Archive for category Jo’s Techniques

The blessed bottle is hard to give up for some. For those Parents who started off breast feeding and went on to use a bottle, or those who started out the gate with bottles or for those parents that now use both; the bottle brings much reassurance not just to child but to parent. From […]

The blessed bottle is hard to give up for some. For those Parents who started off breast feeding and went on to use a bottle, or those who started out the gate with bottles or for those parents that now use both; the bottle brings much reassurance not just to child but to parent. From […]

Read More
Successfully you have trained your child to use Sippy or also known as Beaker cups, you have got rid of the bottles and feel good about the meal plans you have in place. However, your toddler is now also showing keen interest to be more independent wanting to do more for themselves. As mealtimes come […]


Successfully you have trained your child to use Sippy or also known as Beaker cups, you have got rid of the bottles and feel good about the meal plans you have in place. However, your toddler is now also showing keen interest to be more independent wanting to do more for themselves.

As mealtimes come around, they want to pour their own drinks, they want to feed themselves completely and are only interested in your food on your plate before their own. With this keen interest and with them showing finer pincer skills using their fingers and hands balancing what they carry around now, it is a great time to transition from those sucking LITTLE CUPs to BIG BOY/GIRL CUPS the importance of this is to continue their skills in holding and drinking from more mature cups where they can practice holding on to handles and swallow their fluid rather then sucking as they have done for a long time, as well as developing the balance in placing down their cups without spilling loads all the time. Here is how we can help our little ones to do this smoothly.

From Little to Big:

    • To keep your child focused make sure your child is always sitting down holding their little cup. It keeps all eyes on the prize as children have not yet developed the skill-set to keep their hands in one position as their eyes move to another, this is all to do with the left and right brain coordinating together.

 

    • Buy a pack of Mini Red Cups. You know the disposable ones used at parties. Then fill with 1 ounce of water. This will allow the little cup to be held with 2 hands without the cup being too full. It also helps to manage your toddler gauging the flow of them using a steady pace of brining the cup upright into their mouth.

 

    • Practice makes perfect so when 1 ounce is finished fill it with another ounce.

 

    • As your child masters the technique of using both hands with a little cup, move them onto a bigger cup with no handles and fill that cup with 3 ounces and repeat the above.

 

    • Once they have done so for 5 days move them onto a mini plastic cup with a handle or two.

 

    • A handle cup requires your toddler to have more pincer control with their thumb and index finger holding firmly onto the handle. At first you will find your toddler will tip forward the cup ever so slightly. Raise the palm of your hand to the bottom of their cup to show them how to level it straight. As they show more control and master the technique with a little cup with one handles or two handles you can progress them onto a more mature cup in time.

 
NOTE: I find this skill-set very important as most parents spend a lot of time using sports cups that continue to promote the sucking reflex. So this is a good life-skill for our children to be taught, especially knowing that it is not taught too often because parents are more worried about their children spilling the drink onto the floor. If we can see it as our job to help them with their developmental milestones it will help us to focus less on the mess.

Copywritten by Jo Frost

Read More
Children love to be read stories and it truly creates a wonderful experience every time we can introduce our children to the number of rich children’s literature available. Capturing your children’s interest is not just about the easy story we can find to share but, our enthusiasm in how it is read to our young. […]


Children love to be read stories and it truly creates a wonderful experience every time we can introduce our children to the number of rich children’s literature available. Capturing your children’s interest is not just about the easy story we can find to share but, our enthusiasm in how it is read to our young. Young children can be restless and so engaging them into the story as much as possible teaches our children how to increase their attention span so that the stories can become longer and more complex. As they are looking at the illustrations they are learning to pay attention to detail and in noticing these details with provided clues they are honing in on their visual discrimination skills and preparing your children’s eyes to recognize letters, numbers and formations and the difference between the letters and words. When we read and our children listen we help develop their auditory skills to accurately process and communicate their spoken language, and re-enforce word recognition through repetition. Sometimes it’s fun to make these stories up! Here’s how the Home Story Technique can help you all as a family feel confident in reading and that will instill the love of books and storytelling into your family.

