The Poopsie Collective

Activities for Toddlers: Sorting

written by STEPHANIE

My 16 month old daughter is high energy. She is quick, she is busy and she wants to be stimulated all the time. I have felt at my wits end with her the last few weeks looking for activities to keep her occupied. Here is the latest that I have to say was a pretty big hit!

What you’ll need:

- Cheerios in a large bowl

- Muffin tin

- Measuring cups

- Tupperware containers (very small)

I set her up on the coffee table because it’s her height and allows her to move around. She doesn’t like being in a chair. She first sampled the goods, happily munching on her favorite snack. Then I showed her that the Cheerios could be scooped up with the measuring cups and dropped into the muffin tins. She got it from there and went to town meticulously moving Cheerios between containers and eating a few more along the way. Then she stuck her hands into the bowl of Cheerios and giggled while she gripped them in her fists. 

After about 20 minutes, she expanded the game from the table and onto the floor, dropping Cheerios first one by one, then by the handful. The dog sat nearby waiting for her turn to clean-up. When my daughter then picked up what was left in the bowl and started to take it away from the table, I steered her back, at which point she lost interest and wanted to play with the kitchen towels that she carts around the house in her doll stroller. 

I picked up the containers on the table, asked the dog to take care of the floor droppings and we were done! Easy set-up, easy clean-up, and my daughter was delighted by the game. 

Next time? I will use multi-colored snacks to introduce an additional sorting element.

Do you have an activity your toddler enjoys? Please email us at poopsiecollective@gmail.com … We’d love to share it with all our readers. 

Christmas Through a Mother’s Eyes

Written by BROOKE

I always thought that the best of Christmas was behind me. That time when the magic is real, when you can’t sleep for that giddy feeling of excitement and when you are sure, just sure you heard reindeer hooves on your roof. Then that slowly fades and little by little Christmas is just not as exciting. 

What I did not know when that magic first began to fade was that the best of Christmas was actually ahead. Because MAKING the magic has to be about 1,000 times better than receiving the magic. 

It took a few years, those first two Christmases were fun but he was still too little to “get” it. Then, the 2 year old Christmas came and it was awesome. I’m talking Zachary literally shaking with excitement awesome. But 3 year old Christmas? It topped even that. 

I remember last year, I couldn’t fall asleep. Just like the old days. I remember both Aaron and I woke up at 6 am and looked at each other. We couldn’t wait, but for the first time in, I don’t know, EVER, the kids slept in. We were so giddy we almost woke them up (which would normally be blasphemy in our house!) It was our first Christmas with two kids and our first with a kid who really, really got it. For whom the magic was so incredibly real that there isn’t even a hint or a shadow of a doubt. Where every gift was the best he’d ever received. Every gift was greeted with an awestruck, “WOW! LOOK! THANK YOU! I LOVE IT!” even when the pink razors meant for my stocking made it into his. Yes, he profusely thanked us/Santa for pink razors. 

Last year was the Christmas of a lifetime. It was what it is all about, sort of like combining the excitement of little kid Christmas with the capacity for joy and love that we only gain as parents. 

And this year? Well that might even top last year. Because this year we have two kids who get it (well one is borderline but he definitely gets opening presents!). Two kids who wake up in the morning and look for their elf. Two who will get to rush down the stairs and see what’s under the tree for them. I can’t wait for that giddy feeling on Christmas Eve. It just keeps getting better. Christmas as a mom is definitely tops.