Put Your Baby in The Family Nurturing Circle
Teaching Baby about Nurturing
Activities range from reading, playing games, art projects, and collecting. All of the following activities are constructed with examples for centering focus on baby. They can be adapted for any group, large or small, and can be changed to use with different age groups (not just baby). I hope that you will be inspired and and will find ways to be creative with these guidelines.
Family Nurturing Circle - Example of How it Works
*How it Works
This is the short version of the concept of a Family Nurturing Circle. We will explore variations after we look at some activity ideas.
*Gather The Family Together
*Turn Off Distractions
*Sit in a Circle
*Begin the Activity
Reading Activity - Focus on Baby
Here are great ways to teach babies about the joy of reading while also helping older children stay sharp during the summer break from classes. There are also great game ideas that baby can play with the family.
*Gather The Family Together
Sit in a circle and let Baby sit in the center of the circle.
For this example we are using a great children's book called "Teaching Your Baby to Sign" by Lora Heller.
Take the book and begin to read to the family (while keeping your focus on Baby).
Read a page or two and then pass the book to the next family member to your left (this will be your Babie's right-which is a natural flow direction for reading).
Each family member will take turns as they pass the book around and 'Entertain Baby'.
From a nurturing perspective your family and your baby will develop a sense of belonging and core family support.
From an educational perspective your family will come away with educational support foundations that are essential for a life long love of learning.
Not to mention the simplicity of an activity that will be teaching your family about the 'best things in life'.
Here are some book recommendations for your Family Nurturing Circle - Reading to Baby activity
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Game Activity - More Focus on Baby
*Gather The Family Together
Sit in a circle and let Baby sit in the center of the circle.
Begin the activity by letting each person share how they have played this game before, how much they like or dislike it, and what 'rules' about the game they might change if they could.
*Why not play by thier new rules if they are realistic. For example: if they suggested that different counts or variables should be taken into consideration when the game is played... then, why not? However, if someone suggests that the pieces should fly into the rainbow clouds and then come back as butterflies, perhaps you might write this down and inspire this particular soul to become a software developer for animated presentations or Steve Ballmer's "Natural User Interface technology" (Steve Ballmer CEO Microsoft Corp June 2008 AEA Convention).
The possibilities for this activity are endless. The primary goal is to involve everyone in the spirit of 'play', not so much competition, however, this would be a good time to address any values you have to share about competitive atributes with your children, (group, or classroom).
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byArt Projects
I couldn't pass up this opportunity to share my passion for the concept of art as a very powerful nurturing activity. Be it coloring or oil painting (or anything in between), sculping, cooking, and the list goes on; Artistic creativity is a transformational experience.
Be sure to nurture your creativity every day and share this practice with your whole family, your classroom, or any group that you are part of.
A family that colors together creates lasting memories of joy and inspiration.
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Everyone likes to collect something. It seems that we are attracted to a variety of things in general and then we have our passions. A great family activity is to explore collecting on a large range of topics (to see what interests each member), or, if everyone seems to love a particular area of collecting, maybe a group collection project would be a great idea. This would ensure that over time, the family will get together to show off what they have to add to the collection.
Note: A Project Coordinator (an adult), should be in charge of actually adding pieces to the collection and even having an idex that credits the contributor. This 'journal' will be very treasured later.
Maybe even scrapbook about the continuing growth of the collection. Photos of the person who made the find...stories about the adventure, maybe even clippings from ads when the collection addition is found in traders or online at ebay.
The following items will get you started as you consider what kind of collecting will best fit your family, (group, classroom, or church project).
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byAdapting the Family Circle Concept
A small child can sit in your lap while you read to them.
A group of young children can sit around the circle while the adult sits in the center. Or better yet, let each child take a turn sitting in the center.
One group I facilitated loved the 'Friendship Circle' concept. Each participant would take turns sitting in the center of the circle, while each of the group members sitting around the outside of the circle would take turns saying something they admired about the person sitting in the center.
One person would write down each of the compliments on an index card ( a new card for each center of the circle person would be created). At the end of the process, the index cards are given to the person who received the compliments from thier peers.
I have heard, years later, how some of the participants carried those cards around in their pockets for years after our activity and they would take them out now and then whenever they might experience difficult times that could harm their self concept.
There are numerous ways that you can adapt the Family Nurturing Circle or the Friendship Circle for the people in your life.
The primary concept is love. And I am very certain that you have this quality within you as you are seeking (as evidenced by your reading this far on my lens), and, your seeking is the key indicator that you love and care enough to provide memories that will last a life time.
Hug each of your loved ones and find ways to show them that are a part of a loving family. Show them. Sometimes we forget to tell them, but, what we show them will last in their memories for a lifetime.
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