What You Need:

    • Time is the first thing, so whether this is done as part of your bedtime ritual or over the weekends as a family, it is a unique bonding experience to allow you all to become familiar with sharing your story and developing our children’s imaginations.

 

    • Have your children collect several items around the home; of course, safe and appropriate items for the age of the child.

 

    • Once your children have collected several items have each child place the items in the middle of the desired space where you will be telling the story.

 

    • Now create a circle or triangle that allows you all to have eye contact with one another.

 

    • Flip a coin to decide who goes first and so forth in choosing the items in the middle. So, if there are 4 children and 12 items each one gets 3 each. If all your children are new to this then you as a parent will be the first to start off the stories but, if others are joining in for the first time then they will be the last and get to watch for others that have the experience.

 

    • The first person will start the story and incorporate all of their objects before moving onto the next person. Remember, when telling your story, you can now move away from the circle to incorporate adventure. Perhaps you are climbing through a rainforest or swimming across a lake. All movement and actions will need space. Alternatively, you can do one round of stories using one item each and then continue the story moving onto the second set of objects that have already been collected.

 

 

Copywritten by Jo Frost

Read More
Getting ready in the morning can cause frustration for both parent and child as we hear the all too familiar ‘Hurry up we are going to be late!!’ I can’t do the zip-up, I can’t put the button through, sound familiar? Most parents recognize that life would be a lot easier, especially with 2 or […]

Getting ready in the morning can cause frustration for both parent and child as we hear the all too familiar ‘Hurry up we are going to be late!!’ I can’t do the zip-up, I can’t put the button through, sound familiar?
Most parents recognize that life would be a lot easier, especially with 2 or 3 kids if they could teach them efficiently to become better at their functional skills. When we can teach our children to manage these tasks and incorporate it into play we can keep our children engaged and interested longer. The ability to dress yourself builds real confidence for a child, a sense of independence and achievement and once they have mastered it there will be no going back. It takes patience persistence and practice from both parent and child. So, remember if your child is having trouble, even though it will be tempting to jump in, just give them a little time to try themselves, sometimes just that little bit of frustration is what pulls them through to the end result of succeeding. The more you can teach your children the name of the types of clothes they are wearing, and what they need to do, meaning, standing on one leg to put a pair of pants on, or holding steady as they pull a button through will all help.

Follow Through:

    • Choose the right time, and especially where there is no pressure to fasten up quickly. Technique takes time and with practice your child will get quicker at achieving such.

 

    • Shadow assistance will enable your child in what to do. So, by gently putting your hands and fingers over theirs and gently assisting them helps then to manage the process involved.

 

    • Verbal prompts will need to be short and sweet and consistent with each step of achieving the particular function and skill. For example, push and pull.

 

    • Backwards tracking is a great way to encourage your children’s motivation. For example, pulling up the zipper on their jacket before they have learned to insert the clasp before zipping.

 

    • Modeling the task at hand allows us to show the child, narrating through each step demonstrated.

 

    • Practice, practice, practice, makes perfect.

 

    • Show your child without it being on them first so your child can see it from a different angle.

 

    • Lots of variety keeps it interesting. It could be on your child’s rucksack or on one of their sibling’s clothes or even a zip-lock bag or an adult beach bag.

 
NOTE: The more your child had the opportunity to practice their functional skills the better they will become in practicing this skill that requires then to be focused and thorough. Most children from an early age are motivated through their own desire to become more independent at an early age. So make sure you praise your children for their efforts whilst learning the skill.

Copywritten by Jo Frost

Read More
Somewhere in the later part of the toddler years you will realize it is time to make that transition to their very first big kid bed. However, sometimes parents find themselves eager to make this happen much sooner than necessary. This creates a whole other drama for themselves with the relentlessness of their child running […]

Somewhere in the later part of the toddler years you will realize it is time to make that transition to their very first big kid bed. However, sometimes parents find themselves eager to make this happen much sooner than necessary. This creates a whole other drama for themselves with the relentlessness of their child running up and down the hallways and not wanting to sleep.

