Before a child ever learns to read the book in their hand or write their name on a piece of paper, they will have learned to recognize their own name. Sure, you can have them write it down a million times or trace it, but we know that children learn BEST when something interests them. So why not give them something interesting? Create for them the kind of learning that…
It was a beautiful day outside today, so B and I decided to take our glitter ✨ and crafting play outdoors (also, outdoors is better whenever glitter is involved). I gave her some decorating options and she requested to paint it, so out came the watercolors (less drying time). We added glue, glitter, and her masterpiece is currently drying in the yard. She’s quite proud of it, and we really…
Here’s yet another low prep activity for a busy day. All I did was draw the string lights outline with a marker and offered B a pile of buttons. Suddenly she was placing her @pawpatrol pups on the table (we have a new obsession) and sorting the buttons to share with her “friends” based on the color of their clothes. She actually extended my activity, and I was so…
I drew 2 Christmas trees and had B decorate each with the corresponding dot stickers (can you tell I’m rolling in dozens of new colors of dot stickers? 🤣). Honestly, I hadn’t planned on doing both in the same day, and I wouldn’t have except that she requested “another Christmas tree.” Thankfully, I had one! 😅 One tree worked on numbers 1-12 and the other tree on letters…
Some blessed soul who must have understood B’s deep love for animals got her a vet kit for her 2nd birthday. A year and a half later, she still plays with it multiple times a week. What I love most about open-ended toys are the possibilities they open up for language development and dramatic play. My 3-year-old uses words like x-ray and CT scan, cast…
Back when I was an SLP at a PPEC sharing a room with @janet_ortiz18 , she introduced me to this great game by @educationalinsights (no, this is not an ad). It works for SLPs, it works for early childhood teachers, and it works for any parent able and willing to sit down and enjoy their child’s company a little differently for at least 10 minutes. This developmentally appropriate game works…