Be it picking the right books, navigating educational apps and screen time, or choosing schooling that both fits your child’s educational needs and your budget.
A great deal of a child’s early education happens organically, as their little minds soak up any and all pieces of information given to them.
They do this because it’s their job.
That’s right!
If a child has one job, it’s to absorb any and all information they can get about the world they not so long ago became a part of.
And it’s a wonder to behold.
But it’s gonna be stressful for you sometimes.
“Am I providing them with the tools they need?”
“Am I doing enough to inspire them to grow?”
When it comes to getting young minds ready to learn, Twibbles is here to help.
Enter the world of creativity-forward children's apparel featuring learning materials, where education becomes an exciting adventure.
Creativity meets learning
In their preschool age, children aren’t yet ready for books and memorization and homework. However, babies are born ready to learn, and surrounding them with a stimulating environment is the first step. As they grow, your young toddler may not be prepared to ask questions just yet, but that doesn’t mean she’s not observing her world. And providing her with apparel. and materials that stimulate her learning center, becomes so much easier when it’s provided by the same brand. Giving your child options to choose from, be they books, toys or favorite onesies, affords her the chance to be inspired in all areas of her life. And pairing those onesies with creativity and play only increases her ability to learn.
Fashion meets learning
At its core, clothing for children should be comfortable and usable. But even more than that, it can be a canvas for education. Interactive children’s apparel brands (like Twibbles) have found ways to seamlessly blend fashion and learning. Utilizing images of other places, fantasy realms, and even maps, these brands bridge the gap.
Here’s how we do it….
Through Play
Interactive apparel brands know that children learn best when they’re happy, and they’re most happy when they’re at play. By incorporating fun, creative elements into something like a t-shirt, clothing becomes inspiration and a great asset to their cognitive development.
Through Interactivity
Speaking for ourselves, by pairing educational elements with each of our colorful designs, we engage children at their most creatively inspired moments, and allow them to express themselves. The ability to reach out creatively is one of our greatest assets as humans.
Through Bonding
As a parent, you’re not just your child’s caregiver, you’re their biggest influence. And any time is the right time to bond with your kid and join in on the learning fun. So dig into those Creative Packets and enjoy!
Through Movement
Fine motor skills are learned through repetition and movement, and dressing your child in appropriate clothing only helps them grow more. Choosing comfort with your creativity is a great move!
By introducing creativity-forward children’s clothing with educational components into their lives, you can stimulate your child's interest in education and watch them flourish in an environment where learning has no limits.
Watching your children learn as they grow, taking on new ideas and approaches to their world, is one of the most rewarding aspects of parenting. So why not give them every opportunity to learn in any way they can, all the way down to the clothes they’re wearing?
]]>Teaching children about diversity, how we’re all different…. and the same, is incredibly important to their emotional growth. And it doesn’t just have educational benefits; teaching diversity has moral and social implications too!
You’ve probably already had this experience….
You’re walking through a department or grocery store and your youngster spies someone dressed in a way they're not familiar with. Maybe this person is speaking in a language they’re not familiar with, or they have a physical or mental handicap. And so your youngster did that thing you were expecting and dreading. That thing that little people without egos or shame always seem to do. “What’s wrong with them,” your child asks in a nice, loud voice.
It probably only embarrassed you, but maybe, in the moment, you embraced a teachable moment.
Teaching young children to embrace the diversity that makes us all culturally unique and, at the same time, of equal importance, helps them to understand tolerance and respect for the human race. A tolerance and respect that can benefit them for a lifetime.
Diversity can relate to:
Culture: The global variety of customs and practices
Race: The uniqueness of skin color and physical characteristics that make us different.
Gender: The spectrum of gender identities beyond the traditional binary.
Ability and Disability Diversity: The variety of individual abilities and limitations.
Religion: Physical displays of various faiths and spiritual practices.
Economic and Social Diversity: Socioeconomic backgrounds and how they are displayed in public.
This array of diversity can be a lot for a child to wrap his head around, but each new teachable moment, and your encouragement for him to continue to learn and grow and sympathize, is really, really, really important in crafting a well-rounded future adult who loves and embraces his fellow humans.
You have the ability to break down stereotypes before they get the chance to form, and promote a sense of inclusion that embraces all the ways we’re the same while also celebrating our differences. We live in a globalized society, and it’s only getting more connected. By encouraging your children to embrace and understand diversity, you’re also giving them the right tools to function mightily out in the world.
