon while we were browsing in thrift stores. He loves them, and that's fine with us. His favorite things are "toys" that he finds in the kitchen cabinets, books, and wooden puzzles, but he's also a big fan of a plastic ride-on train that sings all sorts of songs while he rides along. Thanks Cass! Just to clarify, our son has several toys that light up, sing songs, and are made of plastic :) Most of them were gifts, but a few were things he stumbled upon while we were browsing in thrift stores. He loves them, and that’s fine with us. His favorite things are “toys” that he finds in the kitchen cabinets, books, and wooden puzzles, but he’s also a big fan of a plastic ride-on train that sings all sorts of songs while he rides along.

]]> By: Cass http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-28191 Cass Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:25:10 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-28191 This is very similar to how my husband and I raise our 18 month old, but I feel that in some way you've taken it to the next level. (For example, we have quite a few light up plastic toys which we were given that I haven't had the heart to get rid of yet because he loves them so much. We also are without cable or satelllite tv, but play quite a few video games at night which he watches. Hmm.) Like the other commenters, I *love* the idea of having a naptime toy box, as well as a cordoned off area downstairs. He's having a really hard time transitioning to his crib from our bed (I also just weaned him a month ago), so the naptime toy box will hopefully help. I've burned through almost all of your posts recently and am looking forward to more. Keep up the fantastic work! This is very similar to how my husband and I raise our 18 month old, but I feel that in some way you’ve taken it to the next level. (For example, we have quite a few light up plastic toys which we were given that I haven’t had the heart to get rid of yet because he loves them so much. We also are without cable or satelllite tv, but play quite a few video games at night which he watches. Hmm.) Like the other commenters, I *love* the idea of having a naptime toy box, as well as a cordoned off area downstairs. He’s having a really hard time transitioning to his crib from our bed (I also just weaned him a month ago), so the naptime toy box will hopefully help.

I’ve burned through almost all of your posts recently and am looking forward to more. Keep up the fantastic work!

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27982 FrugalBabe Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:18:55 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27982 Aurie, Although we practice a lot of the same parenting styles as homeschooling parents (homebirth, no vaccinations, no TV, lots of unstructured playtime in early childhood, etc.), we do plan to send our son to public school. My husband and I both feel that a school setting - combined with our own parenting style - is the best way to prepare our son for the "real world". A school environment teaches children that they are not the center of the universe, that they must learn to get along with people who are different from themselves, that will have teachers they love and teachers they don't like so much, but that's life. As adults, we have to get along with a wide variety of people, earn a living, work when we might feel like playing, and respect authority (while we believe it's important to question authority, it's still important to do so within the bounds of basic rules). My husband and I believe that these skills are best taught by experience, and we feel that the public school system is a good place to learn them. In addition, we're atheists, so we have no religious motivation for homeschooling. I do keep an open mind though, and never say never. For now though, we're fully committed to sending our son to public school. Aurie,
Although we practice a lot of the same parenting styles as homeschooling parents (homebirth, no vaccinations, no TV, lots of unstructured playtime in early childhood, etc.), we do plan to send our son to public school. My husband and I both feel that a school setting – combined with our own parenting style – is the best way to prepare our son for the “real world”. A school environment teaches children that they are not the center of the universe, that they must learn to get along with people who are different from themselves, that will have teachers they love and teachers they don’t like so much, but that’s life. As adults, we have to get along with a wide variety of people, earn a living, work when we might feel like playing, and respect authority (while we believe it’s important to question authority, it’s still important to do so within the bounds of basic rules). My husband and I believe that these skills are best taught by experience, and we feel that the public school system is a good place to learn them.
In addition, we’re atheists, so we have no religious motivation for homeschooling.
I do keep an open mind though, and never say never. For now though, we’re fully committed to sending our son to public school.

]]> By: Aurie http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27978 Aurie Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:11:27 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27978 FB, are you considering homeschooling at some point in the future? This post reminds me of how my dad attempted to raise my little brothers. I like your approach for the mere fact that the habits that are already being fostered will go such a long way with the cognitive, spatial, and creative abilities of the little one. Although I grew up with a TV, it was certainly not a central part of my upbringing. I remember being told that I did of what you described when I was young. Having an avid imagination is so important for children and it seems to be lost in translation in our ever advancing technologically-centric culture of the West. FB, are you considering homeschooling at some point in the future? This post reminds me of how my dad attempted to raise my little brothers. I like your approach for the mere fact that the habits that are already being fostered will go such a long way with the cognitive, spatial, and creative abilities of the little one.

Although I grew up with a TV, it was certainly not a central part of my upbringing. I remember being told that I did of what you described when I was young. Having an avid imagination is so important for children and it seems to be lost in translation in our ever advancing technologically-centric culture of the West.

]]> By: BigNan http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27976 BigNan Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:08:26 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27976 FrugaBabe: Our children were also raised without television. When our children were small (they are all grown up now) most of their toys came from grandparents, yard sales, or were home made by my husband and myself (rag dolls, wooden fish with wheels, doll house, rocking chair, etc.) Every month we would take some items out of the toy corner and put them in boxes on a high shelf. After the first month there was always a box on the shelf with toys that had been out of circulation for a while. When the children got to open that box, it was like having new toys all over again, just by swopping inventory. FrugaBabe: Our children were also raised without television. When our children were small (they are all grown up now) most of their toys came from grandparents, yard sales, or were home made by my husband and myself (rag dolls, wooden fish with wheels, doll house, rocking chair, etc.) Every month we would take some items out of the toy corner and put them in boxes on a high shelf. After the first month there was always a box on the shelf with toys that had been out of circulation for a while. When the children got to open that box, it was like having new toys all over again, just by swopping inventory.

]]> By: VM http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27975 VM Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:31:15 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27975 I love the idea of a nap toy box that is full of toys he sees less often. Brilliant. I'm making one tomorrow! I love the idea of a nap toy box that is full of toys he sees less often. Brilliant. I’m making one tomorrow!

]]> By: Kay http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27974 Kay Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:32:34 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27974 Its wonderful to read about your son's everyday activities and how unstructured it is. We're trying to move away from tv and computer and your post is very helpful. Thanks FB! I've been out of country for 3 months now but I've managed to catch up your posts through email subscriptions though I couldn't leave any comments. Its wonderful to read about your son’s everyday activities and how unstructured it is. We’re trying to move away from tv and computer and your post is very helpful. Thanks FB!

I’ve been out of country for 3 months now but I’ve managed to catch up your posts through email subscriptions though I couldn’t leave any comments.

]]> By: Weekly Round-Up: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27973 Weekly Round-Up: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… — Almost Frugal- a frugal blog Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:13:35 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27973 [...] Entertaining Our Toddler @ Frugal Babe [...] [...] Entertaining Our Toddler @ Frugal Babe [...]

]]> By: julie http://frugalbabe.com/2009/11/05/entertaining-our-toddler/comment-page-1/#comment-27972 julie Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:17:39 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=1070#comment-27972 that is just awesome....I'm not a big fan of structured activities for little little ones either.............. that is just awesome….I’m not a big fan of structured activities for little little ones either…………..

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