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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Milestone Board for the First Year PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Capture baby's first milestones and create this milestone board to talk about keiki's accomplishments.

What You Need:

• Poster board


• Colored markers


• Glue


• Scissors

What To Do:

1. Choose the milestones you want to capture of your infant. For example, first smiles, first time sitting up, first solid food, or first steps. Use the CDC milestone checklist https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/index.html to guide you.


2. Take or gather pictures of your infant meeting the milestones.


3. Glue them on the board.


4. Label and decorate with colored markers.


5. Point and talk with your child about their milestone accomplishment.

 

Treasure Bag PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Play a matching game using household objects.

What You Need:

• 2 Paper bags


• Several small household objects, 2 of each (e.g., spoons, small plastic bowls, clean sponges)

What To Do:

1. Gather several small household objects. 2 of each item.


2. Get 2 paper bags. Put the same items in each paper bag.


3. Pull one item from one bag and talk about it (e.g., texture, size).


4. Ask your child to reach into the other bag and find the same item. “How did you know this is the same item?”

Gimme Gimme Color PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Play a color scavenger hunt with your preschooler and see how many colors she can find!

What You Need:

• Items safe for children to reach for


• Items with a variety of colors

What To Do:

1. Tell your child that you will be playing a game called “Gimme Gimme Color”. Explain to your child that he needs to find something with the color you call out and bring the item to you. For example, “Gimme gimme something blue,” then the child finds something with the color blue and brings it to you.


2. Take turns with your child and let him be the one to call out the colors for you to find.

Pretzel Letters & Numbers PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Invite your child to make letter or number pretzels with this yummy recipe.

What You Need:

• Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)


• Egg


• Salt


• Knife (adult use only)

What To Do:

1. Invite your child to make letter or number pretzels


2. Cut pizza dough into strips


3. Have your child form letters or numbers with the dough


4. Beat an egg to brush the pretzels.


5. Demonstrate and then allow your child to brush beaten egg on pretzels.


6. Sprinkle salt on pretzels


7. Bake at 400°F for 3-6 minutes or until golden brown. (Caution: keep children away from the oven)


8. Invite children to sound the letters and name the numbers before they eat.