Making Diaper Changes Educational

I don't know a single parent who hasn't struggled at one time or another with a baby or toddler who insists on crying, screaming, or turning over during every diaper change. It's a short phase for some, and a longer phase for others. Either way, we change our kids' diapers so many times a day that we might as well take advantage of those times rather than dread them.

Songs/Rhymes:

• English Alphabet

• Alphabet in another language--we sing the Hebrew alphabet because we plan to teach our son Hebrew. You can find the entire version here but we sing a simpler one that only identifies the letters and not every sound each letter makes. This is critical if you want to teach your child a second language because some languages have sounds that English doesn't have so they need to practice those. For example, Spanish has the rolled rr in many words.

• Wheels on the Bus (here are the lyrics in case you forget the order)
  

• Itsy Bitsy Spider

*Nursery rhymes and knowing the alphabet are critical to early literacy and kindergarten readiness, even silly songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider really are teaching rhyming!

Activities:

• Name your child's body parts for him/her.

• As they get older, ask child where his/her different body parts are.

• peek-a-boo with clothes, this is how Tobias first learned to play peek-a-boo :)
• say "uh oh, where'd your foot go?" when putting your baby's pants back on. Make a big deal about having "lost" the foot and then get really excited when it pops through the pant leg. Sounds silly, but it works for all kids I've ever done it with!

Or you could always just add a kitty to the mix and let them entertain the baby for you :)