My toddler is a huge “Little House” fan.
Yes, that’s right. I said my toddler. Who says you have to be a big kid to enjoy Laura’s world?
A number of “My First Little House” board books were published over a decade ago by HarperCollins. Fortunately, I had the foresight to buy them as they are no longer in print (but you can still find some of them used). Doodle loves them, and brings them to me night after night to read them again.
One night, he studied intensely the picture of the little brown-striped gophers Laura and Mary chased on the prairie. On a whim, I snatched up the little stuffed prairie dog (close enough!) on my Laura bookcase and began to show him how they pop out of holes in the ground. Pop! Up he came from behind my leg. Pop! Out from behind my shoulder. Pop! Peeking over my knee. How Doodle giggled and giggled!
And the thought came to me… peekaboo with a little striped gopher — what a perfect Little House activity for toddlers! There are so many great ideas for things to do with older children, but what about Laura’s littlest fans?
We played “Mad Dog” tonight. Unlike Laura and Mary, Doodle wasn’t a bit frightened, even when backed into a corner. He just giggled and giggled and giggled some more. (Maybe I’m not as scary as Pa with his wild hair standing up on end!)
And a wagon ride in our Radio Flyer with its Conestoga wagon top is always a great delight!
What other activities might thrill the smallest of “Little House” fans? Any fun ideas out there?