So what are some parenting “best practices” when teaching diversity?
Are there any cultural festivals happening near you? Seek them out! You’ll be surprised at how much fun your child (and you) can have when you participate in a street fair that’s all about a culture not your own. Exploring the traditions, music, food, and customs of different cultures together as a family shows your children that you care about, and celebrate differences, and, at the same time, exposes them to the variety and fun of our differences.
Seeking out films and TV representations that embrace diversity, or spotlight a different culture, can have a (sneaky) positive effect on your child. Films like Encanto and shows like Sesame Street (50 years and running!) help children learn about the diversity of our world while they’re being entertained.
This one’s pretty obvious. Getting out and seeing the world will inevitably expose your children to its glorious diversity. Whether you’re traveling to another country, or to a Mexican supermarket, your child will be able to see, analyze and ask questions about the variety in the human experience. Wherever you choose to go, learning about diversity firsthand is incredibly enriching.
It's rare these days for any neighborhood or city to be the homogenous groups they were in the past. People are moving farther and more freely and settling in new places than before, and our array of diversity right next door is all the better for it. So getting out to the playground, or meeting friends in the neighborhood who come from different backgrounds and experiences than ours is far easier than it used to be. Simply hanging around with playmates from other cultures and experiences will help your children understand how, in spite of our differences, we are the same.
There’s no such thing as a bad question, and encouraging open conversations about diversity with your children will answer their questions, address their concerns and explain complicated concepts to them in ways they can understand. You are their #1 trusted source of quality information and, as long as you’re keeping yourself educated, you’ll be there to help your children understand diversity in their world.
Teaching diversity and tolerance is your child’s path on the road to empathy and will give them more leverage in our global society. It’s an ongoing, potentially daunting, journey of discovery and understanding, but it’s one that should be constantly encouraged and nurtured. You’re investing in your child’s future by teaching them to celebrate and respect others.
Here’s a game to play with your child to help them learn about diversity:
Guess the Country:
Prepare flashcards with pictures and descriptions of children from various countries, as well as a few basic facts about each country. Children take turns drawing a card and trying to guess which country the child is from.
This is a game that not only teaches about diversity, but also about geography!
Case in point: Have you ever dropped your child off at preschool or daycare?
If so, do you remember that first time?
You probably cried a bit, or your child cried, or everybody was crying. No matter how it played out, it was a unique experience. Placing your child in the care of a teacher, surrounded by new people, not in the comfort of their home can be a difficult transition.
But it can also be really amazing.
Before you knew it, they’d made some new friends. Suddenly your life was swamped with birthday party invites and playdates, new names and new stories, and you were watching your little one clasp hands with his new bestie and take off on yet another grand adventure.
Early childhood friendships are rewarding for many reasons.
And, yes, some days you can and should be your child’s friend. Some days she may feel lonely, or in need of inspiration, or simply wanting a playmate… and that’s gonna be you! But, when it comes to interactions with peers, your encouragement and support of healthy friendships will have a lasting positive impact on all friendships, and relationships, to come.
A great way to encourage friendships and the importance of positive interaction with peers has always been through board games, but another way is art projects! Creativity is collaborative and, in the same way you encourage your child to craft stories out of the colorful images on her Twibbles gear, creating something from nothing inspires interactions and fosters friendships.
So organize a painting party (even if it’s just you and your child sometimes) Collaborative art projects inspire open communication and create an organic shared experience around the kitchen table. Creating a mural or a group painting encourages children to share ideas, cooperate, and work together creatively.
Making new friends in adulthood may be difficult, but children make friends almost instantly, and it’s important to encourage them, while also instructing them on what healthy friendship looks like.
In short, friendship is so much more than just fun!
]]>And it begins sooner than you might think.
Watching your months-old baby grab new objects and toys, study them and put them in his mouth is where it all starts. They are right at the beginning stages of trying to comprehend his world through sensation and study. As your baby is also learning which sounds to make to get your attention, they are also beginning to comprehend interactivity. They’re learning to play.
You’re his first playmate!
And, as your child grows, learns to walk and talk, and begins to get involved with her world in more dynamic ways, the playtime becomes even more important.
And it’s here where your role as playmate and play inspiration also kicks into high gear.
