Parents as First Teachers
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19375
Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 8:40pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Parents as First Teachers
Posted By: YvetteandElla
Subject: Parents as First Teachers
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:11pm
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Hi All,
Just been thinking alot lately weather I am doing the right things by ella on a day to day basis with her play etc, so have been thinking about PAFT and was wondering if anyone does this or has any suggestions. I am finding it hard at the moment as I know I should leave ella to play to get independence but I feel bad doing this as I end up just sitting in front of the TV near her talk about depressing huh - but then I dont want to make her dependent on me What do you all do with you lil ones. Oh yeah ella is nearly 1 year ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:16pm
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i am doing paft, and as far as i know your baby has to be under 3mths old when they take you on, as their program goes from new born to 3 yrs.
At that age, i just made sure that Rhiannon had plenty of books, and colourful toys, a container that she could put things in and take out of...and i also took her out alot. Have you looked at joining some sort of playgroup/playcentre ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:17pm
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I have been with PAFT for nearly 3 years. They have been great, they come up with lots of ides for play that are really simplethat I just didnt think of.
Does she go to any playgroups or anything. I find they are really good for letting them play independantly and theres so much more they can explore. Then you can sit and chat with other mums. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: YvetteandElla
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:20pm
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We go to Space, which is a baby playcentre and I am thinking of taking her to playcentre too, I also do a couple of coffee groups a week, but I worry about the other times when we are just home alone.
I feel like I am not being a very good mum at the mo just want to make sure I am doing everything right ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:20pm
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I think leaving them to do their own thing can be a good thing, after all you do need time to yourself during the day to get housework and other things done!
I also think routine is good, set aside a certain amount of time each day to get on the floor with Ella and play with toys/interact and teach her things like cause/reaction and just explain things to her throughout the day, they love being talked to and feeling included and they soon pick up and come to understand certain sayings/questions or simple tasks you may ask ie.'Please bring the so & so to Mummy'. Also set aside like half an hour to read books/do wooden peg puzzles/flashcards etc I think as long as you give them a couple hours of your time and introduce them to books etc etc they should be fine. For the rest of the day when they aren't sleeping or eating, best thing is to let them roam (within reason and ensuring the area is same/house is baby proofed etc) ...or even outside in the yard/section? They love nothing more than exploring and figuring out how things work, smell, touch etc etc I'm sure you're doing a wonderful job  ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: YvetteandElla
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:23pm
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Mum2lucas you are from my home town I now live in manurewa so not far huh,
What do you all do while they are playing and being independent ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:30pm
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Wow not far at all, we are planning on moving soon though - looking to move within the south auck area ...clevedon/ardmore/puke/drury/awhitu etc. I'm a bit sick of living in town.
So what coffee groups/parents groups do you know of in the area? There aren't many in Papakura that I'm aware of. Whilst Lucas is preoccupying himself I either jump online or help out by doing housework for my parents. In all honesty I'm really looking forward to baby & I having our own place so I can go nuts with cleaning and learning to cook/bake in my spare time  ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:50pm
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i know what you mean Yvette. I have always let Tom play by himself for some time each day. He seems happy enough. During that time I check my emails etc, watch some TV (though I keep thinking I shouldnt have the TV on so much) or clean up the kitchen. I think it is ok to have them play by themselves. I make a point of getting down with him as well but he is quite happy on his own with me near by.
I also struggle with ideas of what to do with him and feel like I am not stimulating him enough. But I find he is happy with simple things....if I just lie down on the floor near him he will happily climb all over me and then we play chasey around the floor. I have also taken him to the local park and put him on the swings or slide. He likes those. In fact he likes going for a walk and I should do it more. He likes grocery shopping as well. I am not getting to many coffee groups now as I am working part time and they always endup on the wrong day. I do take him swimming once a week (this is great as it tires him out too).
