Early Head Start Homework

Language & Literacy

Waves, Taps, and Claps

1. Choose a simple rhyme or rhyming song to say to your child.
   
2. Wave your hands, tap your child's body, or clap to emphasize the words that rhyme.
   
3. Repeat the rhyme a few times, encouraging your child to mimic your movements (you may have to gently guide their hands to do the movements).
   
4. Try the game with other rhymes.

Full Guidance

Social-Emotional Learning

Peek-a-boo!

1. Play quick games of "peek-a-boo" throughout our daily routines. Some ideas:
   
• When my head reappears from under my shirt during dressing or undressing
  
• Playfully cover and uncover my face with my bib while I'm eating
  
2. Let me play peek-a-boo! Drape a small soft washcloth over my face. Talk to me so I know you are still there, but pretend you do not know where I am. Encourage me to remove the cloth.
   
3. As I play this game more and more, I may begin to participate by covering my own face or removing a cover.

Full Guidance

Math

Shopping Cart Counting

1. When shopping with a shopping cart or basket, ask your child to count items as they're added to the cart (up to 3 items).
   
2. Before you place any items in the cart, ask: "How many things are in our cart?" (Zero!)
   
3. Each time you add something to the cart, ask your child to count the total number of items.
   
4. When you get to the checkout line, ask your child to count each item when you hand it to the cashier.

Full Guidance

Social-Emotional Learning

Recognizing Feelings

1. Look through a book or magazine with pictures of people's faces.
   
2. Point to each face and describe the facial expression the person is making.
   
3. Match your face to the picture, and talk about what you're doing with your own face. Older siblings can do this too!
   
4. Describe your baby's facial expression and emotions during this activity, and throughout the day!

Full Guidance