Activities
Age appropriate activities are scheduled with flexibility allowed to respond to the needs of the individual child and day. I will offer times for outside play, crafts, stories, instruction, and naps appropriate to the child's ages, interests, and abilities. I will provide your child with tender loving care, understanding, patience and guidance in a happy family setting. Assistant helper, such as picking up, putting dishes in the dishwasher, helping to sort laundry will likely be a part of the day. I provide preschool curriculum, developing large and small motor skills. We do many arts and crafts where the focus is on the process, not the product. Free play is an important part of a child's early years. It is here that they learn social skills that will be needed the rest of their lives.
Top 6 Educational Games for Babies
Educational games teach infants and toddlers language skills, even before they can speak. Children benefit from positive interaction and repetition of familiar games that build skills. When playing with infants and toddlers, it is important to snuggle, giggle, cuddle, and play games in a singsong voice.
1. Teach Your Baby Language and Social Skills – Focus on Interaction for Babies
As you hide behind a blanket and peek from behind, she is learning about turn-taking, interaction, social cues and imprinting important information about expressions and emotions. She is also learning about object permanence, the awareness that objects continue to exist when they are not visible to us.
2. 4-12 Months and Older – Introduce Naming Vocabulary and the Concept “Where”
From behind a blanket, say, “Where’s the baby?” Lower the blanket and say, “There he is!” Repeat as long as he enjoys the game. You can vary the game by changing the subject, using people or objects familiar to the baby. Mommy, daddy, teddy bear, sissy, brother, or other familiar people.
3. One Year – 15 Months and Older – Introduce Humor with the Concept “Not”
Hide a person or toy behind the blanket. This time, say the name of something you’re not hiding. If you’re hiding a teddy bear, say “Where’s Daddy?” Lower the blanket and show an expression of surprise and laughter. Say “No! That’s not Daddy! That’s teddy bear!” This game develops observation, visual discrimination, and the concepts of “where” and “not.” It also teaches a basic level of humor and encourages your baby to look for ways to solve problems.
4. Infancy and Older – Add New and Rehearse Old Vocabulary Every Day
Point out objects. Say “What is that? What’s that?” Say the name of the object. “That is a flower! That’s a flower!” At about the age of 12-15 months, add more details such as saying the color, size, and any other visible details that present themselves. This game teaches vocabulary and builds visual memories of objects and people and builds on what speech therapists call “wh” questions. Repetition is helpful for memory and creates a foundation for learning.
5. Ten Months and Older – Name Major Body Parts
Young babies’ first toys are their fingers and toes. Take advantage of their curiosity by playing naming games for body parts. This classic pointing game teaches major body parts. For example, point to your nose and say, “This is my nose!” Do the same for her nose. As your baby develops the ability to respond, she will begin to reach for your nose and her own.
Family Reading Time
Allocate a 15-20 minute block of time every night where the family reads.
Activities to Teach Counting to Toddlers
Learning to count is the foundation for learning math concepts. One of the best ways to teach children how to count is to use routine experiences. Choose activities that will keep your toddler engaged, entertained, and counting real world, everyday objects.
Counting Songs
Sing children’s songs with your toddler that include counting. Some favorites are “5 Little Monkeys,” and “Ten in a Bed.” You can also make up your own counting songs.
Counting Household Objects
If your toddler has cars, you can have your child count them. They can count them in a variety of ways, by color, size, and the total amount. In the kitchen, he can count the fruit in the basket, or the silverware you are putting on the table for dinner. In the bathroom, he can count the tiles on the floor.
Counting Games
Play simple counting games with your toddler. For one game that helps with number recognition, label the bottom of 10 paper cups from one to ten. You can ask, “what’s under cup number 5? Can you find the number 10? For another game, you can go outside and have your child stand a few feet away from you. You could have him take four bunny hops, or six backward steps towards you.
Real World Counting
Encourage your toddler to count items when you are at different places. The grocery store is an excellent opportunity for this. Have him count the number of fruits and vegetables you are putting in the shopping cart. If possible, let him grab them himself. Have him group and count by color. Go for a walk and have him count mailboxes.
Literacy Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Copy Me
Have your child draw and copy whatever he/she draws. After a while, change places and have them copy what you draw, lines, letters, numbers, shapes.
Game of 3’s
Have your child follow three silly directions such as pat your tummy, run in a circle, and then put a book on your head. Give all three directions and then say go.
Play Simon Says
Use letter sounds, body parts, colors, numbers or other categories. Simon says, “Put your hand on something that rhymes with bat.”
I Spy
Naming Things in Different Categories, (things you find in the kitchen).
Opposites
You name something and they name the opposite.
Fill in the Blank
Share a familiar nursery rhyme or song and stop so they can fill in the word.
Picture Only Books
Use picture Books without words or with on a few words. Have your child tell you a story.
Traffic Signs
In the car, ask your child to count all of the stop signs.