Parenting
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7 of the Best YouTube Channels for Toddlers
Keeping toddlers entertained long enough to do the laundry or dishes can be pretty challenging, so when you absolutely have to get something done, these 7 YouTube channels for toddlers will usually do the trick. In addition to giving you a little bit of time, most of them will teach something to your little one. Mom win!
1. KidsTV123
KidsTV123is a great YouTube channel for toddlers with about 200 animated videos that teach letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and phonics, all with fun songs that you can’t help but sing along with. Some of the favorites in my house are the phonics, the days of the week, and the months of the year songs.
2. Super Crazy Kids
Super Crazy Kids has over 350 animated videos, and features a chubby baby who often drives around in a little car or on a scooter. The videos teach toddlers shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. They are short and sweet, and always filled with interesting noises and sounds, as well as loads of puzzles, toys, and animals to keep your toddler watching. My son LOVES these videos.
3. LittleBabyBum
LittleBabyBum has over 600 very well animated videos with fun nursery rhymes and songs. There are a lot of nursery rhyme compilation videos as well, so if you want to play something that will keep them busy for an hour, these are a great option. My daughter always requests these videos.
4. Super Kids TV
Super Kids TV is another channel filled with videos teaching colors, shapes, and numbers. These videos also have a lot of animated cars and toys toddlers love to watch. If you have a car or truck lover, these videos would be ideal for your toddler. 5. Genevieve’s Playhouse – Toy learning for kids
Genevieve’s Playhouse – Toy Learning for Kids has almost 400 videos teaching colors, shapes, and counting. What makes these videos great is the narrated play with real toys, which helps to stimulate your toddlers own imagination for play.
6. Kids TV – Nursery Rhymes And Baby Songs
Kids TV – Nursery Rhymes And Baby Songs- has a wide variety with over 1800 animated songs and nursery rhymes. You’ll never run out of videos on this channel. This one will keep your toddler entertained for a while.
7. Toy Jelly
Toy Jelly is another great real toy play channel. Many of the videos mix play doh play with toy appliances, as well as videos with moon sand play, which makes these videos great for older toddlers. My kids love these videos.
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I Brought My 1 and 3 Year Old To My 20 Week Ultrasound – Why It Was Awesome!
Ever since we told my 3 1/2 year old daughter she was going to be a big sister again, she’s been excited, and even decided that she has a baby dinosaur in her tummy too. She is constantly talking about her “sister,” and insists that I am having a girl. No matter how much I tell her that it COULD be a boy, she insists “It’s a ‘gee-yow!'” One day I asked her, “Lyla, will you be sad if the baby is a boy?” She replied, matter-of-factly, “Mommy, we already have a boy, and it’s Ryan!”
Since she is so excited about the baby, I thought she would enjoy seeing him/her on the ultrasound. Before bringing my kids, I called the office and asked if they would allow children in the room during the sonogram. The receptionist asked the tech who said it would be alright as long as there was another adult accompanying them. That would be fine since my husband was coming anyway. I excitedly told Lyla about the ultrasound, and how we would be able to see the baby INSIDE my tummy.
As the day approached, I was getting a little worried about having my kids in the room because my son, Ryan, is only 1 1/2, and I thought maybe it would bore him and he’d get cranky and make things difficult. I was also a little worried that Lyla would be disappointed if we found out we were having a boy instead of the sister she wants so bad. So, I was a little hesitant. But more than anything, I was excited for them to share this experience with my husband and I.
Ultrasound Day
Well, yesterday was my 20 week ultrasound, and boy, having them there did NOT disappoint! First of all, they were both very well behaved, which I think is partly due to the fact that the lights were dimmed.
The tech had me lay down and lift my shirt, Ryan was watched intently, concern on his face. The first minute or two were pretty quiet while she took pics and measured some of the things she needed to. Almost as soon as parts of the baby became recognizable, Lyla’s face lit up and she giggled. “It’s the baby!” She had us cracking up the rest of the ultrasound with the things she said. Here are the few I will never forget.
*giggle* “Mommy, the baby is upside down!”
“The baby is eating a cookie!”
“Mommy, where’s it’s pants?”
“It looks like it’s eating it’s hand.”
“The baby is eating it’s foot!” (this was the potty shot)
When it came time to find out the gender, we found out that she was not getting the sister she was expecting. But this didn’t seem to bother her at all, she was just so excited to see her brother.
On the way home, I asked her if she was excited about her brother. She said, “Yeah. I’m not getting a sister.” I said, “Yeah, I’m sorry. Maybe you’ll get a sister another time.” She replied, “That’s okay. I have a dinosaur sister in my tummy.”
