Think of a number and see if your child can guess it based on your clues. Say something like, “My number is bigger than four and smaller than six.” Or “It is the number of fingers on my hand.” Make it harder by adding or taking away numbers. “My number is two more than the… Continue reading Pick a Number
Category: 6 Loving Habits
Kitchen Organizing
Ask your child to help you in the kitchen. Let them organize a shelf and find their own way to group things. If they need help, its OK to suggest things like “boxes here and cans there.” Or they could put crunchy food like cereal and crackers together. You can even give them a towel… Continue reading Kitchen Organizing
One-Arm Dinner
Try to prepare dinner in a new way. Ask your child, “What if we only used one arm to make dinner tonight?” See what you can do easily and what’s really hard. Share ideas back and forth about how you manage with only one arm. Then try, “What if you use your right arm and… Continue reading One-Arm Dinner
Guessing Game
When shopping, call out something you’re looking for on a shelf and have your child help you find it. Give them a clue: “It’s in a red box.” Can you do five in a row before you reach the end of the aisle?
Negative-Positive Talk
Practice saying things in new ways with your child. Take turns saying something negative, then try to talk about the same thing positively. For example, “I don’t like loud noises” can become “I like quiet sounds.”
Silly Handshake
Invent a super silly handshake for you and your child. Take turns adding a step (like shaking twice). Repeat it until you both have it down. Now change one of the steps. How do they respond? Go back and forth between the new and old way.
The Color Game
When you’re out with your child, team up with them to find colors. Have them point to something and name the color. Then you name all of the things you can think of that are the same color. Take turns playing this game.
School Day Challenge
Do you and your child have a daily challenge, like getting ready for school? Have them practice that challenge during playtime. You can say: “Let’s pretend we’re getting ready to go to school. What should we do first?” Talk about the steps if they need help remembering. “We eat our breakfast, pack our lunch, brush… Continue reading School Day Challenge
Cook Together
Keep your child engaged in dinner prep. Take turns measuring, pouring, and mixing. If they might spill, put the bowl in the sink so spilling is okay. Talk to them about what you’re doing and the ingredients you’re using. Encourage them to smell, touch (and taste!) as you go. Ask them what they notice.
Put Away Groceries Together
As you put groceries away, involve your child by saying something like, “The frozen food goes on the shelf,” or “I’m putting the paper towels in the refrigerator.” Do they catch your “mistake?” Encourage them to share with you their thinking: Where should those items go and why? Then let them take a turn trying… Continue reading Put Away Groceries Together
