A couple months ago I was whining to my mom about my 2-year-old. At any given time, Ben would resist whatever I said we were going to do, and ask to watch a movie instead.
My wise mother suggested that I make some kind of clock or schedule so there would be a visual aid when I announced "It's nap time!" Since Ben doesn't know the difference, I wouldn't have to assign actual times and stick to a real schedule. It can be whatever time I need it to be, really. Brilliant!
How to make this clock:
- Buy a kinda cute, kinda not kids clock from the dollar store.
- Remove clock hands. Peel off the paper face and use it to trace a new one on cute paper. Glue cute paper to clock with Mod Podge.
- Forget to take a photo at this point.
- Photograph items that represent things to do during a normal day. Load onto computer and print them really small (about 1" x 1" for mine).
- Cut out pictures and glue them where the numbers would be. Brush on a top coat or two of Mod Podge for a nice glossy look.
- Wish, just a little, that you'd had the patience to cut circular pictures, or at least put them on more straight (darn fast-drying glue).
- Reattach hands and hang clock somewhere prominent.
- Thank yourself as your two-year-old gets excited about Clean-up Time because he interpreted it from his new clock.
In case you're curious, these are the pictures I used:
- Stuffed lamb that Ben sometimes sleeps with (nap time)
- Toy truck (play time)
- Ben's little table (office time - when I work on the computer and he "works" close by, coloring, etc.)
- Apron (help Mama time - usually with dinner, but could be anything, I guess)
- Books (reading time)
- Shampoo, washcloth and bath toy (bath time)
- Pajamas (bed or get-ready-for-bed time)
- Toys IN the basket (clean-up time)
- Plastic dishes (eating time)
- Shirt and pants (time to get dressed)
- Puzzles (school time - when we sit down together and play with special games/toys and learn stuff)
- Monsters, Inc. DVD (movie time)
Cost: $1 for the clock. That's it.
