IDEAS FOR EVERYDAY INTERACTIONS
Looking for ideas on how to boost your young child’s learning? Our team of early childhood professionals have put together a list of activities that parents can do right at home with their young child. These are sorted by age and include links to other resources to get the creative juices flowing as parents become their child’s first teacher.
Making “Discovery Bottles”
By using any type clear water bottle, fill it up with different types of items for your baby to explore. For example, you can fill them with: Pasta, Cotton buds, tin foil, pipe cleaners, soapy water & rice. Gluing the cap to the bottle allows for your baby to play the filled bottle without accessing what is inside.
Exploring the Rain
Going outside with your baby will give them an opportunity use their sense and explore the outside.
Frozen Sensory Balls
By filling balloons up with water, you can then freeze them to make Frozen sensory balls for your kids to play with. You can leave some of the frozen water still wrapped inside the balloon or take some balloons off exposing the ice ball inside. Utilizing these in the bathtub gives them something fun to explore and play with it.
Squishy Fun
All you need to a zip lock bag and some paint to entertain your kids. By using squirting paint into the bag and taping it shut, your kids can explore the fun and textures of paint without making a mess.
Tummy Time
Get down on the floor with your baby. Look her in the eye as you lie on your own belly. Lay your baby down on a towel and use it to gently roll her from side to side. Try saying, “Oops-a-daisy, Oops-a-daisy” as you roll her.
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Active Games
At this age, kids are developing psychical skills. Playing games such as, follow the leader or freeze dance can help them develop these skills.
Conversation and Storytelling
As kids develop more language and speaking skills, they need to participate in activities that allow them to utilize them. Talking about feelings will allow them to start exercising their skills and give them an opportunity to reflect on their feelings.
Matching and Sorting Games
You can engage your kids in sorting games by asking them to sort and identify objects by their size, shape, and color.
Imaginary Play
Playing games such as pretend cooking or pretend eating. By providing your kids with many household items to use to their imagination, they can start developing their skills of simple imaginary play.
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Matching Shapes
At these age kids are starting to identify names of shapes and what they look like. You can help them develop these skills by pointing out what shapes real life items are.
Trace Letters
Kids at this age tend to enjoy drawing. Purchasing papers that have red lines where letter should lie will help your kids identify letters and their shapes. You can draw letters on this paper and allow them then to trace over them with markers.
Do Puzzles
By putting together puzzles your kids can start developing important fine motor development skills. You can look for puzzles suited for their age group so they can start putting them together. This activity can also help teach them patience.
Notice Seasons
Kids at this age tend to enjoy going outside. When they do start discussing with them what seasons are and what happens when they change.
Setting the Table
Kids at this age are starting to pick up on activities adults perform throughout their home. Ask your kid to join you and create a family event out of setting the table. Check out this video from Vroom to help!
Make a Mosaic
Mosaics are beautiful pictures made from colorful tiles of different shapes and sizes. You and your kid can craft on of their own by using paper, scissors and glue!
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Make Peace Rocks
You can find any rock outside for this! By using a rock and paint allow your kids to tap into their creative sides to make a cool painted rock.
Make Cereal Box House
A fun way to get craft is by using recycled household items. To complete this activity, you need an old cereal box and scissors to make a fun cereal box house that your kids can decorate and make their own.
Create a Gratitude Jar
Teaching kids’ gratitude is very important. A fun way to do so is by helping them make a jar full of notecards that say what they are thankful or grateful for.
Patterns in Nature
Doing activities outside is important for your child’s development. Going on outdoor scavenger hunts to find patterns outdoors can help them develop mindful seeing.
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Whether exploring science on a family walk, testing out math skills by measuring ingredients for dinner, or strengthening self-awareness and self-esteem by listening to family stories, PBS Kids is committed to supporting you with parent advice and learning activities that will help your child thrive this year — in school or at home.
Vroom believes all parents want what’s best for their children. So we joined with scientists, researchers, and parents to take the science out of the lab and put it in the hands of caregivers. Vroom provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments®.