When brushing your teeth, have your child be your partner. Let them brush their own teeth first, then give them your toothbrush so they can help brush yours. Ask, “Can you help me brush my teeth? Can you brush the ones in the front, and then the ones on the sides?” Take turns!
Author: Sarah Childs
Rock Play
Ask your child to find an object like a stick or rock and place it on the ground near you. Encourage them to explore different ways of moving over it: Can they jump? Hop over on just one foot? Run and then jump? Take turns jumping with them and talk together about how far you… Continue reading Rock Play
Expressing Feelings with Words
Are you teaching your child to use words to express their feelings? As you’re out and about, ask them to notice animals, which don’t use words, and see how they express what they want. Does the dog bark or stare at you? Ask them what they think the dog is trying to say.
Object Game
Offer your child something common like a scarf, an empty box, or a pot. Watch to see what they do. Do they try to put the scarf in the box or the lid on the pot? Boost their learning by commenting on what they’re doing, “You put the scarf in the box!”
Washing Machine Magic
Is there a window on the front of your washing machine? Watch it spin with your child. If there isn’t a window, lift them so they can see the water going into the machine. Say things like, “Look, the water is rinsing soap off the clothes.” See how they respond and respond back to them.
Take Turns Pointing at Things
When your child points at something, talk back and forth about what they notice like, “You see the big truck!” Then you can take a turn to point something out to them and say what you see. Do they turn to look at it? Do they point or name the object?
Describe what you see
Almost everything is new to your child in their first year. So describe what you see. “There goes the yellow school bus. Beep beep!” Let them see, hear, smell, and even touch things, if possible. Notice what they’re interested in and have a back-and-forth chat. “You see the big tree? What else do you see?”
Texture Play
As you help your child dress, put different kinds of fabrics on their bare feet. Talk about how a soft blanket feels on their toes. Then switch to something else, like a scratchy sweater, and describe it. Watch your baby’s reactions and then respond. Which textures do they smile at or pull away from?
Water Play
Help your child get used to the bathwater by sprinkling some warm water on their toes, feet, legs, and tummy. Watch how they react to the water and respond. Let them know with your words where you will sprinkle the water next and name each part of the body as you go.
Singing Day
Make today a singing day. Instead of talking, try singing to your child about what you’re doing. Make up new words to a familiar tune or create your own! It might feel silly at first, but they love to hear the sound of your voice singing. Respond to any sounds they make.