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8 Surprising Things I Learned After Becoming A Mother
From an early age, I knew I wanted to be a mother, and being the second oldest in a family of 12, I felt prepared for it. I thought I knew what to expect. Boy was I wrong! No matter how prepared you think you are, you cannot REALLY be prepared for a position you have yet to fill. Motherhood is more physically and mentally challenging, and yet far more rewarding than I had anticipated. Here are 8 surprising things I have learned in the past few years of being a mother.
1. Privacy is Almost Non-existent
Ryan invading my privacy… I’ve heard it said by mothers over and over that “the bathroom is the only place I can get privacy.” What?! You actually get privacy?! I’m jealous! If I close the door while I do my potty business, there will be fits, tears, and wild hysteria. OK, OK. I do get a tiny bit of privacy. But that either means I managed to coordinate naps (Mom win!) or I’m up WAY past my bedtime.
2. Mothers Are ALWAYS Cleaning Up Messes!
I swear, I clean up the same mess 50 billion times a day! Alright, I admit I am slightly exaggerating. But that’s honestly what it feels like some days. I take solace in knowing that one day my kids will have to do all the chores. I’ll just watch, big bowl of ice cream in hand, and a smile on my face. Maybe I’ll even add to the mess a little. Knock some books off the shelf, dump out the toy box, rip up some tissue…oh, and ice cream could make great paint! Mwah-ha-ha!
3. Naps are Heaven
I am willing to bet nobody enjoys a nap quite like a mother. Being a mother is downright exhausting! Mothers are busy from the moment their eyes open in the morning until they close again in sweet slumber. Although exhausting, it can be pretty difficult to sneak in a nap between the feeding, comforting, cleaning, laundry, dishes, and cooking, not to mention the quality time with hubby. I can’t even remember the last time I managed a nap. I can, however, remember the last time I almost got a nap (which my daughter spoiled by asking for a cracker…guys,…a cracker). So when a nap is finally achieved, the angels sing.
In the meantime, there’s coffee. 4. Snot is Not THAT Gross
Don’t get me wrong, snot IS gross. But it’s not gross enough to refuse my daughter’s kiss if she offers one. A snot covered face is not gross enough to push my son off my shoulder when he wants to snuggle. Snot doesn’t faze me a bit when my sick daughter needs some love and kisses. Snot is gross, but not nearly as gross as it used to be. And certainly not as gross as other things I’ve grown accustomed to dealing with.
5. Shopping With Kids is Not Easy
Before I had my children, I loved to go grocery shopping. It was fun planning meals and taking my time in the store gathering food. Now with two little ones, shopping is the LAST thing I want to do. In order to go shopping I have to get us dressed and out the door in a timely manner (psh!), and strategically plan around naps and snacks. But just getting out of the house is the least of my worries.
Lyla building a tower in the cart. Here are a few of the things my daughter (2 1/2) has done while shopping:
- Helped me out by ripping open boxes of food.
- Ate the broccoli straight out of the bag when I wasn’t looking. (At least she likes broccoli)
- Fell asleep in the middle of the cart leaving almost no room for food.
- Built a tower in the cart which knocked chicken broth onto the floor. Of COURSE it HAD to break open and spill everywhere. Embarrassing!
So, if I HAVE to do the shopping without the help of my husband, I try to get it over with as quickly as possible.
6. Motherhood is a Daily Roller Coaster of Emotions
You know exactly what I am talking about. Those rip-your-hair-out moments when your son helps himself to the candy bars in your purse, followed by swooning over his chocolate covered face. Or wanting to scream and cry (and maybe even run away) because your daughter has her 10th meltdown in 5 minutes. Then 2 seconds later you have to belly laugh because she finally fell asleep with her face in her plate of spaghetti.
7. My Husband is Suddenly More Attractive
My husband napping with Ryan. Not to say that I wasn’t attracted to him before, but my husband’s attractiveness (is that a word?) has tripled now that he is the father of my children. Gosh, that man is hot sauce. I love watching my children enjoy play time with their daddy, and I love to see the pride on my husband’s face as he watches them play. I love my family!
8. A Mother’s Love Multiplies
After I had my daughter, I was so happy. I was the whole entire world to a teeny person who emerged from ME. I love her so much. Then I found out that there was another on the way. I was very excited, but I started to wonder to myself, “What if I don’t love this baby as much as I love my daughter?” Then my son was born and I fell, I fell HARD! My heart had already been so full, but somehow, it filled some more. I have the same love for both of my children. It multiplied! I don’t know how it is possible, it just is!
What’s Next?!
Motherhood has taught me so much, and turned me into a better person. It has been an incredible journey already, and I still have many more lessons ahead of me. I am enjoying the years while my children are young, and too soon the teenage years will arrive. I am SURELY unprepared for that! In the meantime, I will learn what I can from all the wonderful mothers around me.
What surprising things did you learn after having children? What would you want a new mother to know? Let me know in the comments!
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