Gross Motor Development

Activity: Walking on Bubbles

Skills Learned:

• Running, hopping, Jumping

Materials:

• Large sheet of bubble wrap

• Tape

Directions:

• Take a sheet of bubble wrap and tape it to the floor.

• Have your child take off his shoes and walk across the bubble wrap.

• Encourage your child to try walking in different ways such as; tiptoeing, stomping, running, hopping, and walking on heels.

• Ask your child to try walking without popping any of the bubbles.

Mommy. . . I spilled

As your preschooler moves closer to kindergarten it is important that they have a level of independence that will help get them through their day. Unlike at home or in preschool, kindergarten classrooms will not have a low adult-child ratio, there may be only one teacher and one aide to 30 children. This means that your kiddo may not have the help they need to get through snack or lunch.
So now comes the tricky part, how do you practice independent feeding at home without creating a flood of apple juice every time you sit down to eat? Just like previously mentioned in this blog for learning to dress themselves, you can take play time to work on these skills, preferably outside J.
To help your child address the treacherous task of eating with a spoon without the tears, create an activity that involves using spoons to scoop up different types of materials. Lay out multiple bowls and cups in an area, some empty and some with materials like dry rice, dry beans, water, glittery, or beads, and a large pot or bowl. Create a scenario such as making a magic potion or cooking soup for your restaurant and let them practice scooping the ingredients with standard kitchen spoons into the pot. This will allow them to practice the motion of scooping and balancing the materials in the spoon without resulting in mac and cheese all over the floor.
The same activity can be used to practice pouring liquid from one container to another (like pouring juice from a pitcher into a cup). Just modify the materials to be different types of liquids and add some things that float like the glitter or beads to make it interesting, and use all cups and no bowls or spoons. Have the child practice pouring the liquids from one cup to another.
These type of activities give your child the time to practice and develop the fine motor and hand-eye coordination required for independent eating in a fun environment that isn’t as rushed or pressured as meal time. So get out the utensils and let the games begin.

Cognitive Development

 

Take advantage of glorious fall weather to go outside and take a walk with your children. In addition to getting exercise and breathing fresh air, your children will gain understanding of the world as they observe, collect and have fun.

 

Materials to take along:

Bag or box for found items, such as leaves of different sizes and colors, seed pods, bugs, flowers etc.

Paper or notebook for recording questions, ideas or discoveries

Scissors and pencils or crayons

Tape for securing samples and to put around your child’s wrist with sticky side out to display findings on a tape bracelet.

Magnifying glass for closer looks

 

What will your child learn from this exploration?

Help your child sort his/her findings by size, color, smell or other attributes. Your child will learn to notice details, likeness and difference and to form categories. These are essential reading and math skills.

Your child will learn new vocabulary.

Your child will explore concepts of texture, color, weight and size.

Your child will use his/her senses as he/she uses observation techniques.

Let your child make a display of findings. In addition to using his/her creativity and   hand-eye coordination, he/she will feel that the found treasures are valued.

 

 

 

Social Emotional Development

Expressing "Thanks" through Creative Art

Activity: MANY THANKS GIVINGS!

Objective: To make a "Thankful Turkey!"

Skill/Learning: Appreciation, Gratitude, Holiday Celebrations

Materials:

• A "Thanksgiving" children's book
• Construction paper
• Pen or pencil
• Paper plate
• Brown paint
• Paint brush
• Wiggle eyes
• Scissors
• Paste/glue

Directions:

• On construction paper draw turkey parts: face, beak, feet, wattle and 3 feathers.
• Read a book to child about Thanksgiving. Then discuss the meaning of the holiday, what it means to be "thankful," and things your child is thankful for.
• Tell child that they can now make a "Thankful Turkey!"
• Have child paint paper plate brown.
• As the plate is drying, have them cut out the turkey parts: face, beak, feet, wattle, and 3 feathers (if child is very young, pre-cut shapes for them).
• Have child paste/glue the face, beak, wattle, feet, and eyes on the paper plate. Ask that they write 3 things they are thankful for onto the 3 feathers, then paste/glue these on as well (if child is very young, have them tell you 3 things they are thankful for and you write their words on the feathers).
• Put "Thankful Turkey" up on the refrigerator or tape it to a wall in the house!

Benefit:

• Children have a fun art experience while learning all about the true meaning of "Thanksgiving!"
  

