Baby Einstein Videos?

A few weeks ago I heard on the news that you could return your Baby Einstein videos to Disney for a refund because they found the videos were not educational.

If you have purchased these DVDs /videos and are interested in a refund click here: http://www.babyeinstein.com/parentsguide/satisfaction/upgrade_us.html

Here is a link to an article from the New York Times about the issue:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/education/24baby.html

This is a link to Baby Einstein's response:
http://www.babyeinstein.com/Refund/

If you would like to share your thoughts please leave a comment below.

November's Little Lunch Recipe

Turkey Veggie Chili
Owen loves this and you can freeze it. Enjoy!
http://weelicious.com/2009/02/03/turkey-veggie-chili/

November's Seasonal/Holiday Theme: Turkeys

I plan to focus on this theme on the weekends of November.

Vocabulary/Sign Language (Click on the link beside the word.)
turkey http://www.signingsavvy.com/sign/TURKEY/5317/1

Song
Albequerque Turkey (sung to the tune of "Oh My Darlin")
Albequerque is a turkey,
and he's feathered and he's fine,
And he wobbles, and he gobbles, and he's absolutely mine.
He's the best pet that you can get
Better than a dog or cat.
He's me Albequerque Turkey
And I'm mighty proud of that!

Books

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
Turkey Surprise by Peggy Archer
Beauty and the Beaks: A Turkey's Cautionary Tale by Mary Jane and Herm Auch
A Plum and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

Activity
Take your toddler to a farm or animal park that has turkeys.

November's Main Theme: Daily Routine

I will be focusing on this theme Monday-Friday throughout the month.

Vocabulary/Sign Language (click on the link beside each word)
eat http://www.signingsavvy.com/search.php?search=eat&find=1&submitSearch.x=25&submitSearch.y=24
more http://www.signingsavvy.com/sign/MORE/272/1
all done http://www.signingsavvy.com/search.php?search=all+done&find=1
drink http://www.signingsavvy.com/sign/DRINK/119/1
diaper http://www.signingsavvy.com/wordlist/13/DIAPER/248
bath http://www.signingsavvy.com/wordlist/13/BATH/234
sleep http://www.signingsavvy.com/wordlist/13/SLEEP/295

Song
This is the way we... (Sung to tune of Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we eat our breakfast/lunch/dinner
So early in the morning/afternoon/evening.
This is the way we change our diaper
So early in the morning/afternoon/evening.
This is the way we take a bath
So early in the evening.
This is the way we go to sleep
So early in the evening.
(Be sure to use your signs while singing.)

Book Suggestions

I plan to read the mealtime books during meals, bath books during bath time, and so on.

Mealtime Books
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Gobble It Up! by Jim Arnosky
Gladys Goes Out to Lunch by Derek Anderson
Eat Your Peas, Ivy Louise! by Leo Landry
Foodie Babies Wear Bibs by Michelle Sinclair Colman
One Hungry Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe
Yum Yum Baby Bundt by Jamie Harper
Yummy Yucky by Leslie Patricelli
Eating Well by Liz Gogerly
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
Harry Hungry! by Steven Salerno

Bath Time Books
Splish, Splash Baby Bundt by Jamie Harper
Caillou: Bath Time by Joceline Sanschagrin
Bathtime for Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
The Treasure Bath by Dan Andreasan
The Bath by Terri Dougherty
Henry's Bath by Margaret Perversi
Does An Elephant Take a Bath? by Fred Ehrlich
Bath Time by Jane Gerver

Bedtime Books
Night, Night Baby Bundt by Jamier Harper
The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra
Little Quack's Bedtime by Lauren Thompson
Bertie at Bedtime by Marcus Pfister
Bedtime Peekaboo! by Dawn Sirett
Day is Done by Peter Yarrow
Say Goodnight by Helen Oxenbury
When the World is Ready for Bed by Gillian Shields

Activities
Let your toddler practice feeding him/herself with toddler friendly forks and spoons.
Practice the sign language as you do these daily routines, read the books, and sing the song.

Monthly Progress

Yay! Owen is starting to point to his body parts when prompted: head, nose, ear, belly button, etc. I'm still planning to review these. I think we will try to sing "Head & Shoulders" while we are changing his diaper and after bath time when we are drying him off. He also seems to recognize the word pumpkin.
Leave a comment if you want to share anything your toddler has recently learned. (doesn't have to be just body parts)