An activity for a child dealing with strong emotions.
What You Need:
- Clean, clear plastic bottle (e.g. water bottle)
- Water
- Clear shampoo
- Small lightweight items (small shells, sand, beads, etc.)
- Food coloring (Optional)
- Glitter
- Glue or heavy packing tape
What To Do:
- Help your child fill the plastic bottle halfway with warm water.
- Fill the remainder with shampoo, leaving space at the top for lightweight objects.
- Add one drop of food coloring, glitter and little objects that will float.
- Glue or tape the cap shut.
- When your child is having strong emotions and a hard time calming down, have her shake the bottle, watch the floating objects of glitter sink back down to the bottom, and take deep breaths.
This activity encourages listening skills and self-regulation as she practices stopping and starting.
What You Need:
- Music (from a radio or a simple instrument such as a canister that you can use as a drum)
What To Do:
- Play music and encourage your child to dance or move in whatever way she likes.
- Then instruct her to stop and “freeze” when the music ends. This kind of activity encourages listening skills and self-regulation as she practices stopping and starting. This is a very useful skill for when she goes to school and has to follow a lot of directions!
Blended drink to enjoy with your keiki
What You Need:
- 3/4 C Milk
- 1 Banana
- 3T Sugar
- 3 T Unsweetened Cocoa
What To Do:
- Help keiki slice the banana into round pieces.
- Together, put the banana slices into a blender container and then add cocoa and sugar.
- Blend until smooth. Have your child notice how the mixture has changed.
- Add ½ cup milk, then blend until foamy.
- Pour in rest of milk and blend well.
- Serve immediately or keep in the refrigerator. Stir well before serving. Makes 2 servings.
Adapted from: 80 Years of 4-H Cooking in Hawai‘i
When your baby is awake, here's some fun ways to engage her.
What You Need:
• None
What To Do:
1. When your baby is awake, pay attention to her as much as possible.
2. Talk to her about the things and activities around her.
3. Smile at her often and respond to her smiles.
4. Cuddle her and gently stroke her face, arms, and legs.
5. Hold her so you are facing each other.
6. Kiss or blow three or four quick kisses on your baby’s tummy. Exaggerate your movements by shaking your head as you blow on her tummy with your lips.
7. Encourage other family members to talk and play with her.
8. Respond to her cries with a gentle voice. Don’t let your baby cry it out. Crying is her way of communicating; your response lets her know you hear her and care.
