Cooking allows children to experiment, ask questions, learn routine, and it builds their basic knowledge of food. Enjoy cooking with your child and show them that you appreciate their help in the kitchen.
What You Need:
- 4 rice cakes
- ¼ cup soft cream cheese
- Dash of vanilla
- 1 cup of assorted fresh and dried fruit
What To Do:
1. In a small bowl, help your child measure the cream cheese, add vanilla and stir to blend.
2. Wash the fruit with your child. Allow older children to cut the softer fruits into small pieces with a plastic knife.
3. Have your child spread cream cheese on top of each rice cake to cover it.
4. Let your child decorate with different fruits. Enjoy eating together!
Adapted from: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=372891
Although babies cannot yet communicate with words, a large part of their early brain development occurs as a result of their early interactions and “conversations” with their care providers.
What You Need:
What To Do:
- Pick your child up and place him in your arms. Each time he looks at you, respond by giving him a smile or by talking to him. Say in a parentese* voice, “I see _________ (say his name) looking at me.” Respond to his gestures, facial expressions, and vocalizations. As he tracks objects, talk about these objects. For example, if he gazes at the ceiling fan say, “I see _______ (name) looking at the ceiling fan.” “What is the ceiling fan doing?” “Yes, it’s going round and round.”
- Allow baby time to vocalize by making cooing and babbling noises. Then reply back to him. Make it fun by being silly with him.
*parentese: a type of speech where an adult talks to a child in an exaggerated and repetitive way; also called “baby talk.”
Toddlers are more active in exploring the world around them because of their increased mobility. Together with your child enjoy doodling with one another.
What You Need:
What To Do:
- Line a table with newspaper. Allow him to pick up the crayons and scribble freely on the paper. Observe what he is doing and then talk to him about the different lines and shapes that he is making, and the colors he is using.
- Take a crayon and begin scribbling and drawing with him. Copy his scribbles, marks and colors. Then create your own simple drawings. Talk to him about what lines and shapes you are creating. You could also tell a story as you are scribbling and drawing.
- Have him try to copy you by drawing what you are drawing. Praise him for his efforts. Allow him to freely hold the crayons in a natural position that feels right to him.
Build this roller coaster with your child and watch his curiosity and imagination soar.
What You Need:
- Reusable materials such as foam insulation tubes, cardboard, PVC pipes
- Tape
- Balls, marbles, or toy cars
What To Do:
- Research what roller coasters look like in books and videos and talk to your child about the structure of the roller coaster.
- Together gather materials to build your roller coaster. Listen to his ideas on how to connect the different materials. Follow his lead as he adds twists and turns.
- Now have your child place the balls, marbles or toy cars at the top of his roller coaster structure, and together watch as they wind and twist to the bottom.
- Allow him to make mistakes, let him come up with troubleshooting ideas, and share your own ideas on how to fix it.
- Respond to his enthusiasm, give high fives and do it again!
