You're on a bus ride to another city or you're waiting at the doctor's office. Your child demands to play on your phone, but you don't want to give up your phone. Maybe you need it for something, it's almost out of batteries, you don't trust your kid with it, or you just don't want your kid to have more screen time.
Here are some toys that you can fit in your purse or diaper bag to keep your child amused without resorting to handing over your phone. All are toys that one child can play independently, though some are also ideal for sharing.
These magnetic wooden blocks can be assembled to make a variety of creations. They're safe for babies but also fun for older kids, so both your toddler and school-aged kiddo can enjoy them. The Travel Pals, Pocket Pouch Prisms, and Pocket Pouch Original lines are small sets that are ideal for travel. The Pocket Pouches come in a variety of different colours, and you can combine two pouches to make bigger creations. The Travel Pals are shaped like animals or vehicles, but you can reconfigure the blocks to make other designs as well. These toys can be used by one kid or possibly shared by siblings (depending on how well they cooperate!). Since the blocks are magnetic, you don't need a flat surface to play. Tegu are expensive, but they're worth it because your kids won't outgrow it. Don't be surprised if you find yourself playing with these as well.
Ages: 0+
Ideal for: transit, restaurants, waiting rooms, visiting relatives
Restrictions: not ideal for strollers or anywhere where dropped pieces can't be retrieved
Oombee Cube by Fat Brain Toys
This is a small shape puzzle for babies and toddlers. The shapes are attached to the cube, so they can't lose any pieces. This toy is made of silicone, making it a satisfying chew toy for teething babies. You can use a pacifier clip to attach it to the stroller or car seat.
Ages: 10 months and up
Ideal for: car, public transit, airplane, restaurants, waiting rooms, visiting relatives, stroller
This is a fine motor and sensory toy that appeals to toddlers, though you may find yourself fidgeting with it too! Toddlers grab the end of a zip and pull, then repeat. There aren't any pieces to lose, and it's made of silicone, so it's lightweight. Use a pacifier clip if you're using it in the car seat or stroller.
Ages: 18 months and up (note that it's not meant as a teether)
Ideal for: car, public transit, airplane, restaurants, waiting rooms, visiting relatives, stroller
This is a great option for younger toddlers. The books have sensory parts, like textured tags and crinkly fabric, as well as mirrors, toys to put in and take out of pockets, and cloth flaps to lift. Some of the books have a basic storyline, like a dog looking for its bone, and others are wordless. The books have a loop so that you can attach it to a stroller or carseat, and all of the components are tethered on.
Ages: newborns and up
Ideal for: car, public transit, airplane, restaurants, waiting rooms, visiting relatives, stroller
This adorable toy is a little zippered pea pod with three peas inside. The peas each have a different sensory feature (a squeaker, a rattle, and crinkly fabric), and they're attached to each other and to the pod so that they don't get lost. Younger babies enjoy feeling the different textures, older babies play by taking the peas out of the pod and putting them back in again, and toddlers can master zipping and unzipping the pouch.
Ages: newborns and up
Ideal for: car, public transit, airplane, restaurants, waiting rooms, visiting relatives, stroller
Whether you're planning a trip to escape winter, or hoping that your toddler can join you at a restaurant, grab one (or more!) of these toys to keep your little one happy.
Few authors are accomplished at writing both picture books and novels, but Grace Lin has done exactly that. Lin is a Chinese-American author and illustrator who has won both the Newbery and Caldecott medals. Much of her work draws from her Chinese heritage, and several of her books are inspired by events from her own childhood. Here are my three favourite books by Grace Lin.
Dim Sum for Everyone is a simple picture book for young children, available as both a paperback and a board book. It shows a family going out for Dim Sum, and is a great way to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to this part of Chinese culture. It's also a great book for beginning readers. The end of the book provides more information about Dim Sum.
A Big Mooncake for Little Star is about a little girl whose mother makes mooncakes for the upcoming Moon Festival. Little Star is impatient to eat the mooncake, so she sneakily nibbles away one bite each night. This is a relatable family story, an introduction to an Asian holiday, and a description of the phases of the moon, all in one beautifully-illustrated book. This book won the Caldecott Medal.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a Newbery Medal winner, is one of my favourite middle-grade novels. It's part fantasy and part Chinese folklore, about a girl named Minli who goes on a journey to meet the old man on the moon in order to help her family. Many parts of the plot are inspired by Chinese folktales, so it's full of lessons for young readers. Children as young as grade two or three could handle reading this novel independently, but I've also had grade six students who loved it. It's appropriate to be read aloud to younger children as well. It has two sequels which are similar but follow different characters.
In addition to writing fantastic children's books, Lin advocates for diversity in children's literature. Her video essay, Your Favourite Book From Childhood Might be Racist, explains how you can love an old favourite book but still address its problematic content, and she did a TED Talk in 2016 on the need for representation of diverse cultures in children's books.
Every child from toddlerhood to middle school needs to have books by Grace Lin on their bookshelves.
In my last two posts, I explained why a B is an acceptable grade and why report card grades are so subjective. Now this is where this post really turns into a rant. I have big feelings about this, because I wish that I was allowed to just write honestly about your child's progress.
We're often not allowed to be honest in our comments
I often feel really bad about this one. We have to phrase everything positively and often use a lot of jargon. The times that I've tried to write what I really wanted to say, I was asked by the principal to change my comments. By now, I know to write in edu-speak so that I don't have to revise every single report card for being too honest.
What I wish I could write: "Timmy hasn't learned to count to 10. Children at this point in grade one should be able to rote-count to 20."
What I'm supposed to write instead: 'With considerable support, Timmy can count to 10."
The results?
Parents see that I've written what their child can do and is proud of their accomplishments. Yay! My kid can count to 10 with help! Since most parents haven't read the curriculum documents, they don't know that that's far below expectations. They're not concerned about their child's progress and may not attend the parent-teacher meeting to learn more about how we can work together to support their child. OR
Parents see the comment about what their child can do and a letter grade of C or D and are upset with me that the comment doesn't match the letter grade (quite frankly, I don't blame them).
I'll put this in all caps so everybody hears me:
IF WE SAY YOUR KID CAN ONLY DO SOMETHING WITH CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT, WE'RE SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T DO IT.
We're just not allowed to actually write "can't."
So what can you do? Please, please come to the parent teacher meeting. If you're not available on the day that the meetings take place, ask for an alternative time. Ask how your child is doing in relation to the curriculum expectations. Make sure that you and the teacher have a mutual understanding of your child's progress and of what you, the teacher, and your child plan to do to help your child succeed. If you're confused about the edu-speak in the comments, please ask us!
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