Play encourages cognitive development in your child. As they create new situations, they’re also creating new problems to solve. Through play, children engage in pretend scenarios, construct their own narratives, and explore cause-and-effect relationships. It boosts their cognitive abilities and encourages them to use creativity to come up with unique solutions to their invented situations.
Have you noticed your playing child talking to himself? That’s a good thing! All that talk is one of the best ways your child can boost his language and communication skills. As your child talks his way through adventures and invented worlds of his own creation, he’s also learning how to navigate the nuances of human interaction.
Active play, such as running, jumping, climbing, and balancing, promotes gross motor skills and coordination. Physical development is an important part of childhood, so much so that every well check doctor’s office visit checks for it. It’s also something we take for granted as adults, not remembering a time when we couldn’t do everything. Active playtime helps your child grow into himself physically.
Another ability we adults take for granted is social skill. Your child’s active play time will inevitably become social, especially out on the playground. It’s thrilling to watch your child make an afternoon bff and take off running, chattering and laughing. Encouraging this behavior is great for your child, and helps them develop a sense of belonging, build friendships, and establish social bonds.
Play also helps your child define likes and dislikes and slowly form an identity. As they play, your child will begin to develop a sense of self. Through experimentation with different roles and personas, they will begin to have a clearer understanding of who they are and who they’d like to be.
But we didn’t forget about you, parents!
And your job is to stick close and help in any way you can. Yes, that includes getting down in the dirt and actively engaging in playtime with your child. By doing so, you’ll be providing your child with an active role model, someone they can look up to and learn the ropes from.
Sometimes you’re the only person who will play with them. Makes sense, really. You’re always around when they need someone to bounce off of. Someone has to be there to catch the baseball, play the bad cowboy, help hold up the giant block tower, or turn the Lego instruction pages.
While you’re at it, you can push your child toward academic excellence by creating situations that inspire their inquisitive minds to learn, and encourage them to discover solutions for themselves.
Finally, and this one’s great for both of you, taking part in playtime with your child is a great way to bond. As you play with them, you’ll be constantly reminded why they’ve quickly become one of your absolute favorite people.
By engaging in play, children develop crucial life skills, build relationships, explore their identities, and experience joy and relaxation.
A great way to encourage playtime in your child is with Twibbles creative packets. Loaded with coloring pages, puzzles and early reading exercises, our packets are ready-made for playtime success and available with every purchase, or separately.
With so many ways to get your child’s imagination, relaxation and physicality inspired through playtime, there’s no time like the present to get playing!
It’s the best!
]]>Children under 5 need to be active all day long (except during naptime,) and adolescent children need at least an hour of exercise daily. That may sound daunting to your already tired parent mind, but exercise for children doesn’t have to be as regimented and refined as your Zumba class or 30 minutes on the treadmill. Kids are nature’s perpetual motion machine after all and, for them, quality exercise can be as easy as pointing them toward the playground and watching them go. For children, fitness can mean simply getting out in the world and running until they can’t run anymore.
But how do you foster good exercise habits in your kids, and what are the health benefits?
Regular exercise for children works wonders for their physical well being. From increased vascular health to less risk of becoming overweight, to a more positive outlook, the benefits are amazing… and really not so different from the benefits for their parents!
Regular exercise in children builds strong muscles and bones, and sets them on a path for continued fitness throughout the rest of their lives. It goes without saying that the global job market won’t be getting more physically demanding, so building a base of great exercise habits early in life becomes all the more important.
Anyone who’s ever done a round of exercise can attest to the power of endorphins, and the feeling of exhausted elation that followed. The workout itself might’ve been rough, and a little irritating, but the results spoke for themselves. This positive post-exercise outlook is magnified in the unfiltered humanity that is a child’s mind.
These endorphins help reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, boosting overall mental well-being. On top of that, exercise helps memory and produces a positive self-image. In short: active kids = happy kids.
Much has been written about the importance of routines for children. Knowing what’s coming next at school, suppertime and bedtime strengthens their sense of order and control in a fast-expanding universe. Good habits in childhood continue into adulthood, and one of the best of ‘em is exercise!
A sedentary life is easy to fall into, especially if your family lives in a metropolitan area, but it’s something to be discouraged. As easy as it is to plop your child in front of the TV, and sometimes it has to be done, nobody said parenting was always easy. We know you’re tired, but getting the kids out of the house and into some fresh air and exercise is one of the very best things you can do for them.