So, how long is it best to keep your toddler in a crib? I say, as long as possible if the child is not too long, not too big, hasn’t started to climb over the rail, is not potty trained, then why rush? If you are seeing all the above, then it is time. Here is a guide to make it go smoothly.

Step-By-Step Guide

    • Moving on up should be made into a big deal. After all, it is a graduation of some sorts, so make it fun! This might be the time that they get to choose some fun bedding.

 

    • Make sure you attach a guard rail so that they do not roll out of the bed. If younger than 6 years old they really should be on the bottom of a bunk bed if this is the bed choice.

 

    • Make a big deal out of the design of your child’s new bedroom, you will be moving things around and your child may want to take more ownership of the bedroom by adding colorful drawings they have done themselves to put up as artwork on their wall. Indeed do let them show their friends the new big boy bedroom they have. Making them feel confident in the transition. Some children get over-anxious with change so based on your child’s temperament be more or less energetic in your enthusiasm.

 

    • Consider the timing of when this transition takes place. Do not combine the transition with a new life event for example, moving house, or the birth of a new sibling. In that situation, you would do a couple months in advance of the new arrival.

 

    • Sticking to your bedtime routine is absolutely key as nothing should change that ritual.

 

    • Re-evaluate your child-proofing with respects to stairwells, windows, cords for blinds, double checking everything.

 

    • Finally, don’t forget to acknowledge their first day of achievement. It will make them feel good about themselves too!

 
Copywritten by Jo Frost

Read More
Why are parents always so shocked when they go into their child’s room to find every toy out of the cupboard and chaos everywhere? When they are asked to put it all away parents are surprised that a child is asking where does it all go? I have been listening to parents asking their children […]

Why are parents always so shocked when they go into their child’s room to find every toy out of the cupboard and chaos everywhere? When they are asked to put it all away parents are surprised that a child is asking where does it all go? I have been listening to parents asking their children to put away their toys and they say I have asked and asked and they still don’t do it. What they don’t realize is they haven’t taught their child how to clean up and take responsibility for their own belongings. In order to do this, you have to make the experience and process simple and fun. Your attitude should generally be one of gratitude because when we can take care of our belongings and make sure they go back into their box and all the pieces are together we earn the privilege to play with it all again tomorrow. The fact is, teaching kids to tidy up is a skill that takes perseverance and patience. Normally at times when we are trying to get dinner ready or baths run is not a good time. It is a skill that is necessary to be taught because it teaches our children to have respect for themselves and others too. So here are a few tips below to start your child off on the right track.

 
 
Here is what to do:

    • Set at least 30 minutes aside for this technique.

 

    • Tell your child in advance that you will be tidying up the bedroom or play area just before tea time. In some cases, before bath time. This is so your child knows what to expect.

 

    • Bring a timer or some music to make the experience a fun one. They can race against the clock or dance as they put everything away.

 

    • Make sure containers and storage boxes are labeled or visible for the naked eye to see where all belongings should go.

 

    • You might want to use color codes for older children or pictures for the young.

 

    • Now set the task of putting all the floor matter into small piles, so that together you can accomplish one module at a time and high five each other when each heap disappears.

 

    • The general consensus is to make sure that all the Lego is together, or all the Hot Wheel cars are together and all the puzzles are in one place. As your child becomes older they may decide they want to separate their toys into their own compartments.

 

    • All tracks and built pieces should not be completely broken up as I believe it is important for a child to see their achievements as motivation to build something else.

 

    • If your child loses interest, make sure to take turns with your child and encourage them to place the items where they belong as you do so in return.

 

    • Remember like any chore, you need to develop the muscle in the brain to become stronger. So, with practice and repetition your child will not only become more efficient but remember where everything goes and this task will become easier and not take so long.

