Make a Fourth of July "Summer Fruit Kabob" to celebrate the holiday.
What You Need:
- 2 watermelons
- 1 (10.5-ounce) package fresh blueberries
- Bamboo skewers
- Star cookie cutter
What To Do:
- Sit close with your child as you slice watermelon into thick slices, and tell her what you are doing and why. Explain how she can cut out stars using a cookie cutter. Answer any questions she might have.
- Together with keiki, skewer about 15 blueberries on a bamboo skewer and 1 watermelon star on top. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Engage in conversation as you are working together. You can ask, “Do you like making fruit kabobs?” Then pause and listen to her response.
Kids love fruit skewers for the 4
th of July, and they are always a major hit – older keiki can help with assembly. Tip: Don’t cut the watermelon too thinly, otherwise the stars will break when you are trying to skewer them.
Play this game during transition times or while in the car. This I Spy" game helps build language and critical thinking skills.
What You Need:
None
What To Do:
- Choose one player to be the “Spy” who selects a visible object without revealing it. Make sure everyone can see the object.
- The Spy gives a clear, specific clue by saying, for example, “I spy with my little eye, something that is red (color/shape/texture or size of the object).”
- The other player or players take turns asking questions about the object, such as, “Is it in the car with us?” “Is it my red wallet?”
- The player who correctly guesses the object will be the next spy.
Practice communication skills with this "Flashlight Search" activity.
What You Need:
Flashlight
What To Do:
- Sit or stand close to your child and shine a flashlight on different parts of the room, such as the wall, the door, or the floor, and name them. For example, “There is the wall.” “There is the door.”
- Give clear instructions as you ask your toddler to shine the flashlight on specific objects and tell you what she finds.
- Give her simple directions. For example, “Shine the light on the ceiling. Now shine the light on the window.” Pause for 10 seconds to give her time to process what you have asked her to do.
- Praise her when she finds the right object, for example, “Yes, you shone the flashlight on the window!” “Great work finding the window.”
Interact with your infant with this "Alert Attention" activity.
What You Need:
None
What To Do:
- When your baby is awake, tune in to her as much as possible.
- Talk to her about the things and activities around her.
- Smile at her often and respond to her smiles.
- Cuddle her and gently stroke her face, arms, and legs.
- Hold her so you are facing each other.
- 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.
- Encourage other family members to talk and play with her.
- 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 she is heard and cared for.
