What method(s) are you using to teach math?

I am using Doman dots that I made myself, but I find I can only flash them for 2-3 days and then have to put them away for week.  She seems to get really bored of them really quickly.  I try to alternate the YBCR flashcards, with homemade Doman words, and the homemade Doman dots. 

How are your finding the support in your community?

StaceyCanada,  I just noticed our dds are almost the same age. When you did you start with a reading or math program?  I started dd just before her first birthday.

I also notice you are posting at what must be 4am ish in Ontario?  It is 2am here, I just put dd back to sleep, but I can't seem to fall asleep myself tonight.  I might try some toast and milk soon.

I would be interested in hearing more of your ideas.

akalori, sorry to read about your struggles. 

Ever tried the T.V. is broken trick?  I use it with my nieces because all they want to do is watch T.V.  I unplug the back so all that comes up is black and white fuzz.  I tell them it is broken and then I distract them with other games or toys. At home my sister does what she can to limit them to 2 or 3 programs a day.  She has been finding that dvd's are easier to monitor than channels.  DVD's end.  Channels don't.

My dd gets very distracted during the YBCR videos, and I found that I am going through the videos at a much faster rate than Titzer recommends.  2 months on the same video seems like a long time.

I have been following more of the Doman technique with the sliding cards and flash cards.  I started with five cards (sliding or plain) for five days and then started to replace 1 card everyday.  I tried to match the cards with the video, but that quickly went the way of the wind.  I also include a few handwritten words that she appears interested in.

Good Luck and keep up, eventually something will click.

I wish I was organized, I just can't seem to get there.  I quit my job just before my dd was born and have been a stay at home mom for 17 months now.  I keep thinking it will get easier and then I can get organized, but so far no luck.

My dd doesn't sleep a lot and she doesn't have much of a routine, but I say a typical day would go like this:

7am - She wakes up, I try to convince her to go back to sleep by nursing her or cuddling her.  That lasts about 45 minutes.
7:45am - Give up, dd is awake, let her play on the floor beside the bed while I convince myself I need to get out of bed.
8am - potty time and I flash words or dots or read books, or all three depending on how long potty time takes.
8:30 - Hopefully potty time is over.  Me getting dressed and trying to make the beds, dd following me around throwing books at me and crying.
9am - Breakfast and a few words or dots.
9:30 - Me trying to clean up the kitchen, dd hopefully watching a YBCR video or at least playing by herself, Or me carrying around my dd while trying to clean the kitchen.
10am - reading books and more books and more books to dd.
10:30am - bath time and playtime in the bathrub
11am - Me trying to convince dd to play with toys or look at books herself so I can prepare lunch and maybe do some laundry Or me carrying dd while I struggle to find food in the house.
11:30am - Potty time before lunch.  More reading or flashing cards or dots.
Noon - Eat lunch, read YBCR book to her in the high chair.  Leave dd in high chair as long as possible to get something done in the kitchen.
12:30 Potty time after lunch before we go out.
1pm - A walk to the store for groceries, or a walk to the park, or just playing outside in the backyard.
2pm - More potty time, and more book reading.
2:30 - Hopefully this day dd decided to nap (oh, please nap).  Me trying to prepare materials such as more flash cards or making books or organizing dots into equations.  Also, me trying to get some cleaning/organizing done and dinner prepared, and me trying to find time for myself.  This is too much for the one hour nap dd barely takes, hence, my lack of organization!
3:30 - dd awake much too soon, potty time and reading.
4:00 - play time.
4:45 - Potty time before dinner, more educational stuff.
5:00 - Dinner.
6:00 - Potty time and reading
6:30 - Me laying exhausted on the floor, dd wanting me to read to her more and more.
7:00pm - Me getting a second wind and reading to dd more, engaging her in toys and some physical activity.
7:30pm - Me doing my 10 minute workout video, dd watching the tv and watching me - she is mesmerized by the process, thankfully.
8:00pm - Potty time and just reading, I stop flashing cards and dots after dinner.
8:30 - dd playing on her own, me trying usually unsuccessfully to clean the kitchen and prepare a snack.
9pm - Snack time.
9:30pm - begin bedtime routine, potty, teethbrushing, pj's, and stories.
10:30pm - Lay down to nurse dd to sleep, this usually takes about 30-40 minutes.
11pm - dd is asleep, me rushing around trying to shower, keep house clean, prepare materials for the morning and generally wanting to cry from exhaustion.
Midnight - I crawl into bed.
2:30am - dd wakes up crying, nurse her back to sleep.
3am - crawl back into my own bed reminding myself she is only little once.
5:30am - dd wakes up crying, nurse her back to sleep.
6:00am - crawl back into my own bed reminding myself that love matters and it is a good thing to respond to dd needs.
7:00 am - see above, repeat, cry.

On one hand, I am lucky, my dd is AWAKE a lot so I have lots and lots of time to interact and play with her.  On the other hand, my dd is AWAKE a lot and I don't get much sleep (less than 6 hours a day, and only in 2 hour periods).

I love being a stay at home, yet I struggle significantly everyday.  I am glad to be there for my dd and interact and stimulate her everyday, yet, there is nothing left for me or the house, let alone a relationship with my partner.

Sorry for the long post, got carried away....

I love putting DD in dresses or skirts because it is faster to use the potty.

Me, yoga or sweatpants.  These days jeans would be considered dressing up!  I remember the days of heading to the office in beautiful business suits....how my life has changed!

My question to cassidy336 is if you ever get tired of reading?  I also read 40-50 books a day, sometime the same one over and over.  I find that by the end of the day I do not wish to read anymore.  I try to engage my daughter in other toys, but she just keeps pushing books in my face and crying until I read to her.  How do you keep your interest?

I go to the library once a week and take out about 100 books, varying from baby board books to grade 1 very small chapter books.  Even so, I am tired of reading childrens books!  Any suggestions to keep me going?

Thanks.  Khatty

Environmental Friendly:

Have you considered early potty learning instead of diapering?  I do elimination communication with cloth diapers as backup.  I also try to hang my diapers out in the sun instead of using the dryer.

Baby Food:
I made my own baby food from garden or farmer market produce.  I just boiled it in water and then used a hand blender.  I found the recipe book "Blender Baby Food" by Nicole Young to have great ideas on quantities and mixing food.

Good Luck with your Green initiatives.

I am just wondering how often/how long/how many childrens books you read in a day?

I find I spend most of the day reading childrens books to my daughter.  I read about 40 or 50 books a day (sometimes the same book over and over again)  She cries if I stop.  I have to strongly encourage her to play with toys instead of books.

What is reasonable?

I started using the Doman method at 11 months, and the YBCR at 15 months.  She is now 17 months.  So far I haven't tested her, so I do not know where she is at.  She read the word 'wave' once about a few weeks back and that is it.

She likes the powerpoint presentations right now more than the flashcards or the DVD. 

I just keep thinking to myself that eventually she will show me what she knows and in the mean time I will keep playing games with her.  I have to remember to focus on the FUN playing games and not on the results.

Thanks for sharing.  It does help to know that others had less success after their baby became mobile.  Relaxing does help

For jsmonton, I read the book "Diaper Free; The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene" by Ingrid Bauer.  It is information and inspiriational.  It has a section on starting EC with older babies that you might find useful.

Is anyone out there practicing eliminiation communication or early potty learning?

I started listening to my daughter's elimination needs at 5 weeks old.  I use cloth diapers as backups.  I had great success up until she was 11 months old.  She started walking around 10 months and shortly thereafter listening to her elimination needs became very difficult for me.  At 17 months I have lots and lots of misses, but I try to be patient, work with her, and move on.  Yet, I will admit to some personal internal frustration with the whole process.  I am beginning to wonder if all the work/effort of it has really made a difference to our relationship and her potty learning.  Today I am drepressed about it and think maybe I should just stick her in diapers like everyone else..... 

On a related topic though.... a great time to flash cards or dots is when she is sitting on the potty!

Thanks in advance for sharing, Khatty.

There was an article in the local paper last month on the breastfeeding statistics in my health region, South Central Saskatchewan, Canada.  I can't remember all the stats but the one that I remember was that less than 10% of mothers in the area breastfeed past 6 months.

I am currently breastfeeding my almost 17 month old and have no plans on weaning anytime soon.  Unfortunately, I only breastfeed at home because there is no community support for breastfeeding a toddler.

Thank you for everyone sharing their stories, they make me smile

I had my daughter when I was 32.  I'm now 34. I hope to have at least another 1, 2, or 3 before I'm too old

I was wondering if points every expire? 

It might take me forever to have enough to spend or donate.

Small town Saskatchewan, Canada.

Anyone seen the comedy Corner Gas?  I'm not from there, but something very similar.