Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Varies
Language & Literacy
What, Where, When?
Throughout the day, try giving me lots of examples of questions that start with "What," "Where," and "When."
If I ask a question with only one word, repeat my question as a complete sentence.
If I use gestures to ask a question (like pointing at something interesting), say the question I'm "asking" out loud. Then answer my question.
Over time, I'll learn to ask questions to help me figure things out.
30m
Creativity
Fashion Designer
BRING BACK
Before you begin, cut up some fabric scraps or old clothes with bright and interesting colors and designs. (Or, you can also do this activity with paper or magazine pages cut up).
Ask your child to draw a self-portrait that includes their whole body.
Tell them that they're going to be a fashion designer and they're going to make an outfit for their picture.
Help your child use school glue to adhere the fabric scraps to the self-portrait. Cut out shapes for them if needed.
30m
Science
Tree Texture Collage
BRING BACK
Head to an area with several trees (ideally different types of trees). Bring a few pieces of paper, tape, and something to make a rubbing (a crayon, piece of chalk, or piece of drawing charcoal).
Stop at the trunk of a tree. Feel the texture of the tree trunk. Hold the piece of paper on the tree bark, and encourage your child to make a rubbing of the texture. (If using a crayon, peel the paper wrapper off and use the side of the crayon instead of the tip.)
Collect any parts of the tree that have fallen (leaves, acorns, seeds, pinecones, twigs, flowers, etc.) and tape them to the paper. If you know what kind of tree it is, write the name of the tree on the paper.
Repeat with other nearby trees. Compare the different tree collages you've made.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
30m
Health & Wellness
Let's Cook Together
As you prepare a meal, talk with your child about what you're cooking and how you're preparing it.
Invite your child to help where appropriate. Some simple cooking tasks for young children:
Handing you ingredients
Scooping ingredients with measuring cups and spoons
Invite your child to interact with ingredients, like:
Smelling spices
Tasting fruits, veggies, and herbs
Eat your meal together! Talk about how you cooked each of the ingredients.
10m
Approaches to Learning
Do This Then That!
Create three-step directions for your child to follow; get silly and have fun with this!
Preface each command with “do this…then that…then that...” as you model the multi-step directions. Example: Say “do this” while tapping your nose and say “then that” while marching in place and "then that" when spinning in a circle.
Try not to repeat the directions; instead encourage your child to remember all three steps on their own.
If your child is successfully remembering 3-step directions, try 4-step directions (do this, then that, then that, then that).
10m
Language & Literacy
Talking Turns
Have your child or children work together to find or create an object to wear or hold when it’s someone’s turn to speak.
After an activity like sharing a meal, watching a movie, or visiting the park, ask everyone in attendance to share their favorite part of the experience while they are wearing or holding the speaking object.
Remind everyone to only speak when they are wearing or holding the speaking object.
Ask follow up questions so children can practice waiting for their turn again.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
5m
Language & Literacy
Syllable Movement
With your child, choose 3 different movements you'll do together. (For example, tapping your head, placing hands on your hips, touching your knees). Tell your child you're going to do a different move to match each part of a word.
Look around the room and pick an object whose word has 1-3 syllables. Slowly say each syllable while you do the moves you picked (for example: tap your head as you say the first syllable, place your hands on your hips for the second syllable, touch your knees for the third syllable).
Repeat for the same word, but encourage your child to join in saying the syllables and doing the movements.
Repeat with different 1-3 syllable words.
15m
Math
Adding Up Snacks
Put 5 small pieces of food (like cereal) on a plate. Count with your child.
Ask your child: "How many more do you need to add up to 10?"
Check their answer. Add [amount child answered] to the plate and count again. Are there 10 total?
Repeat, starting with different amounts of food between 1-9. When you're done playing, eat your snack!
15m
Language & Literacy
Paint Your Letter
Spread out newspaper or a tablecloth, and set up large pieces of paper to paint on. Put a small amount of non-toxic paint in a cup. (Note: this activity can also be done with crayon, marker, or pencil).
Talk about the first letter in your child's name. Practice painting (or drawing) the different parts of the uppercase letter (like: lines for "T," lines and half circles for "B"). Paint the shapes first, then ask your child to copy the shapes.
With pencil or pen, write your child’s first letter on the paper. Ask your child to paint over the letter.
If you and your child are having fun, practice painting the other letters in your child's name.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
15m
Social Studies
My Cultural Traditions
Tell your child about the cultural group(s) that your child belongs to. Explain to your child that a cultural group is a set of people who do similar things.
Gather items from your cultural group(s) that your child can touch and explore. Examples:
photographs
food
Talk about why those items are important to your family's culture, and how they relate to your customs, traditions, or holidays.
Encourage your child to interact with the items and ask questions about them.
20m
Science
What's Inside
Without your child looking, gather objects from around the house made out of different materials (like: wood, metal, stone, cloth, plastic). Example objects: a wooden spoon, metal house keys, teddy bear, a rock, a plastic figurine.
Ask your child to close their eyes (or wear a blindfold). Put one object into a large bag or pillowcase.
Have your child reach into the bag with their eyes closed. Can they guess what the object is without looking at it? If they need a hint, prompt them to think about the object's size, shape, texture, weight, and temperature.
Repeat! Your child can also try to stump you by choosing different objects and letting you be the guesser.
15m
Language & Literacy
Draw a Memory
At the end of the week, ask your child to remember one fun thing that happened that week.
Ask them to draw or paint a picture of the fun thing.
When they're finished, ask them to tell you more about the picture. Write their responses on their drawing.
