you should be dancing.

i used to dance. like, for about twenty years. i also used to be blonde:

copyright kaja tirrul

but then was brunette shortly after:

copyright kaja tirrul

so it's no surprise that dancing is a part of our everyday routine here at home: i pretend to be beyonce and perform 'single ladies', then marcus upstages me by doing the dougie:

then i come back at him with my best lady gaga moves. then he one-ups me again with his toddler head spin and stalls on the kitchen floor. at this point i go all out and show him some ballet, some modern - like it's getting serious. then he's all oh ya? and does his perfect little butt wiggle paired with his perfect 'rapper face' and i am out. down for the count. he wins.
instead of a dance studio - now i dance in the kitchen. or down the hall. or at kindergym. i might even talk meliss into coming with me to an actual class now that i'm all high on life and making things happen. you know, because i have extra time in the day for that :)

it's not just a passion of my own or an early passion of marcus'. dancing is amazing in helping kids to gain self confidence, develop coordination and rhythm, agility, flexibility, musicality, it will increase early spatial awareness and enhance functionality of both mind and body. it is a HUGE win.

i'll be surprised if marcus doesn't do something with music or dancing in his life ... both are already a huge part of the little person he is ... stay tuned and i'll share some photos from marcus' 'first guitar jam session' in the near future. he loves music, he is always dancing, and it makes me so happy and super proud.
and who knows - someday i might even win one of our dance-offs :)

-kare

readers are leaders.

it's common sense that reading to your child is good stuff. the earlier, the better. the more, the better. we started reading together before he turned a day old. now we have [at least] two solid 'windows' a day that are cut out for reading time. we spend half of it reading independantly, and half of it reading out loud together. yes, he is two and a half and can read a number of his books on his own. don't believe me?

we even have a book nook:

if reading isn't a regular part of your day, i won't go opening my big mama mouth :) just read this:

- early reading encourages early language development. according to research, babies who were read to regularly starting at 6 months developed almost twice the receptive language by 18 months as those who weren't.
- reading sparks imagination
- early reading increases attention span
- reading boosts memory
- incredible bonding opportunity between parent and kiddo:

you read your book. i'll read mine.

- encourages creative development and musicality
- screen watching makes a child a follower and a consumer. books exist because of the power of human ideas. readers are leaders and producers.
- it creates an awesome legacy. if more kids were conditionned to LOVE to read, the world would be smarter.

now, in my humble opinion i'd say you're a step ahead already for reading this blog right this minute ... but for real - especially if you do have a pint sized co-pilot around your ankles - get reading!

-kare