Oh the Things You can Do with Dough!

Play dough has by far been one of my favorite activities to do with my kids. I guess I had always labelled myself as being "artistically challenged" in arts that did not involve words. But with these colorful mounds of dough, the possibilities were endless. So in the process of encouraging the kids to play with it, I have enjoyed hours of creative time myself. And the irony is that I had been introduced to this first when someone had told me never to get her play dough as my house will be a mess! Nothing that cant be dealt with, as long as you don't get it on the carpet of course!

A played with it well until about 5 years, after which it was hidden in fear of the little Av putting it in her mouth. This was one of the last few times she played with it.

We are so glad it is back in our sight from the past few months. Av loves it and though she is still learning ways to enjoy it, there is so much that can be done with it. Before she was at a safe age to play with it, she always played with homemade Roti Dough during her ones. But now we have started to have some fun times together creating things with Molds and Cutters and sometimes creating a story scene like this one.

Oh the things you can do with Dough! I don't think it is easy to run out of ideas for things to do with this amazing stuff, just like how it was probably really difficult for Dr.Seuss to run out of ideas for writing books!

Books for the first few years

I have wanted to do a list of our favorite early years books since a long time. I have listed books with the author's name first, because when I found a good book by a certain author I have gone and explored many more books by the same author. I have listed only one or two of the famous books by that author, but definitely do recommend reading more books by the same author. Most of these books are available in board book version for littler hands.

I am most certain I have missed out many, and will try to keep coming back and updating this list.

1.  Margaret Wise Brown  -   Good Night Moon, The Runaway Bunny

2.  Bill Martin Jr.  -   Brown Bear Brown Bear, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

3.  Eric Carle -  The Very Hungry Catterpillar, The Tiny Seed (Too many to list..)

4.  Laura Numeroff -  If you give a mouse a cookie, Best Mouse Cookie

5.  Anna Dewdney -  Llama llama Red Pajama (and more in this series)

6.  Denise Fleming -  In the small small pond, Beetle Bop

7.  Dr. Seuss -  Cat in the Hat and pretty much any of his beginner books. LOVE THEM!!!

8.  Bruce Degen - Jamberry

9. Mem Fox - Good Night Sleep Tight, Time for Bed

10.  Joy Cowley - Mrs. Wishy Washy Series

11.  Karen Katz - Where is Baby's Belly Button, Potty for Me

12.  Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes Book

13. Beatrix Potter -  The Tales of Peter Rabbit

14. Martin Waddel -  Owl Babies

15. Judy Schachner - Skippy Jon Jones Series

16. Don Freeman -  Corduroy

17. Emily Gravett - Monkey and Me, Orange Pear, Apple Bear

18. Sam McBratney - Guess How Much I Love you

Story times at the Public Library

The story time sessions have become so much a part of our household. They are held at the public libraries almost throughout the country by librarians specializing in children's books. The first time I found out about them was when A was around 2 years. We have not stopped ever since. Though A is now outgrown these story times, she attends other programs for her age like the children's book club.

 I started taking Av to baby sessions ever since she was around 14 months. The classes are really musical sessions starting for infants from birth. It is quite amazing what it did to Av, as she was too young for preschool, but needed an opportunity to interact with kids her age.

Though this is getting really popular and crowded at our library, I occasionally meet somebody who has not heard about it. Just wanted to share what we have really loved and benefitted from. Perhaps another reason why it has really worked for us is the fact that the library is less than a mile away.  Another big incentive is to pick more books after each class.  Overall it has been a wonderful experience for us at our library, cannot tell you if the kids have enjoyed it more or the mom.