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It’s not easy to stay “in control” all the time – especially as the parent of a young child. I am so happy to have a community of parents to bounce off these notions…

Because now I know that so many of us have had the unfortunate experience of being sleep deprived and yelling at our helpless infants, or trying to multi-task when our toddler keeps screaming the same crazy phrase in the hope that will get our full attention.

Trying to regulate our own emotions as parents is really tough… but realizing that to step in the shoes of our young children is to be, by nature of their age and stage, completely dependent on us to help them develop the ability to regulate their emotions… that’s big. 

Most of us have a sense of what it means to be in control of our emotions. As adults, we have the tools in place to *mostly* stay within the confines of a “regulated” state.

Our infants and toddlers are not so independent. Just as we must learn to walk, to speak, to learn – we also must learn to have control over our emotional responses to the world.

In infancy and beyond, our physical state, our behavior and temperament, and our cognitive abilities are all at play when it comes to self-regulation.  

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Our young children learn – through imitation, practice, observation – how to get their needs met, and we, as caregivers, are the primary enablers and teachers.

In the corresponding podcast episode, Regulate Yourself! What is Emotional Regulation?we discussed the areas that influence the development of emotional regulation, and a number of ways to facilitate and support that development.

One of the ways to support our young child’s development of emotional regulation – which can be classified as part of both social/emotional development and cognitive development – is through the modeling and use of emotional language

I modeled an example of an activity (specifically through the lens of a musical and early literacy experience) to model this type of language, which also hits on the idea that caregivers must recognize that not all emotional responses look “nice” – and that’s ok!

Don't Miss our Corresponding Podcast Episode!

Materials to create your DIY Emotional Language Book

  • A search engine (to locate at least 4 images of various emotions such as happy/sad/excited/mad/tired/hungry) and printer, OR a nice marker and some artistic talent! You may have already downloaded these images to create our “DIY Feelings-Faces Plates!”
  • For each emotion you choose, locate 2-3 images that represent objects or influences from the environment that might have elicited that emotional response (for instance, your “happy” page might have smaller images of a favorite toy, a favorite place, and/or a favorite person)
  • Paper, a small binder and sheet protectors in which to place each page

Instructions to create your DIY Emotional Language Book

  1. Put your Emotional Language Book together (or just print off your free download from below!)
  2. Listen to the corresponding episode Regulate Yourself! What is Emotional Regulation? for a great way to set the activity to music while you read through your book, asking questions on each page, like, “where is the sad boy? Why do you think he’s so sad?”
  3. Allow your little one time to “choose” one of the images (through eye gaze, a pointing gesture, vocalization or verbalization, etc) or simply indicate which one you think it might be – simply modeling your own best guess and opinion
  4. Remember that the purpose of this activity is not to ensure that your child makes a choice or even understands the idea that the pictured child feels a certain way – this activity is meant to practice associations (when this happens, I often feel sad), discuss emotional words and use the vocabulary of emotion, and learn the practice of making inferences. You model empathy and also help to develop your little one’s ability to take another’s perspective, a big part of “theory of mind.”

Ages

  • An infant and even a toddler will have trouble taking another person’s perspective and imagining that he might be feeling a certain way. Focus on the activity as an opportunity to encourage imitation, give your little one practice hearing the vocabulary of emotions, and encourage her powers of observation.
  • A young infant can sit back and listen to you speak or sing the words, and enjoy the emotionally bonding experience of the interaction
  • An older infant or toddler will pay more attention to the content of the vocabulary, and be more cognizant of how it applies to her life and experience
  • Be aware that your child might try to communicate to you about herself using visuals – young children often use visual supports in their environments to express their desires, needs, thoughts, or opinions!

This post contains affiliate links. All activities described by Learn With Less assume close and continuous supervision of the child by an adult.

Download Your Mini Book!

We always encourage you to make your own play materials - but here's a pre-made freebie to save you time!

When you download this little book, I will add you to my email list, where I'll keep you updated with relevant information if I believe there's a legitimate interest. Learn more by visiting our Privacy Policy!

I'm a mom and an SLP - not a spammer! Powered by Kit

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Learn With Less
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Ayelet Marinovich, MA, CCC-SLP
If YOU have a professional/educational background in a field related to early child development (e.g., #speechlanguagepathology , #earlychildhoodcareeducation , #physicaltherapy , etc.)

👉🏽 AND you want to empower families to support & connect with their young children, & you want to build access to education for ALL families by facilitating a message through play, inclusivity, respect, & connection…

🔎 Check out the Learn With Less® Facilitator Training Program! 🔗 (link in bio) https://learnwithless.com/certification

One of our recent @learnwithless clients shared with us what the program means to her:

⭐️ “I’ve been working in Early Intervention with kids for many years as a PT, & I’ve seen a huge need in my community for something like this. 

⭐️ I’ve taken the leap to fulfill that need. I was looking for something fresh & exciting, to use my skills in a unique way. This program fits the bill!”

When you fill out our quick application we’ll see if you’re a good fit &invite you to a private training: https://learnwithless.com/certification

Got questions? Send me a direct message! We love getting to know your vision, hopes, & goals allowing you to expand the impact you can make in your community!
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#learnwithless #communitycare #slpmom #otmom #ptmom #privatepracticetherapist #privatepracticeslp #pediatricot #earlychildhoodeducator #slp #familycentered #birthtothree #infantsandtoddlers #earlyintervention #earlyinterventionworks #parenteducation #parenteducation #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhood
In our latest episode of the @learnwithless podcast (in collaboration with the Play On Words podcast from @bigcityreaders ) 

We discuss the 4 pillars of our framework for supporting & connecting with babies and toddlers — without having to buy another toy.

