Activities

Young children learn through play. When young children are actively involved in their own learning and having fun at it, they learn better. You can support their learning by engaging them playfully in everyday activities. The activities on our site are based on everyday experiences, use materials commonly found in the home, and most importantly designed to encourage children’s healthy development in all areas (physical, social emotional, language and literacy, and cognitive).

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Yum, Yum, Treat PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

This activity is recommended for infants who are developmentally ready, able to sit up unsupported, and grasp items with his forefinger and thumb to bring food to his mouth.

What You Need:

• Soft food

What To Do:

1. Use soft food like avocado and tofu or cook food until soft.


2. Encourage your child to use his fingers to eat.


3. While he is grasping the food to eat, talk with him about the texture, taste, and color. For example, “Oh, you are tasting the green broccoli.” “The tofu is so soft.” “The avocado is the same color as the broccoli and soft like the tofu.”

Produce Picker PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Have your child pick out a vegetable from your produce bin to try.

What You Need:

• Assorted vegetables (2-3 choices)

What To Do:

1. Ask your child to be the produce picker to pick out the vegetables he wants to eat from your refrigerator.


2. Talk with your child about his vegetable choice (taste, color, texture) and ways that you can prepare and cook it.


3. Recall and talk about the produce picking experience with your child while you are eating together.

Shopping List PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Engage your child in meal planning and preparation by involving him in creating a shopping list and finding the items at the store.

What You Need:

• Crayons/pen/pencil


• Paper


• Grocery ads (optional)

What To Do:

1. Ask your child to help you write out a shopping list


2. Give your child hints of what you are thinking of cooking.


3. Encourage your child to write or draw the items that you need.


4. If you have newspaper ads from grocery stores, use them as prompts.


5. Take the list with you on your next grocery shopping trip and have him help look for the items.

Apple Sandwiches PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Try this deliciously healthy treat suitable for older toddlers and up. Select different nut butters and dried fruits for variations.

What You Need:

• 1 medium apple


• 2 tablespoons peanut butter or any nut butters of your choice


• 1 tablespoon raisins or any dried fruits of your choice

What To Do:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.


2. Have your child watch as you cut the apple in half from the stem down and lay each half cut-side down on a cutting board. Slice each half into 6 half-round slices and cut out the core. Have him count the slices.


3. Have your child spread peanut butter on one side of each apple slice.


4. Have your child put 4 to 6 raisins on top of the peanut butter on one apple slice.


5. Top with another apple slice, peanut-butter side down. Squeeze gently.


6. Continue with remaining apple slices.


7. Enjoy together!

Adapted from: https://www.myplate.gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/apple-sandwiches