Author: Five Ones

Writing a shopping list? Talk with your child about what you need. Read outloud what you write down: “Milk, eggs, cereal.” Invite them to write or draw on the list too and to tell you what they’re thinking about when they make those marks on the paper.

When shopping with your child, point out what you see. Use lots of different words to talk about the taste of different foods. Maybe you could say, “There are some juicy, sweet oranges,” or “I bet those yellow lemons are sour!” Follow their lead and talk about what they point and look at.

Make up a story about someone who takes a bath just like your child. You can say things like, “First, they washed their hair,” while you wash their hair. Then add twist by saying, “Then they splashed in the water,” and see if they splash too.

While you’re with your child watch what catches their eye. Point to things you see and say what they are. “There’s a black bird and he’s flying!” or “The little girl is jumping.” Watch where they’re looking and say what it is.

Invite your child to help you gather dirty clothes. Put them IN the laundry basket, pull them OUT. Then put them IN the machine, and pull them OUT. Use the words IN and OUT to describe your actions and see how they learn these ideas!

What are all of the words you can use to describe the food your child is eating? Is the banana mushy, squishy, or slippery? Are the eggs warm, crumbly, and soft? Point as you say the words and watch them respond and reply back to them.