Treasure Bottle

Developing language through exploration.

Materials Needed:
• Clean, dry water bottles
• Funnel
• Sand (colored or plain)
• Small Treasures (golf tee, wooden beads, birthday candles, pom poms, buttons, etc – use materials with names that may be new to your child)

Activity:
Using your funnel, add about ¼ cup of your sand to the water bottle. Add a few of the treasures to the bottle. Pour more sand on top and add a few more treasures. Keep layering your water bottle until it is about 75% full (need room to shake and move the sand and treasures around). Cap the bottle and seal with duct tape, to avoid any spills or potential choking hazards, as the treasures are small items.

As children play with the bottle, model for them to shake the bottle and see what treasures pop up onto the surface as the sand moves around within the bottle. As each treasure appears on the surface, ask the child what they have found and what they think the item is. Encourage enhanced vocabulary words by expanding on the description of each item and introducing new words to your child.

Older children may also enjoy helping to create the bottle (with adult supervision), while younger children will enjoy the finished product.

Domain:
Language Development

Skills Learned:
Language, vocabulary, observation skills, cognitive development

Gross Motor Development

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical activity reduces anxiety, depression and behavioral problems in young children. It helps children alleviate stress and children learn to manage feelings and gain a sense of self-control.

Activity: Shark-Infested Water

Skills learned:

➢ balancing, jumping and social skills.

Materials:

➢ Newspaper, paper plates, house bricks, or terra-cotta plant pots for stepping stones.

➢ Paths made from cardboard (optional).

Directions:

➢ Set out some stepping-stones. For younger children, use paper plates or some folded newspaper. For older children, use house bricks and/or upturned plant pots (keep an eye on the children).

➢ Stepping stones should be placed close enough for the child to be able to step on them, but far enough to be a challenge.

➢ The child’s task is simple. The Sea is infested with sharks, and the only way across is to step on the stepping-stones. One foot in the water and the sharks will bite.

➢ You can turn the stepping-stones into a real obstacle course by including low garden walls, narrow paths made from strips of cardboard, and barriers that the child can climb over or duck under.

Learning to get dressed outside of the morning rush!

You know it's important for your young child to learn life skills and to become more independent. Even their teacher has dropped hints about working on skills like dressing themselves to help with their school day (putting on 12 pairs of shoes after nap is quite a task). But what you also know is that the morning routine is nothing short of chaotic in your home. You would be happy if they ate their breakfast in less than 45 minutes, let alone practice putting on their own clothes.
It's time to look at play time in a new light to help work on these skills, namely dressing themselves independently. Specifically we are going to look at dress up or make believe play to work on practicing dressing routines.

What you need:
✓ Some of your family’s old clothes, ideally a bit too big for them, or buy some at the thrift store.
✓ Craft supplies you already have like glitter, markers, cut up old cloth, scissors, and glue.
✓ Paper and crayons
✓ A cardboard box to put it all in.

What to do:
While you may be low on cash, your young child has a wealth of imagination so there is no need to buy expensive dress up clothes. Play off of your child’s interests. When children are motivated and enjoying a task they often times are able to work above their average ability level. Ask your child what they want to be and then work together (great time to practice independent cutting and writing) to create the supplies. If they want to be a fireman then write the words “Fire Chief” across an old shirt. If they want to be a princess then glue glitter and old fabric pieces onto a hand me down night shirt. Tell them that their regular school shoes are now special policeman shoes for the job. In addition to clothing, use the paper and crayons to create more props like a menu or store hours. Label the box and keep all of their supplies in it so they always know where to find them. You may be surprised at how motivated your child is to learn how to get dressed themselves when they think it is fun. So when you are rushed to get out of the house, take other more relaxed opportunities to practice life skills.

Did you know?
When you are having difficulty with your child refusing to get dressed in the morning the simple act of letting them choose between two outfits that you have laid out can help reduce the stress. When children feel like they have some control they are less likely to resist.

LEARNING WITH PLAYDOUGH

Cognitive development is concerned with how a child gains understanding of the world. Through play activities, children learn to think, problem solve, understand and remember concepts.

What can your child learn from making and playing with PLAYDOUGH?
Concepts of measurement, shapes, size, length, height
Following directions (recipe)
Chemistry—how liquids and solids mix
Fine motor coordination—pouring and stirring, rolling dough, using utensils
To express imagination and creativity

This homemade variety is quick and easy to make, lasts "forever" in a ziplock bag, and is a fun, play activity for your children as they learn cognitive skills.

