With Dexter still a miniature little person (I figure he’ll become a toddler at two, and child at five) routines are still a bit of a cinch - aren’t they for all of us? Despite his octopus hands and a few broken iPhones - we haven’t had any parenting issues with him at all. Bedtimes are relatively easy as Craig and I run through exactly the same process every night; dinner, bottle, playtime, then up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire, cleaning toothy pegs, and a goodnight kiss from mummy. With little songs made up for each step - Dexter is never in any doubt where he’s heading and what comes next.
I am however under no illusion it’ll get harder - especially when we’re blessed with a little brother or sister for him. As soon as he starts getting interested in the tv, or learning how to jump out of his bed, I know we’ll have an issue.
To help parents navigate key developmental stages, and children get to grips with routine, Nick Jr and Dora the Explorer have launched the Step by Step campaign. It’s a clever selection of printables to act as prompts or rewards for children as they learn about the world around them. With bedtime routine charts, stickers to prompt your child to brush their teeth, and potty training reward posters currently available on the website (and more to come) Nick Jr has kicked off a child-friendly page full of colouring pages and cut-out’s for Dora fans to play with.
Using visual prompts as a way to help a child understand the world around them and begin to understand the benefits of following a routine (not least that mum and dad get to have a cuddle before 9pm each night!) is a great way to get your child involved in planning the steps. Furthermore, as Dexter gets older, it’s important to us that he’ll take responsibility for simple tasks around the home. Anything that makes this easier and fun for Dex will be invaluable.
We were also sent an adorable magnetic height chart (with little stickers to record Dexter’s height), and a Nick Jr tote bag to carry around all his worldly possessions as we go about our own adventures.
The height chart is fabulous as it can be folded back up and popped away between measurements (to save it from grubby and over-excited fingers!). It’s also incredibly colourful to engage young brains and get them interested in reaching that next metre mark. Here’s Dexie getting measured up… I can’t believe he’s a whopping 70cms!!
You can take a look at all Dora’s tips and PDF’s cut outs here - http://www.nickjr.co.uk/shows/dora/stepbystep/. Time to get down to Hobby Craft and grab some Self Adhesive Sticker Paper - you’ll be seeing Dora’s face in every room of your house for the next few months!
DISCLAIMER: I received these lovely goodies in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
