Habit Cards for the Refined

I got the idea from Our Learning Journey: A Journal for habit cards made with images from works of art and laminated.
If I were really cool, I'd have mine up on Google docs too. But i don't. Maybe someday.

So I scoured the Internet for pictures our family would like, my thinking being that if it's something we like to look at, we'll look at it...more.

So, the first day they were up the kids were very interested in reading the artist and titles. I still am.

Albrecht Durer was someone we had studied, and his detailed Praying Hands work perfectly here. Personally, I love his Rhinoceros more, but couldn't find a way to fit it into our day...

The Last of the Mohicans by N.C. Wyeth was a family favorite because we are part Mohawk (but those of us over 2 don't normally dress like this.)

Vincent Van Gogh makes a tidy Bedroom at Arles--even if his life was not.

We had recently read a children's version of Hamlet and found Ophelia's imminent death hilarious when paired with personal grooming. (insert carefree humming) And I wanted a Waterhouse...that wasn't topless.

Cezanne's Still Life with Compotier is a skewed and disheveled table--not still at all-- and appropriately, needing clean up.

The Wreck of the Covenant by N.C. Wyeth (from Kidnapped) makes bathing seem a delightful option, especially if you are recently shipwrecked.



Jessie Wilcox Smith of course, found her way into the mix more than once.

"But why do you have the Mona Lisa for 'Brush Teeth', mom? She isn't showing any teeth."

"And why not?...Because she didn't brush them and they look terrible--Let that be a lesson to you!"

2011 Playlist

Music we tidy & clean & get our coats on to --
and must be reminded not to dance to, only because then nothing else is happening...

I'll Tell Me Ma--Van Morrison & the Chieftans
The Ballad of Davy Crockett--The Wellingtons, Fantastic Mr. Fox Soundtrack
Fooba Wooba John--Burl Ives, Fantastic Mr. Fox Soundtrack
Buckyeye Jim--Burl Ives, Fantastic Mr. Fox Soundtrack
Three is a Magic Number--Blind Melon, School House Rock Rocks!
The Trolley Song--Judy Garland, Pottery Barn Kids Playtime
Banana Split for My Baby--Louis Prima, Pottery Barn Kids Playtime
Three Little Fishes-- Kay Kyser, Pottery Barn Kids, Playtime
Pop! Goes the Weasel--The Merry Macs, Pottery Barn Kids, Playtime
One two three four--Feist, The Reminder
Jump up--Dan Zanes, Family Dance
Malti--Dan Zanes, Family Dance

Thumbguard for the Thumb-sucker

Kingfisher was a thumb-sucker from the beginning. Give him his blanket and lay him down and he'd magically put himself to sleep until he was about 4 1/2 years. I LOVED his sleeping habits, but started to stress about the thumb-sucking dental damage.

I tried distraction, stealing the blanket, socks on the hand, etc. and it was getting me nowhere.

This is what worked for him to stop sucking his thumb:

We got a thumbguard

He only sucked his thumb when he had his blanket, which we allowed only at sleeping time. So we got a thumbguard about the time his naps started tapering off. It's not cheap, but less than a dental plate that insurance won't cover or extra orthodontics later. The company has excellent customer service and if you buy from them you can exchange thumbguards for different sizes--which we had to do. It didn't initially work  because he could still get suction. When we got the bigger size he said, "Hey this doesn't fit right-I can't suck my thumb!" (perfect-o). Sorry little guy, "Doctor's orders."
FYI, I've heard you can buy replacement bands at party stores.

We made a rewards chart for 30 nights of wearing it.

The grand reward; a Star Wars jet plane. But after less than a week with the proper fit Kingfisher decided he didn't need his blanket anymore (and it's been hidden ever since...). It just didn't hold the appeal without being able to suck his thumb.

It was a relatively smooth, non-invasive, no-fight transition and he soon stopped needing the thumbguard all together.

Now we do these speech exercises from Mommy Speech Therapy

As a result, Kingfisher has an interdental lisp. Using the downloads from this website we are practicing saying our "s" not "th". This is a great site for speech questions, I found it so helpful.

and hopefully that will be the end of our thumb-sucking story.