Learning with little or no moola...I like that.

I love those moments when as parents we discover that babies are truly scientists in action.


One box and a few different wooden shaped beads that had previously been painted by Christopher a year ago became a fascination and engaged learning moment for Matthew. To help him with object permanence, I kept putting the lid on the box and allowing him to open it. He loved the beads inside and would play with each one. I loved how engaged this 11 month old became over such simple objects. His attention span was amazingly long. With the red pipe cleaner, I showed him to how to thread the beads onto it. I purposely went very slow as to show him how to place the pipe cleaner through the bead. It was fun to watch how intent he was in following my every action on how this was done.

I also had a wooden dowel close by that I did the same thing with. The wooden dowel was sturdy enough as to help him be able to do this himself with some aid of course. It was still fun to see him lead the activity and want to create the same result that was previous shown to him.

Perhaps as this activity becomes a regular, he will soon master being able to place these beads onto a wooden dowel all by himself.

I was once again blown away with the intensity of his interest in watching me as well as how long his attention span lasted in the activity. And to think this activity was nothing that cost me a penny.




The more I watch and observe my children, the more I realize simplicity is the key. It is interesting that simplicity can be so difficult to create for me when it fact it is what everything amazing stems from.