Early Head Start Homework

Social-Emotional Learning

Silly Squealing

1. Try some silly games to see if you can get me to squeal with delight. I'll make a sudden burst of high pitched vowel sounds like "eeee!" to let you know that I'm happy.
   
2. Games to try:
   
• "I'm Gonna Get You!"
  
• Making funny faces at me.
  

Full Guidance

Physical

Learning to Roll

1. Help me learn to roll! Most babies will learn how to roll from tummy-to-back first, and then back-to-tummy later.
   
2. Play a rolling game with me:
   
• Place me tummy-down on a small blanket or towel on the floor.
  
• Slowly raise one side of the blanket until I tilt to the side.
  
3. Encourage me to roll other times we play on the floor:
   
• Place me on my tummy and hold a toy where I can see it.
  
• Move the toy behind my back slowly, and see if I'll roll to follow it.
  
4. Celebrate me when I complete a roll!

Full Guidance

Math

Grocery Grouping

1. When you are unpacking groceries (or other items from shopping bags), ask your child to help sort the items.
   
2. Choose two categories and tell them how to sort the items. Some examples:
   
• Container shape: sort by cans or boxes
  
• Container size: sort by small boxes and big boxes
  
3. Pick one item from each category and place it where you want your child to sort similar items. Ask them to place similar items next to the examples (for fragile items, you can move the item for your child).
   
4. When your groceries are all sorted, show your child where each category gets put away. Celebrate when you're done!

Full Guidance

Science

Experimenting with Gravity

1. Gather toys that are okay for me to drop (balls, stuffed animals, crumpled paper, tissues, etc.) and a box or basket to catch them in.
   
2. Sit with me in a chair, and encourage me to drop the different items into the box. Describe how the different items fall.
   
3. Throughout the day, let me 'help' drop other things, like: clothes in a laundry basket, trash into a trashcan, or bath toys into the tub.
   
4. I might be in a "dropping stage" right now, and sometimes you might not want me to be experimenting with gravity (like when I'm eating and I drop food or spoons on purpose!).
   
• During those times, try not to react strongly to my dropping, which will encourage me to continue.
  
• Matter-of-factly remove the object and distract me. Don't try to reason with me, I'm still too young to understand rules.

Full Guidance