Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
15m
Science
Push and Pull
Gather a laundry basket/cardboard box and objects of different weights to put inside (books, cans, water bottles, toys, shoes, etc.).
Ask your child if they think the basket will be easy or hard to push. What about if they add different things inside?
Test your child’s predictions by pushing the empty basket. Then, add different objects and invite your child to push the basket.
Ask them to observe which objects were easier or harder to push in the basket. Were their predictions correct?
10m
Science
Rolling Ramps
Gather a flat surface to use as a ramp (like: a cardboard box, baking sheet, book, pillow) and a small ball or toy car.
Put the ramp at an angle (you can hold it or prop it up on blocks or furniture). Ask your child to place the ball at the top of the ramp and let it go.
Ask your child what they noticed about the ball's motion. Repeat, changing the ramp’s angles so it’s a steeper or less steep slope. Ask your child what ramp position made the ball go farthest.
(Optional) If you have two balls/cars that are the same weight, you can make a "race." Put two same-length ramps at two different angles or slopes, let go of the balls at the same time, and see which ball reaches the finish line fastest.
1hr
Science
Build-A-Track
Find a small toy that can move along a track, like a toy car, marble, or small ball.
Gather materials to build your track, such as cardboard, tubes, blocks, pillows, or kitchen items, and use things like tape or string to connect the pieces.
Make a path for your toy to follow and add fun features like ramps or turns.
Test your track by pushing the toy along it, then fix any spots where it gets stuck and keep experimenting until it works smoothly.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Varies
Language & Literacy
Vocabulary Questions
Encourage your child to ask questions about new words they hear, or new things they see.
Answer their questions in a child-friendly way based on the context (e.g. by pointing to a book’s illustrations). Or, find out the answer together!
Watch your child become more comfortable asking questions as they see you and other family members asking questions and receiving answers in a supportive and welcoming way.
30m
Science
Fort Building
Ask your child to think of what materials they would need to build a fort. Gather the materials from around the house. Consider using blankets, sheets, kitchen chairs, or even low tables in your home. Clothespins, large clips, and rubber bands can also be helpful!
Ask your child their plan for building the fort, then build! Encourage your child to do as much as they can by themselves.
Ask your child to assess your design. Does it seem sturdy? Can people fit inside? How can it be improved? Revise the fort if needed.
Go inside and play!
15m
Health & Wellness
Family Safety Plan
Discuss potential emergency situations that are specific to your regional location, like fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
Walk around your home and talk about all safe paths, exits, and places for cover during emergencies. Consider including a "meeting spot" in case you have to evacuate your home.
Perform practice drills so your children know what to do and where to go during an emergency.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Varies
Language & Literacy
Describe, Describe, Describe!
Select an object with your child and describe it in as many ways as you can think of.
Incorporate the different senses too - how does the object taste, feel, sound, or smell?
Invite family members to join in and take turns playing the “describe” game with other objects or things that you do. For example, think of all different kinds of ways to describe a recent family meal, or the scenery outside when you’re stuck in traffic.
How about ways to describe one another?
10m
Math
Robot Directions
Choose a goal that you will direct your child, "the robot," to reach.
Give your child a series of directions to help them get to the goal. Tell them one "move" at a time.
Next, it's your turn to be the robot! Ask your child to give you directions, and follow them exactly (even if the directions move you away from the goal).
Celebrate with a robot dance party!
10m
Approaches to Learning
Wait and Count
Invite your child to practice waiting.
Give them a simple counting task to complete when you leave the room (like: counting red things in the room, teddy bears in the room, etc.).
Walk to another room and come back (spend about 30 seconds outside of the room before you return). Ask your child how many things they counted.
Repeat, changing the objects your child is counting. As they become more comfortable with the game, ask your child to choose the item they count.
Use these activities to learn with your child every day!
Varies
Language & Literacy
Descriptive Words
Throughout the day, while you’re interacting with each other, playing or running errands, think of different descriptive words you can use.
For example, if your child says that a dog is “really big,” you can say, “Yes, it’s humongous.” Then, quickly brainstorm other synonyms together.
Use this activity as an opportunity to share new and more complex words with your child, and watch how their vocabulary grows!
20m
Physical
Family Challenge Races
Choose which races you want to try. Gather your supplies. Find a long space to be your race course, and mark the start and finish lines with rope or tape.
Challenge Ideas:
Pillowcase Race: Step inside of a pillowcase, and hold the sides with your hands. Hop your way from the start to the finish.
Three-Legged-Race: Find a partner. Stand next to each other, and tie your inside legs together (one partner's left leg tied to one partner's right leg) using string, a pair of tights, or an exercise band. Work together to get to the finish line. (easier version: each person holds one end of a water bottle with their hand)
Spoon Balance Race: Each person needs a spoon and a small ball. Balance the ball on the spoon and start the race! If you drop the ball, pick it up and keep going.
Any other ideas your family comes up with!
Run your races!
If playing with several people, whoever crosses the finish line first, wins.
If playing with only yourself and one child, you can go one at a time and time yourselves to see who has the best time. Or, you can do each race a few times and see if you can beat your best time.
20m
Science
Playground Physics
Gather a few different types of balls (like: soccer ball, kickball, baseball, bouncy ball) and head outside to a wide open space.
Mark a starting spot on the ground with a stick or rock. Experiment with different ways of moving the different balls. Examples:
A child kicking or throwing the ball gently
A child kicking or throwing the ball as hard as they can
Use rocks or sticks to mark where the ball lands each time.
Summarize your results: what kind of force made the ball go farther? Did one type of ball seem to go farther than another?
