Teaching Toddlers To Help Out

When you're dealing with daily adventures with a toddler, & find yourself saying things like "please keep you clothes on while we are in the grocery store", having them help out around the house might seem like quite a stretch. BUT if it seems fun  &involves what looks like a new toy, you will have them helping in no time. This week Maggie learned to set the table.

Also, thanks to this amazing basket, she carries everything from the kitchen herself. This wonderful Teach Me Placemat & basket are from Messy Kids Designs. These are perfect for teaching toddlers how to help around the house & also work on gross & fine motor skills. Basically, they fill the basket with their dishes, cup, napkin & silverware. They carry to basket to the table & unbutton the handle & sides. The basket opens up to a placemat. I have Maggie also put the extra Teach Me Placemat in the basket, along with her sisters dishes to learn to "help Alex too". The placemats are great because they show the kids exactly where to put everything. Maggie spent a while setting this all up today & was so proud when Alex sat down to join her at lunch. The basket & placemat are also very soft & machine washable. 

I asked Mary Ellen, the owner of Messy Kids Designs how she came up with this great concept. She said:  "I am a former special ed teacher (over 10 years experience) who is now a mom to 5 year old twins. Last year the boys started Montessori school and needed lunch baskets, napkins and placemats instead of lunch boxes, we already had the Teach Me Placemat in our shop that we created to help teach the kids how to set the table. At the same time, one of my guys was really into buttoning/unbuttoning practice and both were in a "I can do it myself" stage...so that is really how this came about. We are expanding this idea to include an outline for silverware and napkin, so it will be a complete set like the placemat. We can even personalize the basket with their name embroidered on the handle. This would also make a great picnic basket or play-basket for hours of pretend play fun! Work on carrying dishes, buttons and table setting all in one item! "

I am so thankful for this new product. It keeps Maggie busy while I prepare a meal, teaches her responsibility & she is helping her sister out as well!

Be sure to head over to the shop & order a set for your kids. You will be so glad you did! Messy Kids Designs is offering our readers 10% off  through Oct 1st with code: chirpingMOMS. Messy Kids Designs is giving away 2 placemats & Set the Table Teaching Basket! Be sure to enter both giveaways below.

We have 3 winners! We will send you all emails with details. 

Basket: Andrea

Placemats: Shannon & Sarah