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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Sock Puppet PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Puppets are a great way to build your child's oral language development.

What You Need:

• An old pair of socks


• Washable markers

What To Do:

1. Slip a sock onto your hand and use markers to draw eyes near the toe end. Do the same with the other sock.


2. Together, name the puppets.


3. Help him put the sock on his hand and show him how to move his thumb and other fingers to make the puppet “talk.”


4. Put on your puppet and start up a conversation between the two puppets—maybe your puppet can pretend that he is going to Aunty’s house.


5. Have the puppets do other activities like pick up objects, tickle one another, or pinch little noses!

Foot Puppets PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Use a puppet to express different emotions

What You Need:

• Infant booties or socks


• Washable markers

What To Do:

1. Draw a face on your child’s booties. Describe the expressions on the booties. For example say, “That’s a very friendly face. See the big smile on the face?”


2. Encourage her to pat and touch the face or to wiggle her toes while she’s wearing the booties to see how the face changes.

Easy Gingerbread Cookies PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Expand on the familiar Gingerbread Man story to make a delicious snack

What You Need:

• 1 cup white whole wheat flour


• ½ tsp. baking powder


• ½ tsp. cinnamon


• 1/8 tsp. ground ginger


• 1/8 tsp. allspice


• 1/8 tsp. salt


• 2 T. molasses


• 2 T. milk


• ¼ cup butter, softened


• Toppings: icing, sprinkles, raisins, chocolate chips, etc.

What To Do:

1. Place all ingredients into a bowl and encourage your child to use her hand to mix together to form a dough. Together, make a flattened disc of dough and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes.


2. Preheat oven to 370 degrees F. and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.


3. Together, roll the dough ¼ inch thick between two pieces of parchment or plastic wrap.


4. Have your child cut out the dough with a gingerbread man/woman cookie cutter and transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges.


5. After the cookies are completed cooled, have your child use icing to make a face and decorate with a variety of toppings.

Adapted from: www.yummytoddlerfood.com

Puppet Theatre PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Create a space where your child can extend his play with puppets

What You Need:

• Tri-fold cardboard (approx. 48”x36”)


• Utility knife (for adult use only)


• Paint, markers and other materials to decorate the theatre

What To Do:

1. Using the utility knife, cut a square/rectangle stage opening in the middle top-half section of the tri-fold cardboard.


2. Have your child paint the theatre or use other materials to decorate it. Talk about what a theater is used for and demonstrate how to place the puppets on stage.


3. Set it up and enjoy!

Variation: Make a puppet theatre by draping a blanket over a bench or table.