How many ways can you play “Peekaboo”? You can hide your eyes behind your hand, or use a hat, a napkin, or whatever is handy and then say “Peekaboo!” Help your child take a turn. What can they hide behind? Saying “I see you!” when one of you stops hiding should make you both laugh.
Category: 6 Loving Habits
Snuggling
Your child loves snuggling and hearing your voice. Get close and cuddle with them while sharing a story or song. Use a calm, quiet, and soothing voice to help them fall asleep quickly. This can become a nightly routine that lets them know it is time for bed.
Experience Singing
There are things we do every day. Sing the same songs at those moments to explain what you’re doing with your child. Examples could be leaving a room, finishing eating, or washing hands. What else do you do daily that you could sing about?
Exercise Together
Invite your child to help you exercise. Hold them while you do sit-ups, first fast and then slow. Talk about your speed with them. Do leg lifts and raise your leg above their head then back to the ground, talking about their size as you do. What else can you do?
Celebrate
When your child begins to crawl, pull up, and eventually walk, celebrate their efforts with positive actions and words. Say things like: “You did it!,” You used your hands to reach your toy!” or “You’re working so hard to move your body!” Make sure to clap and smile!
Silent Conversation
During a quiet moment, sit or lay down near your child face-to-face and be silent for a few seconds. Watch them. Do they look at you? If they make sounds or smile, make sounds or smile back. There is so much you can say to each other with no words at all!
Nature Check List
Before you go out, make a list with your child of natural things to collect as you go, like leaves or stones. When you get back, see if they can count how many of each item they found. Talk together about what you notice. What’s the same and what’s different about them?
Bath Time Conversations
Encourage your child to learn by playing with safe objects in the bath. Do you have a washcloth and a plastic cup? They can explore different ways they each hold water. Ask questions, like: “What happens when the washcloth gets wet? What happens when you squeeze it? Can you squeeze water out of a cup?”
Counting Sounds
Take a few minutes with your child to stop and listen. Ask them what they hear. Does it sound like anything else they know? Have them guess what you hear. Together count how many different sounds you each hear and figure out what they are. How many can you guess?
Float or Sink
Are you near water? Even a big puddle works. Grab some rocks, sticks, or leaves and toss them in one at a time. Do they float or sink? Talk back and forth about how things like shapes or size may make a difference. Keep trying new things and test your ideas. What other experiments can… Continue reading Float or Sink
