Learning through play

One of my most favorite activities with young children is to provide opportunities to play like real life. Whether it is playing kitchen (like today, see pictures below) or playing with dolls to demonstrate real life activities of going to the dentist or doctor or being a Daddy. A and K love this type of modeling play. Today we played "baby". I wrapped A up in a big blanket like you would swaddle a newborn and held him close...even letting him suck on a bottle or thumb. This was particularly special for me and A as we missed those years together so, for us to "play baby" was good for both of us and sweet loving time redeemed. Daddy also got to have this play time with A. Time that we can look into each others eyes and smile, snuggle, and show affection. It also gives opportunity to talk about babies...what they need, how they communicate and how as you grow that communication changes from cries and grunts to sounds and words...language. The Lord is so good to allow us to redeem the time in small ways...I praise Him for these moments of lost time recaptured through play and fun.

Daddy's hold their babies too.

Babies need to see their mommy and daddy smile at them

while looking into their eyes.

Babies need to be held and loved.

Babies need to eat.

Babies sleep alot.

Junior chefs in training

Chopping up veggies for soup. (a.k.a. our insect counters)

Prep work complete ready to cook.

K making a chocolate pie.

We have also been working on making masks to display emotions and explaining facial expressions to display certain emotions then talking about them. We have seen some real progress in helping A and K deal with all of the changes they are undergoing now and how to properly respond emotionally. Andrew likes to show us his "mangry" face which is his mad and angry face but it is only for a moment because he cracks up laughing...his smile can't be "mangry" for long. Another favorite is his disobey face which is a serious attitude face that is turned away with arms crossed. This face has helped him understand how to have self control and choose not to display a disobey heart and face and choose to obey. It has also helped him to recognize these emotions in others (his sister) too, including characters in books thus giving us more opportunity to talk about these attitudes and emotions.

Andrew is also beginning to talk of being like Papa/Daddy. He wants to do the things that his Daddy does. He is wanting to be big, strong, and protect his sisters like a young man. He is also very loving and caring to Rabbit whom he likes to play "night, night" with and tuck into bed. A and rabbit also like to jump on the trampoline together and go for rides on the like a bike and tricycle. Occasionally, rabbit disobeys and A has to discipline him and train him to obey because that is what Daddy's who obey the Word of God and who love their children do.