I hang out for 5pm when DH comes home! |
Posted By: 2bmumof3
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 2:55pm
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when i only had DS1 i went to mainly music from 4 months as well as parents centre coffee moring and music group. at 6 months swimming an at 9 months we started playcentre to give him that bit more interaction with kids. the rest of my bubs have simply been attending all these groups from birth and DS2 is a very independent kid, not sure if this has been a big influence on that or not.......sorry 1 handed typing ------------- Sara Corban (22/11/04) Connor (18/04/06) Chelsea (21/05/08) 
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Posted By: popcorn
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 4:25pm
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Hey Yvette
I do a mixture of playing with him and letting him do his own thing. When he is playing on his own, I do the housework dusting dishwasher etc, not so much the vacuuming or mopping anymore because now i have a helper , fold up washing, bake as you know hehe, start getting the dinner ready while hes happy, paint my nails, check emails sometimes, when he was younger i would cook up his meals for him that kind of thing, now i bake him snack foods mostly its to keep me occupied! You could start up a hobby of some description, or start your scrap booking up high on the dinner table ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: YvetteandElla
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 4:40pm
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NZ piper yay I am glad I am not the only one - I too think that I should not watch so much tv, at the mo ella will play by herself well but when I start to do something ie on the computer read a book or be in the kitchen she is right there wanting up so I tend to sit there doing nothing
I think going to playcentre will be good, ella is very nosy and active so I think I just need to get her out more ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: popcorn
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 4:46pm
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Yeah Thomas is like that too he likes to get amongst it! But I have to get things done so I just keep going and eventually he tottles off and finds something more interesting to do! Or I get out his box of tupperware stuff and he will sit and play with that in the kitchen while i cook or clean. Otherwise like Rosie, he is pulling on my legs all the time!
Ella is a curious one, maybe she is ready for some more challenging manipulative toys now she is a bit bigger? maybe im just trying to find an excuse to go out shopping hehe... ps i cant believe she is 11 months old! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: YvetteandElla
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 5:04pm
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ok lets make a shopping date to find her those toys - hehe
The amount of times She has pulled down my pants in the kitchen - all I can say is poor neighbours hehe Ella has her cupboard with tuppaware etc in that she plays with I just need to keep trying to do things and hope she gets the method Lets all guess where she is now - yes at my feet trying to climb up on me ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: popcorn
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 5:13pm
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haha she just wants to see what mummy is doing! shes a bright wee thing, she will pick up pretty quickly that you are busy and she will get bored and go find somethign to do, its just consistency i guess!
Thomas is crawling around the floor with a ball in his mouth, ill try and get a pic! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 6:07pm
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Yep, Tom does that too. I need to "sneak" away to get on the computer or he is right under my feet. But seriously when I am too tired to do anything I just lie down on the floor near him and he plays around and on me.
I also sometimes put him in his highchair and push him up to the otherside of our bench so I can talk to him while I clean.
Its bloody hard finding things for them to do at this age isnt it. They want independence but just cant do much on their own yet. |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 22 July 2008 at 8:01pm
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Is there a toy library in your area that you could join? We joined one a couple of months ago as Ella was starting to little bit bored and it has been great (heaps cheaper than buying new toys and this way every couple of weeks she get something new to play with- and a wider range of toys that we could ever hope to get her; we managed to get hold of one of the rollercoasters for her birthday which was a big hit). ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: YvetteandElla
Date Posted: 23 July 2008 at 10:01am
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Hmm good thinking mum to ella - but you must have a good head on your shoulders to name your wee one with such a beautiful name hehe
I think I will find out about one and plan to go in the next few days ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 26 July 2008 at 2:59pm
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PAFT is awesome. Have done it myself and refer alot of my first time mums for it. ANyone can have PAFT as long as it is your first baby ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 26 July 2008 at 3:21pm
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Is it too late for me to get involved with PAFT? I never heard about it before now. I never know what to do with Chloe, I never know what is age-appropriate play. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |