Category: 6 Loving Habits

Give your child three different snacks. Talk about what’s the same and what’s different. Ask them if they can group one type of snack together (like all the fruit). Then ask if they can find another way to sort the snacks, like by size, shape, or color.

Going for a walk? Grab a paint brush, put a little water in an empty container, and take a color walk outdoors! Paint the flowers, leaves, or other colorful things as you go. Talk with your child about what they see. Enjoy the textures, colors, and shapes in your world and share your own joy… Continue reading Painting Nature

While working in the kitchen, open up different spices. Smell the differences and even touch them with your child. You can describe these smells (using dramatic words) and talk back and forth with them about some of the foods that you eat with them.

After shopping, invite your child to help take items out of the bags. Give them some small, safe items to put away, giving hints for where things go, like, “Are there other cans in the cupboard that look like this one?” or “An apple is a fruit. Where do we keep the other fruit?”

Have your child help sort socks and find pairs when you’re doing laundry. While they do it, you can chat about which socks go together and why. Are they the same color, pattern, or size? Help them hold the socks next to their feet, then your feet, and talk about the differences. Who has big… Continue reading Sock Chat

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.

Boost your child’s independence by asking them questions instead of telling them what to do. If you’re getting ready to leave the house, instead of telling them to put shoes on, try saying something like, “I see your socks are on. What comes next”?

Drop a small snack inside an empty clear plastic bottle. Encourage your child to get the piece out of the bottle. Do they shake the bottle or put their fingers inside? Can they try in different ways. If they’re struggling ask, “What would happen if you turned it upside down?”

As you play with your child, take a toy or safe object and hide it as they watch you. Ask them, “Where is it?” and let them find it. Then ask them if they can hide it and you find it. Create a cheer to use when each of you finds the toy and keep… Continue reading Object Hide and Seek