Getting out and exercising often means being around peers, which boosts social skills and teamwork and a sense of belonging. Team sports are a great way to make this happen, but not the only way. Sometimes, just making an afternoon friend on the playground is enough.
Building social skills, and friendships, is a wonderful byproduct of exercise, and will benefit your child greatly as they grow.
Bedtime can be a struggle during portions of childhood, so why not get ahead of it and make sure your child goes to bed worn out. After an invigorating round of exercise, you’ll at least know your child is physically tired. She may say she’s not sleepy, but the slowly blinking eyes say otherwise.
Healthy sleep routines are essential to growth and development. By encouraging regular exercise, you’ll also find that you’re encouraging proper sleep habits. Fit kids sleep better.
When a child exercises, they’re learning how to express themselves physically. When they’re wearing light, breathable, colorful clothing that allows them to freely move around in the world, kids are ready for anything, and their positivity is contagious.
There’s no better feeling for a parent than watching the absolute joy your child experiences when running, jumping, swimming, climbing, working with a team, building muscle, growing their coordination, and living their very best life.
So get them off the couch and build some healthy exercising habits. They’ll thank you… maybe not today, but they will!
Here’s a fun game to play with your child to encourage imagination and good exercise habits:
Dance Party!
You don’t even have to leave your home for this one!
Dancing is one of the best ways to get your heart rate up, promote coordination and rhythm.
It might feel a little repetitious for you, but being curious is her job.
The ability to explore the beauty of our world as we travel through is one of the highlights of human existence. There’s just so much to see, so much to be interested in, that one thing can just lead to another in a cascade of curiosity. Our lives can, and should, be spent asking questions, and discovering the answers that lead to still more questions, as we continue to expand our understanding of our small place inside a massive universe.
And this insatiable curiosity begins before we’re even able to vocalize the word “why.” A curious child becomes a curious adult, never shy to admit they don’t know something. Always asking questions because there’s just so much they don’t know, and so much they want to. Always in search of the next truth.
Unending curiosity is so important to the well-rounded emotional growth of a child, so how do we encourage it from an early age?
For starters…
Embrace the “why?”
You’re gonna get tired of answering this question a hundred times a day, providing answers, and awaiting their inevitable follow-ups. It’s important to remind yourself that your child’s willingness to ask these endless questions is a great thing, and pretty high up in their job description. So answer those why’s!
“Because birds have hollow bones.”
“Because staring at the sun will hurt your eyes.”
“Because vegetables help you grow up big and strong.”
“Because crayons aren’t food.”
It’s important to try your darndest to maintain interest in “why,” because the number one task a child has is to learn how to make sense of their world, and you are their biggest source of information. You are their most trusted confidante, and the person they feel most comfortable in approaching with questions demanding answers.
With that in mind…
Be A Role Model
Curious children get that way by watching their parents ask their own questions. Chances are, if you want to foster curiosity in your children, you’re just as curious as them. So get them involved in what inspires you, and share your discoveries! Celebrate their inquisitiveness. Encourage them to find new hobbies by letting them in on yours. Read books together. Go on hikes. Arrange a weekly library trip, especially while they’re out of school for the summer, and nose around the stacks.
Let your curiosity become theirs, and encourage their own unique path along the way.
Be Their Safe Space
All of us need a place that feels like home, free of judgment and prying eyes. You are that place to your children. Encouraging your kids to freely express their thoughts, ideas and imaginations with you will help them clearly understand there’s no such thing as a bad question. There will be no smirking sarcasm, only appreciation and thoughtfulness.
And giving them the freedom to take risks, make mistakes along the way, and think outside the box, as their curious natures blossom, will strengthen their powers of lifelong curiosity.
Beautiful Discovery
There is so much joy to be had in pushing yourself to grow your own knowledge. Curiosity shouldn’t be a chore, and learning doesn’t just have to happen in a classroom. If your child is inspired by something, nurture it! Help them to learn how to ask the right questions, and provide them with resources they can use to find the answers for themselves.
Celebrate their successes and encourage them through their quest for knowledge. Each new discovery they make should be celebrated, no matter how small, because they’re asking questions, and that means they’re using the ol’ noodle!
Read!!
