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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Feed the Monster PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

As preschoolers start to interact and play with others, you can introduce and reinforce the concepts of sharing.

What You Need:

• Small cardboard box with a hole cut out for a mouth.


• Glue


• Items to decorate the monster such as paper triangles for teeth, paper circles for eyes.


• Small items to share with the monster: e.g., small toys or pretend food.

What To Do:

1. Create the monster by cutting a hole in a small cardboard box


2. Decorate the monster with paper eyes and teeth.


3. Each child takes a turn sharing by feeding the monster some of their toys.


4. Say to the child, “You are sharing your toys when you are feeding the monster. You have some and the monster has some that you gave him.”

Snack Mix to Share PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Model the concept of sharing by making this snack and sharing with friends and family.

What You Need:

• 1 cup honey flavored cereal


• 1 cup chocolate cheerio cereal


• 1 cup salted roasted peanuts


• 1 cup chocolate candies with candy shell (i.e. Reese’s pieces)


• 1 cup mini twisted salted pretzels


• 1 cup raisins

What To Do:

1. Take turns with your keiki while adding all the ingredients together in a large bowl. As the child adds each ingredient, talk about the shapes and colors as well as the tastes and smells.


2. Mix the ingredients to combine.


3. Store in several air tight container to maintain freshness.


4. Model the concept of sharing by taking her to deliver trail mix to friends and family. Makes 7 cups.

Adapted from https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/recipes/find-a-recipe/halloween-snack-mix

Waiting Hands PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Add communication skills when teaching turn taking by adding gestures and words.

What You Need:

• None

What To Do:

1. Help your toddler practice clasping her hands together and say “waiting hands.”


2. When you are taking turns and it is not her turn, you can say, “my turn, show me your waiting hands.”  Start off by counting to 5 depending on the age of the toddler.


3. Help the child focus on her waiting hands while she is waiting for her turn.

My Turn, Your Turn PDF FACEBOOK SHARE ICON.

Use this game to model words and turn taking

What You Need:

• A ball or toy car (Something to roll back and forth)

What To Do:

1. Sit on the floor facing your child with your legs out in front of you.


2. Place the ball or car on the floor and roll it to her and say “Your turn.”


3. Encourage her to roll it back to you and say “My turn.”


4. Repeat, saying the “Your turn, my turn.” as the ball is rolled back and forth.


5. If your child is talking, encourage her to say “My turn” when the ball gets to her.

*If other children are participating, sit in circle and encourage them to roll the ball to each other saying the child’s name for example “Sam’s turn.”