Early Head Start Homework

Language & Literacy

Self-Talk Tasks

1. Pick a simple task that your child can observe you doing as you hold them or as they sit in a bouncer or baby seat. Examples: preparing a bowl of cereal, doing a load of laundry, or getting mail from the mail box.
   
2. As you perform the task, use “self-talk” by narrating everything you do from start to end.
   
3. When using self talk, be as detailed as possible so your child can absorb as much langage as possible while observing the task.

Full Guidance

Creativity

Fast and Slow Music

1. Place your baby on a blanket on the floor. Play some music or sing to your baby.
   
2. Hand your baby a scarf, tissue, or handkerchief, and hold one yourself too. Move your scarf to the beat of the music.
   
3. Use your scarf to interact with your child (move it in the air in front of their face, slide it around their body). Talk about your movements and describe if they are fast or slow.
   
4. Ask and answer your own questions about what you and your baby are doing.

Full Guidance

Language & Literacy

Goodnight, Room!

1. Invite your child to play "Say Goodnight" before they lay down for sleep.
   
2. Ask your child to walk through their room and say goodnight to their family, toys, and other favorite objects.
   
3. Save yourself for last so your child can say goodnight to you before they settle in their bed.
   
4. Repeat each night before bed.

Full Guidance

Physical

Learning to Stack Blocks

1. Give me various stacking materials to play with. Besides standard blocks, I can stack books, sponges, small boxes, or food containers.
   
2. Show me how to build a tower of two or three, then invite me to try it myself.
   
3. Show me how to stack a smaller object on top of a larger one.
   
4. Continue to give me opportunities to practice stacking when I play.

Full Guidance