Hey Dads,
Our little guy, Leo, is deep into what I’ve started calling the ‘drop it, Dad!’ phase. Seriously, give him anything – a teether, a block, even a half-eaten banana (RIP the floor) – and it’s over the side of the high chair, off the couch, out of the stroller. Then he looks at you with those wide eyes, waiting for you to pick it up. Over and over.
It’s actually pretty fascinating to watch him figure out cause and effect, and obviously, it’s a huge part of exploring gravity. He’ll drop a soft toy, then a hard one, almost like he’s testing the different sounds. I try to lean into it sometimes, making a ‘boing!’ sound when it bounces or a ‘thud!’ when it hits the floor. Other times, honestly, I just put him on the floor with some indestructible toys and let him go wild. My back can only handle so much.
It got me thinking about how we, as dads, turn these repetitive (and sometimes frustrating) phases into actual learning or bonding moments.
What are your go-to strategies for the great ‘drop it’ game? Do you have specific toys that make it less of a clean-up nightmare, or ways you’ve made it into a fun, interactive learning game? Let’s hear it!