Only because our pediatrician explained the difference to me! I was calling it the vaccine before
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I think for common use it’s totally fine, I was just scandalized to see a medscape release butcher the entire thing!
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My 6 year old has a little mp3 player kind of thing, with no screen, that she uses to listen to music and books on tape. Lately she has been listening to it a lot. Like hours a day with headphones on. This is upsetting little brother because she won’t play with him during that time, but I’ve also started to wonder if maybe this is bad for her? Should we be limiting it like we limit screen time? Previously I didn’t think this was in the same category as screen time, but now I’m not sure since it does reduce her time spent playing and moving her body.
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not a specialist, only “hazard” i see is headphones that can go too loud. Our montessori teachers say that listening is using your brain in great ways so they do lots of audiobooks at their school fwiw. I think movement is similar to if she was playing with figures sitting down or reading books right?
You could try the stacking that BJ ayd Econ do and create a little listening nook outside and plan intentional movement times if it helps allay your concerns?
just my 2 cents, with inflation more like worth .0003 centssss
— oh also, could you do walks with her listening to her audiobooks? movement and outdoor time, seems good for body and eyes and mood lol.
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Can she choose an audiobook her brother might like to listen to also? Preferably one that she’s heard before and won’t mind if he talks during it or doesn’t seem to be listening. Then you can have it playing for the whole room to hear while they also play together. This doesn’t have to be an all the time thing of course, but maybe it’s worth trying.
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Plusing everyone. Maybe a little speaker?
But basically, not bad for her, poor lil bruvver.
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Oh yeah, I forgot to say we do an audiobook every night for Kiddo on a bluetooth speaker. He gets to pick the book (with assistance) through Libby on his tablet, then the tablet is not in his room while he listens to the book while he tries to fall asleep. Big fan of the audiobooks on a speaker.
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Good thoughts here on the problem really being the headphones, thanks everyone. Her little player has a built in speaker I just find listening to audio books irritating (I also can’t stand podcasts) so she was using the headphones at my request. I’ll try working on tolerating that more and go from there.
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We have kids headphones that only go up to a certain volume, if you want to also give her the option of private listening time, too 
Especialy when little brother gets too loud! haha
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If it’s for a set time of like thirty minutes would that help you get through it? And also yes to the volume limiting kids headphones.
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I thought I was the only one of my kind! I haaaaate talk radio/podcasts/audio books/all of it. The other option I think could be a headphone splitter and then he can listen too?
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I don’t know, but it’s worth a try!
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One of us, one of us! Haha, I don’t meet many people in our boat. Everyone is always recommending podcasts to me and I’m like, could I read it instead?
Little bro has his own mp3 player and doesn’t seem to like listening to the audio books, though he does like music. So he might share my affliction.
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I’m looking for product recommendations for active/gross motor kids (@Bracken_Joy @Economista and anyone else I missed!)
Pipsqueak’s 3rd birthday is coming up and I’m trying to decide between a few things. I know some of you have similar items so please let me know what works and doesn’t for your family! We have a few hundred dollars budgeted to spend across the three different categories so I have some flexibility to get a one or two of the more expensive things and round it out with a few cheaper things. Let me know which are worth the $$$ if you have opinions!
If you have a different brand or different product that you like, I’d also be happy to hear about that!
- Wobble or balance board. There are three options I’m looking at that have very different prices.
1a. Kids balance board ($50) https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/ca/p/BC681/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=performancemax&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7GnBhDXARIsAFLvH4nbvnyqF07XQb7w9cpYnRkWbdrl18C4ILLxZ_Mx5WF1PVPWuPxeMqgaAiGjEALw_wcB
1b. Amazon wobble board ($15) Amazon.com
1c. Fancy tiny slack line ($150) GiBoard Balance Trainer w/ Gibbon Slackline | Wood Balance Board | Pink – GiBoard US
- Something to hang on and/or swing on inside the house. This will go in our living room that has 15 ft ceilings so hanging something can be difficult. I also want it to be safe enough to have out without 100% supervision (i.e. I’m within earshot but a few minutes hear or there without direct line of site/supervision) or easy enough that we can get it out and put it away frequently (like, multiple times a day easy)
2a. Sensory swing… worried about how to hang it and how to keep it up vs put away but they look cool! ($100?)
https://www.thesensoryjoy.co/products/therapy-swing-2?gclid=Cj0KCQjwi7GnBhDXARIsAFLvH4kLEnkrnCM790lXkCgB1WkI_yDbsrdCJAAprVs0ro8qKH26uc5lLkUaAtgLEALw_wcB
2b. Swedish ladder with adjustable height hanging bar and/or removable rings ($150-250?) Montessori Climber Swedish Ladder With Optional Rope - Etsy
2c. Wall mounted pull up bar at a height that will work for the next 6-12 months ($70-150?) Adjustable Depth 52" Wall Mounted Pull Up Bar - 14" or 22" From Wall - Home or Garage Gym Chin Up Workout Training Station, Upper Body Workout | Titan Fitness
- Balance beam or stones
3a. Beam ($40-150) Balance Beam Balance Board Balance Beam Kids Montessori - Etsy
- Heavy lifting toys? Any ideas?
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Commenting to come back to this, yes, many thoughts! And we have high ceilings no issue I’ll show you what we’ve done. First- I tip over and nap 
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We have the stones and love them! It’s been about a year and a half and they still don’t get old. Setting them up differently every time is part of the play.
Not technically a toy but at my parents’ house Spore has a garden scooter (a rolling box on wheels) that he loves to fill up and push around the living room. It’s an ice cream truck, a wagon, an airplane, etc.
Better for outdoors but the Woom 1 scoot bike and micro mini scooter are both hits. I’d go with whatever little friends have, since it seems like they really learn from watching each other.
ETA I just splurged on a set of giant foam climbing blocks from Gathre. Spore hasn’t seen it yet because he’s quarantined at my parents’ house while the rest of us have covid 
, but the baby is really liking being rolled around on the cylinder. I’ll report back.
Also, have you been tempted to put up some climbing holds on the walls of your gorgeous patio space?
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Thanks! We have the little IKEA push cart that’s gotten a lot of love over the years but it’s breaking down and can’t hold heavy things so maybe time for a cart upgrade!
We have a scooter and balance bike for outside, but busy city streets and living in a townhouse mean they’re mostly reserved for park trips on the weekends still.
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I have this for myself. The non slip surface would be brutal for a kid to fall on.
We have these stepping “stones” and she still loves them.
Hapinest Turtle Steps Balance Stepping Stones Obstacle Course Coordination Game for Kids and Family - Indoor or Outdoor Sensory Play Equipment Toys Toddler Ages 3 4 5 6 7 8 Years and Up Amazon.com
Pics of living room coming one moment
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Here’s the links to the actual stuff we have-
Ninja warrior kit:
Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course for… Amazon.com
Kovas Gymnastic Rings with Adjustable Straps & Ring Mounts - Home Gym Gymnastics Equipment - Improve Fitness Strength & Balance with Body Weight Training Exercises Amazon.com
SELEWARE 2800 lb Capacity Wall… Amazon.com
BLIABLU Indoor Sensory Swing for Kids + Ceiling Hanging Kit – Compression Hammock, Therapy Swing for Outdoor & Classroom Activity – Great Cuddle Swing for Kids & Adults with Special Needs & ADHD Amazon.com
Turtle steps and all spare parts stored in here:
Amazon Basics Upholstered Storage… Amazon.com
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Do you leave the swings out all the time?
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