Putnam County Help Me Grow

09/25/2025

🍂🍁 Fall Scavenger Hunt Fun! 🍁🍂

Take your little one on a walk through the neighborhood and turn it into a fall scavenger hunt! This simple activity is full of learning opportunities and makes the most of the beautiful season.

👀 Look for colorful leaves, pumpkins, pinecones, or squirrels.
👂 Listen for the crunch of your feet on the gravel, the rustle of the wind, or birds calling.
👃 Smell fresh fall air, flowers, or even someone’s bonfire.
✋ Touch smooth acorns, bumpy bark, or soft grass.

Bring along a small bag to collect interesting treasures. Once you’re home, keep the conversation going—talk about the colors, shapes, and textures of the items your child found.

🍂 Every step is a chance to explore, learn, and make sweet autumn memories together! 🍂

09/23/2025

For toddlers 24–36 months, making a Sticky Paper Collage is a creative (and slightly sticky 😉) way to learn and explore!

👉 How to Play:

Tape up a piece of contact paper with the sticky side out.

Cut different colors of construction paper into small pieces.

Help your child stick the pieces onto the contact paper.

Talk about the colors and describe what’s happening:
💬 “You put the red piece on!”
💬 “This paper is sticky—it’s holding your shapes!”

🌟 Try adding lightweight objects too—like leaves, grass, feathers, or even photos—for extra fun.

💡 Why it’s great:

Cognitive: Experimenting, exploring textures, and discovering that things will stick to sticky surfaces.

Language & Social: Narrating what’s happening and praising their creativity builds confidence.

Creative Expression: Every collage is unique—just like your child!

Simple, sticky, and so much fun! 🖍️🍃💛

09/18/2025

For toddlers 14–24 months, scribbling with crayons is more than just making colorful marks—it’s important learning in action!

Here’s what your child is gaining while they scribble:
👉 Motor Skills: Building control of both small and large muscles, plus eye-hand coordination.
👉 Cognitive Skills: Understanding cause and effect (“When I press harder, the line gets darker!”) and learning about pressure.
👉 Social Skills: Taking turns with crayons and beginning to “create” alongside you.

💡 Try this:

Scribble with your child and see if they can follow your strokes—small, large, top to bottom, left to right.

Take turns sharing crayons to build cooperation.

Every little scribble is a big step in learning, creativity, and play! 🌟

09/16/2025

🎁✨ Let’s Unwrap Some Fun! ✨🎁

For babies 8–14 months, unwrapping a toy can be more than just exciting—it’s a great learning activity!

Try wrapping a small toy in tissue paper and let your little one explore:
👉 They’ll be curious and motivated to figure out what’s inside.
👉 Pulling and tearing the paper builds fine motor skills.
👉 Using past experiences to solve the “mystery” helps develop cognitive skills.

It’s simple, fun, and developmentally powerful. Plus, the surprise inside makes it extra rewarding! 💕

🧸 Tip: Use safe, soft paper like tissue paper and always supervise.

09/15/2025

09/11/2025

✨👶 Mirror, Mirror on the Wall… 👶✨

Did you know that between 3 ½ – 5 ½ months, it’s important for babies to look at their reflections?

When your little one sees themselves in a mirror, their brain is working hard to process:
💭 “Who is that? Is that Mommy? Is that baby?”

Let your baby explore by:
✨ Patting the mirror
✨ Kissing it
✨ Trying to put her mouth on it

And don’t forget to talk about what you both see:
💬 “I see you! You have such beautiful eyes!”
💬 “Look at that big smile!”

👉 Why this matters:

Social-Emotional: Helps your baby begin to understand who she is and build self-awareness.

Cognitive: Noticing reflections teaches her about cause and effect and how mirrors work.

So, grab a mirror and make it playtime! 🪞💞 Every giggle, touch, and “kiss” is helping your baby grow and learn.

09/08/2025

The ABCs of Safe Sleep can save lives:
Alone – No blankets, pillows, toys, or people
Back – Always place baby on their back to sleep
Crib – Use a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress
Need a safe sleep space for your baby? The Cribs for Kids program provides free portable cribs and education to Ohio families. Contact us today if you are in need of a safe space for your baby 419-523-6059

09/05/2025

Your child’s brain grows faster in the first five years than at any other time in life. 🤯

Reading, talking, and playing with them now lays the groundwork for a lifetime of learning.

Don’t worry about doing it “right” — just connect, share, and have fun! And if you’re looking for support along the way, Help Me Grow is here with free resources, guidance, and encouragement.

05/19/2025

May is Shaken Baby Awareness Month, which serves as a reminder to everyone, parents, caregivers, and anyone who interacts with babies, about the importance of protecting a baby’s fragile brain. SBS is a serious form of abusive head trauma that occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has become an extensive resource hub for people to get information on prevention, legislation, and reporting.

To learn more and download the resources, visit: https://childrenandyouth.ohio.gov/for-families/maternal-infant-wellness/shaken-baby

05/01/2025

💚 May is Mental Health Awareness Month 💚

Let’s take this time to remind ourselves—and each other—that mental health is just as important as physical health.

Take a moment today to pause, breathe, and prioritize your mental wellness. You matter. Your feelings matter. Help spread the message.

04/29/2025

🧩✨ Shape Sorting Fun for Toddlers! ✨🧩

Looking for a simple, engaging activity that supports your toddler's development? Try shape sorting! Whether it's classic shape sorters, puzzles, or DIY cutouts, this hands-on activity is perfect for:

✅ Building fine motor skills
✅ Encouraging problem-solving
✅ Learning shapes, colors, and matching
✅ Practicing hand-eye coordination

As little ones work to find the right shape for each space, they're not just playing—they're developing important cognitive and physical skills in a fun and rewarding way! 🙌

Tip: Cheer them on and ask questions like "Where does the triangle go?" to boost language skills too! 🗣️💡

04/24/2025

As the weather turns nice, bring your toys outside! Have a Teddy Bear Picnic and Reading time. This will encourage pretend play, motor skills, and language!