There’s really no better way to delve into new worlds, concepts, and ways of thinking than to pick up a book. Introducing children to the magic of reading from an early age creates a foundation for a lifelong quest for knowledge. Getting into a good book is a transporting experience, as whole worlds, scenarios and histories come to life inside an active imagination.
Explore varying genres, as they develop their personal tastes and preferences. As their imagination soars through the pages, their curiosity will blossom.
Curiosity is a superpower, and each child has been blessed with it! If you foster a safe environment that embraces questions and applauds creativity, you’re tending to the fertile soil that creates the inventors, scientists, artists, and thinkers of tomorrow.
As your child learns more about their world, remember to be patient, honest and kind as you propel your small wonders to new heights.
Happy exploring!
Here’s a fun activity to do with your child that inspires curiosity…
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Head to the great outdoors armed with a list of items to find in nature, such as different types of leaves, rocks, animal tracks, colors and flowers. Maybe even take a pair of binoculars to study the birds flying from treetop to treetop.
Encourage your children to look closely at their surroundings, ask questions about the natural world around them, and be inquisitive about things they don’t know. If you don’t have all the answers, there’s a good bet your phone does.
Live vicariously through their excited search for the unknown. There’s a big, beautiful world out there.
When you get back home, have them draw in small pieces of papers, what they remember from the walk, and tape them on the wall, then, so they can remember their experience, and look forward to the next outing.
]]>There are few more frustrating feelings in parenting than placing a plate of food in front of your child only to watch them scrunch up their noses and push the plate away. “I don’t like this,” they complain, and slowly pull the universal boneless kid maneuver and slink down and out of their chair like a little worm. “But you liked it the last time I made it…” you plead. “It tastes different!” says the kid. All you’re trying to do is help them grow up big and strong!
Well, you’re not alone! There are days when even the most conscientious parents will just be satisfied if their child eats anything. If it’s half a sleeve of crackers and a hunk of cheese, so be it! At least they ate!
We’ve all been there, and you're not a bad parent. Believe it or not, we’re all just trying to do the right thing and it’s not always easy. Kids are learning how to control their worlds in the small ways they can, and that means they’re starting to put their foot down more frequently. Not every meal you serve is going to be properly proportioned servings or protein, fruits, veggies and whole grains.
However, there are great reasons to encourage good nutrition for your children, and ways to pull it off!
Here are some of them…
Set An Example
Children learn by watching, so let them watch you eat. Let them see you enjoying a variety of healthy foods, and then see them mimicking your example. Your positive example to your children while you’re eating meals together will go a long way in convincing them to learn to appreciate healthy foods.
Get Them Involved
The freedom of choice is a great motivator for people, and especially young children who are just learning how to control their world. Including them in meal prep will give them a say in what they eat, even if it’s just being able to choose between certain fruits and vegetables. Presenting them with a variety of food options to choose from helps children form positive relationships with healthy choices.They can even be involved in age-appropriate cooking tasks like washing, peeling and butter knife chopping.
Family Meals
If you want your child to be more engaged in healthy food behaviors, family meals are a great way to model it for them. Not just a great time to get the whole busy brood together to catch up on the day, family meals promote positive food association in kids. Seeing the whole family together, enjoying prepared meals will give your children time with their favorite people as they discover their favorite foods.
Limits
It goes without saying that processed foods and sugary drinks aren’t intended to be an everyday occurrence. Discouraging excessive amounts of unhealthy food can be a struggle at times, but building the understanding that it’s only for special occasions, if at all, is always a good move. Instead, opt for whole foods and healthier, fruit-infused beverages.
Fun & Healthy Foods
Food can be good and good for you! Presenting healthy food in a creative way can make them more enticing for children. Use cookie cutters to give fruits and vegetables fun shapes! Arrange healthy foods into funny faces! Create fun, colorful salads! There are lots of ways to get your kids involved, if you pull out a little creative inspiration.
In that spirit, here’s a fun game to play to encourage healthy food habits…
Smoothie Challenge Game
Gather an array of healthy, smoothie-ready foods, and let your child Place fruits, vegetables and other healthy add-ons in bowls around your blender so your child can study, think and choose.
While they’re choosing their ingredients, they can also learn about the health benefits of each one.
Make one big smoothie, or several small ones!
And don’t forget to encourage them and have fun!
Creating a positive, supportive environment around food for your child is the best thing you can do for them, however you choose to do it. Just like we believe in inspiring creativity, imagination and visual storytelling in children through our patterns and fabrics, we also believe the same can be done with food.
Good nutrition is absolutely crucial at all times, but even more during the formative years. It might not always be easy, but it’s important.
You’ve got this!
]]>Put simply, gender-neutral, in relation to apparel meant for babies and toddlers is simply the act of moving away from colors (blue for boys, pink for girls,) designs and logos that can be perceived as gender-specific. For instance, if you’re dressing your baby boy in a onesie that says “Mommy’s new man” or your baby girl in a pink dress, you are choosing gendered clothing for your little one.
Know what’s funny? Until about a hundred years ago, little boys were put in pink dresses and wore their hair long. Current gender norms are a pretty recent development, actually. Trends are funny that way.
Anyway, let’s be clear here: Dressing your babies in gendered clothes isn’t wrong. Dressing your babies in gender-neutral clothing isn’t either. It’s just a choice you’re making for them until they can choose themselves, and a choice they make once they can, if you let them. It’s just a continued decision that gives them more freedom to express themselves however they feel.
Here are some advantages to choosing gender-neutral clothing for your little one.
Rather than choosing clothing based on cultural norms, or choosing against it for the same reason, i.e. “I can’t wear that, it’s for girls!”, you’re moving personal preference into the realm of liking or disliking an article of clothing based entirely upon its relation to their likes and dislikes. Clothing that’s designed for anyone is all about possibilities.
Inclusivity and equality are ideals that should be taught from a young age, and gender-neutral clothing does just that. By breaking free of potential stereotypes, clothing choice isn’t limited to gender, and encourages a more open-minded and accepting society. We’re all just people, after all. Nobody’s better than anyone else.
When clothing choice loses one of its most potentially limiting factors, option and choice increases. Children are more free to mix and match however they please, choosing from whichever style they feel most like rocking in the moment. Kids are more inspired to play with fashion experimentation and gain skills in personal self-expression.
Gender-neutral clothing can help create a more inclusive environment where children, already beginning to form social hierarchies, will feel respected and seen based upon their own merits rather than how they look. Nothin’ wrong with that!
All that said, don’t overthink it. Gender-neutral clothing for children is just another way to inspire their imaginations. And Twibbles gender-neutral clothing does that one better by telling stories and encouraging your child to be as fun and unique as you know they are!
By promoting inclusivity, acceptance, and freedom of expression, we can create a more inclusive and diverse society for all children.
Speaking of gender-free activities, here’s a game that inspires open-mindedness and creativity.
The Mystery Box Game
You’re a grownup, so this probably happens when you forget to go to the store, so you have to throw dinner together with whatever’s in the back of the pantry. You use a little imagination, and some spice rack wizardry, and whip up something your family (hopefully) eats. It probably feels a little like adulting, but you also might (secretly) have fun with the process.
For children, creating something from nothing is their effortless art form. A child’s imagination is one of their greatest tools in learning how to interact with the world and themselves.
Not every child uses their imaginations the same way, but it should be encouraged for many reasons.
Here are a few of them:
Encouraging a child to use their imagination is fun for parents too!
Here’s one way to get down on the floor and get some imaginary play going:
“Adventure Story!”
Ask your child to pick a setting for your story. It can be anywhere they want. An undersea kingdom, the jungle, another planet, anywhere!
Now it’s time to find our hero. The hero can be your child, or anyone they want.
You’ve got your hero, so now it’s time to imagine something for them to confront. How about a dragon? Or an out of control spaceship? Or maybe even a herd of giant seahorses?
Now that you’ve got your setting, character and challenge, it’s time to figure out how to win! They could use teamwork or magic, special tools or brainpower. Anything goes at solution time!
Lastly, it’s time for your child to tell you their story. They could tell it to you aloud. They could draw it for you. They could even use stuffed animals. Any way they do it, encourage them to give you details about the world they’ve built using their imaginations. Have them describe the settings, characters and story in vivid detail.
Needless to say, you can adjust this game to the age of your child, but watching them solve problems, create worlds with their minds and build their storytelling abilities is a thrill!
And it’ll be inspiring for you because you’ll get to relive some of those imaginary experiences from your childhood too!
A child’s imagination is a wondrous thing to witness, and encourage. Their superhuman abilities, during this time, are absolutely essential for healthy growth, and also just a really great way to pass the time.
So let’s imagine together!
You’re here because you love to watch your children learn and grow. And you know that they don’t just hit those milestones from books and TV. They get much of their growth from the world around them. From the wind in their hair to the clothes that they wear.
And, when you come right down to it, children’s wear is more than just clothing. Twibbles children’s apparel is just as much about growth and development as it is about warmth and comfort. Colors, patterns and images dance across our clothing with one goal in mind: To inspire strong, growing minds.
Here are 4 ways colors and patterns help children explore their world
Colors have a strong impact on emotional growth. Bright and flashy orange means excitement and adventure. Cool and soothing blue brings feelings of contentment and safety. The whole color wheel is filled with ways for children to learn to regulate their emotions and see the world in new ways.
The sight of different colors, how they work together, and how patterns form new pictures gives children ways to explore their own forms of personal expression. You might see them creating new, inspired pieces of art, or even designing their own clothes! As their minds grow, you’ll be amazed at how much information your kids soak in and make their own.
As they’re exposed to new colors and patterns, children learn to visually tell them apart and form new ideas. By learning to discriminate between objects, textures and colors, kids are (secretly) prepping their minds for numbers, letters and other future visual cues.
This is the big one! When children are exposed to patterns and colors, their minds are stimulated and they’re growing before your eyes. Recognizing patterns and colors requires the use of memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, which are essential for a child's learning and development.
By learning about colors, patterns, textures and designs, children are also learning about their world and their place in it.
So let’s have some fun with it, and play an easy game!
The Colors Scavenger Hunt!
Choose a few colors from your Twibbles product, a t- shirt, a onesie, a book, anything, if you don't have one yet find one from around the house, or outside, and ask your child to find objects that match them. Start with colors like red, blue and yellow and then ask your child to collect items that match these colors and collect them in a box or basket.
This activity is fun and engaging, and also a great shared activity for you to do together.
And, looping back around, that’s what this blog is all about! Learning through creativity. Growing positively. Kids amazing you, and themselves, with new skills and abilities.
To name a few of the topics we’ll be covering here:
We’ll be posting weekly, and hope you can come back soon!
]]>Okay, how about a month?
Because, no matter your experience, there’s no denying the importance of Moms!
For all the Moms who work tirelessly and with love, often to little or no fanfare. This Mother’s Day is for them!
For keeping us safe.
For keeping us healthy.
For picking us up when we fall,
and holding us when we cry.
For all the unconditional love and support.
Moms are truly special people.
To all the mothers who’ve impacted our lives, this is your day and we just wanted to remind you that your work is appreciated and that you are loved.
Also, to all the mothers out there, we just wanted to remind you to take time for yourself this weekend too! You’ve got one of the most important jobs in the world, and you don’t exactly get nights and weekends off. So here’s to celebrating Mother’s Day with Twibbles!
Here are some reminders to help you unwind, destress and remember to love yourself through all of motherhood’s ups and downs.
Remember, if you’re not caring for yourself, how are you going to care for your little ones? Treat yourself to an afternoon at a spa. Take a bubble bath. Even if you only have time for a series of moments to pause and breathe throughout your day, looking out for yourself will help you be a better mother to them.
To paraphrase the words of a wise queen: “If you can’t love yourself, how are you going to love somebody else?”
It’s always good to remember that your journey as a mother is unique. Your journey is yours, just as every mother’s journey is her own, and we all have our strengths and faults. Build yourself up!
Being a mother is a rewarding, difficult, sometimes stressful job, but you don’t have to go it alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. The old adage, “it takes a village” couldn’t be more true. And, sometimes, you just need a break, and that’s okay too!
Your kids stay small for what feels like a week. One day they’re cuddly little people just learning to walk - the next they’re learning to drive. Between it all are a series of moments to be remembered, cherished for a lifetime and appreciated for the important little sparks they are.
In honor of you, and the wonderful, fleeting, sometimes exhausting experience of motherhood, why not do a little craft with your children to commemorate how far you’ve come together?
Let’s make a handprint flower pot…
All you need is a small flower pot, like the red clay kind, some paint and two little hands.Decorate the pot with your child, allowing them to add their own memorable flourishes and creative ideas.
Once the decorating is done, pour a little paint into a paper plate and have your child put their handprint on the side. After which, you can even place a plant inside, water it and watch it grow with your child
Happy Mother’s Day from our family to yours.
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