For new parents & caregivers, the need to buy more, do more, & be more for young children can be overwhelming. 

Check out how this toddler finds ways to explore and experiment with their peas - and how this simple moment in which they’re already engaging has the potential to support ALL areas of learning & development:

🧠 cognition: exploring concepts like size & if/then
🗣️ communication: a caregiver’s voice can narrate what the child is doing
🫰🏽motor/sensory: fine motor, pincer grasp
🤲🏼 social/emotional: social interaction between caregiver & child

Want to find ways to 
💡 #usewhatyouhave 
💡 feel confident you’re “doing enough”
💡 understand your baby or toddler

Head over to our podcast episode - listen or read the transcript: 🔗 (link in bio) https://learnwithless.com/podcast/amidoingenough/

And download our FREE infant/toddler development blueprint to get started on your Learn With Less® journey:

🔗 https://learnwithless.com/blueprint

🎧 Let us know what you think of the episode! 
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#learnwithless #bigcityreaders #parenting #parentingconfidence #earlylearning #babydevelopment #toddlerdevelopment #parentsupport #parenteducation #parenteducator #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #pediatricslp #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricphysicaltherapy #playbasedlearning #loosepartsplay #openendedtoys #usewhatyouhave #playonwords #parentingpodcast
Heres an invitation to become a ⚡️ Toy Detective 🕵️ 

You’re presented with two sets of objects:

1️⃣ A Magic Tissue “Developmental Montessori Toy

And 

2️⃣ Tissue Box, Shoe Box, or other Smallish Box, Along With A Few Napkins, Handkerchiefs, Actual Tissues, or Paper Towels (for instance)

🔎 Which One Teaches Developmental Skills? 

🔎 Which Has Inherent Develipmental Value?

🔎 Why or Why Not?

Ready for the answer?!

✅ BOTH! 

The simple objects you have in your home are powerful learning tools that can support a young child’s 
🧠 cognitive development
🗣️communicative development
🤘🏾🦶🏼motor/sensory development
🕺🏼social/emotional development

And can enrich & facilitate the connection between caregiver & child.

Here at @learnwithless we are big proponents of knowledge & education, allowing you to feel confident using what you have.

♥️ Our goal is to equip families to feel confident, additional capacity, and competence. 

❣️ The Emperor Has No Toys, Folks!

➡️ Find high quality information & ideas

💡 breaking down concepts

🎁& providing rich, developmental morsels 

🤗so you can support & connect with tiny humans, 

📦 without having. to buy another toy.

Download our FREE Infant / Toddler Development Blueprint today: (link in my bio) https://learnwithless.com/blueprint

Want to hear how this all works in action? 

🎧Listen to our latest podcast episode, a collaboration between @learnwithless and @bigcityreaders on either of our podcast feeds! 

“Am I Doing Enough? Understanding Your Baby and Toddler” with Ayelet Marinovich & Beth Gaskill
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#learnwithless #bigcityreaders #parenting #parentingconfidence #earlylearning #babydevelopment #toddlerdevelopment #parentsupport #parenteducation #parenteducator #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #pediatricslp #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricphysicaltherapy #playbasedlearning #loosepartsplay #openendedtoys #usewhatyouhave #playonwords #parentingpodcast
Are you constantly wondering if you’re doing enough as a parent, caregiver, or professional who serves new families? 

Do you feel pressure to “get it right” when it comes to a baby or toddler’s development? 

Are you as a professional looking for more language to support you in guiding the families in your care to use everyday routines and everyday objects to facilitate learning and connection?

🎧 In this ​co-produced episode​, of the Play On Words podcast and the @learnwithless podcast, I joined host Beth Gaskill of @bigcityreaders 

If you’ve been around for any length of time, you likely know that I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist, parent educator, & founder of Learn With Less®.

📚 I’m also the author of ​Understanding Your Baby & Understanding Your Toddler​, 

2 incredible resources that remind parents: you don’t need fancy toys or complicated activities—your everyday interactions are already powerful learning moments.

In the episode, we discuss:

🧠 Why you don’t need more stuff to help your child learn

✨ How to feel confident that you’re doing “enough”

👶 The surprising ways babies and toddlers learn best

📚 Simple, evidence-based ways to support early development

🎵 Why everyday routines (yes, even diaper changes!) are packed with learning opportunities

➡️If you’ve ever doubted yourself as a parent or a professional, this episode is your reminder: you are enough. 💛

🎧 ​(link in my bio) https://learnwithless.com/podcast/amidoingenough/​

Give it a listen (or read the transcript) on the Learn With Less® website, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you like to take them in!

#learnwithless #bigcityreaders #parenting #parentingconfidence #earlylearning #babydevelopment #toddlerdevelopment #parentsupport #parenteducation #parenteducator #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhoodeducator #pediatricslp #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricphysicaltherapy #playbasedlearning #loosepartsplay #openendedtoys #usewhatyouhave #playonwords #parentingpodcast
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