Materials:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup salt
2 cups hot water mixed with food coloring of your choice
1/4 cup cooking oil
4 teaspoons cream of tartar

Mix dry goods together in a pan. Add oil and water. Cook for a couple of minutes over medium heat until liquid is absorbed and mixture forms a ball. Turn out on surface to cool. When cool, let your child knead it a bit. Then it’s “good to go”.
Let your child choose some gadgets and utensils to use. Store in a ziplock bag or container with lid.


Try this recipe for a yummy smelling, no cook PLAYDOUGH:

Materials:
2 ½ c. flour
½ c. salt
2 pkg. kool-aid
2 c. boiling water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients. Add water and oil, stir well. Turn out on surface to cool. Mix or knead with hands. Use gadgets as above.

Social-Emotional Development

In the area of social-emotional development, young children are learning how to regulate their emotions. Being able to regulate emotions is a necessary skill for future success in school and life. To support their social-emotional development, kids need exposure to people and situations that model effective behavior, healthy expressing of emotions, and positive social interactions.

The following is an activity that supports the social-emotional development of children and can be "played" at school or at home!

Activity: PUT-UPS and PUT-DOWNS

Skills/Learning about: Problem-solving, feelings, and respect

Materials:

• 2 hand puppets or stuffed animals named generically (i.e. Cat and Dog)

Directions:

• Gather your child or children and ask them to listen to and discuss a puppet show about name-calling.
• Use the puppets or stuffed animals to represent participants in a common problem among young friends - name-calling.
• Enact the following script:

Cat: (Cat is crying).
Parent (P) or Teacher (T): Asks Cat why she is crying.
Cat: Answers that Dog called her "dumb."
P or T: Tells children that "dumb" is a "put-down word." Then asks Dog if he said this.
Dog: Admits having said it.
P or T: Asks Dog to look at Cat crying. Asks Dog how he thinks Cat feels? (Look at children to answer for Dog).
Children: Children should answer for Dog.
P or T: Asks Dog why he would call Cat "dumb?"
Dog: Says, "Because Cat won't play with me!"
P or T: Says, "I think I understand how you feel. It sounds like you (Dog) were angry and disappointed. You really wanted to play ball with Cat."
P or T: Asks children if they can think of what Dog might have done differently when Cat said that she didn't want to play ball with him.
Children: Children answer.

• Encourage children to explore different problem-solving possibilities.
• After open discussion, ask children to give "put-ups" to Cat to help her feel better. Explain what "put-up words" sound like (i.e. "I think you are very fun to play with").

Benefit: While children are "playing" with you, they are learning a valuable lesson about healthy ways to express their emotions and how to have positive social interactions!

PLAY MAKES LEARNING RELEVANT AND FUN!

Mystery Box

Building language development through group and individual questions, hypothesizing, and conversation. Building vocabulary by exploring new items.

Materials Needed:

1. Medium-sized cardboard box

2. Construction paper/ stickers/ box decorations

3. Glue

4. Old t-shirt (neck and chest needed, the rest cut off)

5. Double stick tape

6. Household items

Activity:

Cut a hole into the top of a cardboard box and allow your children to help you decorate the outside of the box with construction paper, stickers, paint, etc. Cut an old t-shirt across the chest and use double stick tape to attach the neck opening to the edges of the hole in your box. This will create a curtain to keep the items in the box a mystery until they are pulled out.

Place numerous items into the box. These can be common household items that adults see everyday, but that may be new and interesting to children. Choose items with different textures, shapes and materials. Allow the children to pull out one item at a time and ask engaging, open-ended questions to encourage language development, conversational skills and critical thinking skills. The children can guess what an item might be before he or she pulls it out based on what it feels like inside the box as well. Once they see an item, allow them to hypothesize what it's function might be and where they might find these items in their home.

Domain:

Language Development

Skills Learned:

Language, vocabulary, social skills, observation skills, critical thinking, cognitive development

Welcome to Yay4Play!

Yay4Play is here!! Log on each day for a new play activity for young children. Each activity will target a specific domain, however, one of the best things about play is that it allows children to develop in many domains at once!

Domains targeted on Yay4Play! include:

-Language Development

-Social/Emotional Development

-Cognitive Development

-Life Skills

-Physical Development