NOTE: I think it is every important for your child to do so not only in your own home but when on playdates too. This teaches a respect for using other people’s belongings and taking care of them.

Copywritten by Jo Frost

Read More
Click through to read the steps and instructions for implementing Jo's Breathing Blue Balloon Technique ...

Click through to read the steps and instructions for implementing Jo's Breathing Blue Balloon Technique …

Read More
Click through to read the steps and instructions for implementing Jo's S.O.S. Technique ...

Click through to read the steps and instructions for implementing Jo's S.O.S. Technique …

Read More
Click through to read the steps and instructions for implementing Jo's Thought Box Technique ...

Click through to read the steps and instructions for implementing Jo's Thought Box Technique …

Read More
Patience is certainly tested daily raising children. Any parent or co-carer will tell you that and we could all work on developing more of it. It certainly is something we are not born with however, true to be said, some people have some patience in some areas more than others. Well worth the effort is […]


Patience is certainly tested daily raising children. Any parent or co-carer will tell you that and we could all work on developing more of it. It certainly is something we are not born with however, true to be said, some people have some patience in some areas more than others.

Well worth the effort is what we can find ourselves saying when we have exercised this virtue but, how do we develop it to a place in our families where it becomes instrumental in achieving satisfaction? I believe it comes with training ourselves to work on all little irritations and small pains we need to tackle adversity. Just think every day we live with being tested, for example being stuck in traffic may seem unbearable but we seem to get through it in the end, snow cold days but we persevere. Here are some of the things we can do to help develop our patience, after all it is only the gifted that can sit down at the piano and play it without ever taking a lesson.

Steps To Patience

  • Understand your irritation. Most of us want our own way to get ahead, to achieve, which is not a bad thing; we just have to try not to act out on our urges.
  • Identify the discomfort from the beginning. With younger children we tend to see them throw an object or push it to the side, make a noise, teenagers make irritating faces and give us back chat.
  • Choose a hobby that requires time to complete. Delayed gratification teaches us the discipline of patience. For example, learning karate or doing puzzles.
  • Create purposeful delays talking your children through the time. Start off small and then gradually develop it to be longer. Example, start off with a small pile of things that need to be put away and gradually add to the pile.
  • The secret is really giving our children lots of chances to PRACTICE waiting. We must expect as parents ‘as if’ they can control themselves. This expectation plays on the child’s intelligence.
  • Most parents are quick to pacify their children. So many time I hear do you want this, do you want that, how about something else? So, slow down your response time, don’t grab something the moment your child demands it.

Good behavior is a two-way street – it involves your child listening and you offering guidance. So how can you find the patience you need to achieve it? Supernanny used this fun way to show Brian and his five-year-old son how to set the stage for positive discipline and good behaviour.

“I really had to think and slow down and put my mind frame into that 5-year-old head – it helped me be patient!”

Bill Dostal

Step 1
Gather up a bowl or bucket and 10 golf balls or small toys (toy cars are ideal).

Step 2
Place the bucket anywhere you like in your back yard and design an obstacle course around it: use your lawn furniture, throw cushions, large toys such as trikes and bikes, your child’s jungle gym – anything that takes your fancy (avoid using potentially dangerous yard equipment). Alternately, play the game at a local playground and use the play equipment as your obstacle course

Step 3
Place the golf balls or small toys randomly among the obstacles, leaving 10-15 feet between each.

Step 4
Blindfold your child and help him to find the golf balls or toys and make his way over to the bucket to drop them in by giving him directions: ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘straight on’ ‘three big steps’ – you get the picture

Step 5
Now it’s your turn to wear the blindfold and let your child guide you!
What your child has learned? He needs to listen carefully! Learn more about how to get your kids to listen.
What you’ve learned That discipline is about clear instruction and guidance – not raised voices and clips around the head! Learn more about disciplining without getting angry.

Copywritten by Jo Frost

Read More

Subscribe To My Newsletter, Cuppa Jo!