I would have loved this when I was a kid. Bath time was one of my all time favorites. Try it out!
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Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Bath Time Activity with Pool Noodles
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Back Yard Camping
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One of my favorite summer time activities as a kid was to sleep out on my deck in the back yard with my siblings. The nights were warm and the stars were so bright; there was something so special about sleeping "out in the woods" even though I was still at home. My dad would roast hot dogs and mallows over our barbecue grill and later would point out some of the constellations in the sky. These are the kinds of memories I'll never forget. Camping can be a lot of work with young kids but making memories like these are fun and will give your kids the quality YOU time they need. To reduce the stress and work of actually camping in the woods or mountains just camp in the back yard! You're close to everything you need, just in case, but your kids will love the imagination and adventure they'll find in their own back yard.
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Here are some fun back yard camping ideas:
- Pitch a tent and fill it with blankets and pillows or create some foam pad/air mattress beds on your deck.
- Roast hot dogs and marshmallows on your BBQ grill or fire pit if you have one.
- Have your kids point out different shapes and objects that the stars make in the sky. Name them if you want. This can be a type of eye spy game too.
- Use flash lights wrapped with colored cellophane to create a light show against the side of the house or on the tent ceiling.
- Use the flash light as a spot light for you to make shadow hand puppets.
- Turn out the lights and tell stories.
- Play Squirrel Tag: One person is the squirrel catcher; everyone else is a squirrel, clinging to his own tree (if your yard is treeless, you can use lawn chairs). When the catcher shouts "Squirrel scramble!" the squirrels have to dash to another tree without being tagged. Once you get tagged, you're the new squirrel catcher.
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Block Play: The Foundation of Science and Math
Child Development and Block Play
Block play provides an opportunity for building spatial math skills for children. Counting, equality, addition, subtraction, planning, patterns, volume, classification, area and measurement will be learned. When a parent engages with their child in block play if provides teaching moments for social skills, language and exploration.
Activities and Ideas
Make your own blocks
Gather standard boxes (milk cartons, capri sun, etc.) and cover them with wrapping paper or contact paper. Allow your child to guide the activity and discuss the sizes as you create the blocks.
Invest in a good set of unit blocks
Get sturdy, hardy blocks that will last a very long time. Having a designated shelf or spot for the blocks so your child will know their spot and where to clean them up.
Create your home
Go on a walk and point out the different houses in your neighborhood. After sit with your child and talk about the structure of your home and build it with blocks.
How many blocks high am I?
Put block in a basket and stand up a doll or stuffed animal so children can see it. Ask them, "How many blocks tall is the doll (from her head to her toes)?" Ask your child to remove from the basket the number of blocks he/she thinks the doll is tall. Lay the doll on the floor and lay the blocks next to it to check their guesses. Ask the child to add or subtract blocks to adjust to the height of the doll. You can also do this with your child's height.
The Chain Reaction
With your child, set blocks on end in line, one after the other. Space the blocks like dominos for the effect if one block is moved that it creates a chain reaction. After, ask your child to predict what will happen when the first block is pushed.
Roads, Train Tracks, and Tunnels
Give your child blocks and assist in creating roads, train tracks for mini cars/trains. Cut round boxes in half to create tunnels.
Knock 'Em Down
Use margarine tub containers, and have your child stack them and know them down. Kids loce the drama and repetition of this activity.
Name it
Ask your child to write their initials or first name using alphabet blocks instead of paper and pencil. Stretch it out across the whole room.
Block Maze
If you have a small animal (hamster, etc.) have your child build a block maze, house that they can run around in.
Stuffed Animal Homes
Have your child build a block home(s) to fit their variety of stuffed animals.
Ramp it
Help your child create a variety of ramps. Roll small balls down the ramp.
Mirror Images
Get a table-top three-way mirror. Encourage your child to build with small blocks in front of the the mirror. Children learn the concept of reflection and can use it to build their block design.
Making Patterns
Give your child a variety of colored blocks with different shapes. Create a pattern for your children to mimic.
I Spy a Block
Place a variety of blacks on the floor. Encourage your child to describe the blocks. Use characteristics that help your child to focus on the shape, color, or size. Example: "I spy a triangle block. Where is it?"
Source
Block play provides an opportunity for building spatial math skills for children. Counting, equality, addition, subtraction, planning, patterns, volume, classification, area and measurement will be learned. When a parent engages with their child in block play if provides teaching moments for social skills, language and exploration.
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Make your own blocks
Gather standard boxes (milk cartons, capri sun, etc.) and cover them with wrapping paper or contact paper. Allow your child to guide the activity and discuss the sizes as you create the blocks.
Invest in a good set of unit blocks
Get sturdy, hardy blocks that will last a very long time. Having a designated shelf or spot for the blocks so your child will know their spot and where to clean them up.
Create your home
Go on a walk and point out the different houses in your neighborhood. After sit with your child and talk about the structure of your home and build it with blocks.
How many blocks high am I?
Put block in a basket and stand up a doll or stuffed animal so children can see it. Ask them, "How many blocks tall is the doll (from her head to her toes)?" Ask your child to remove from the basket the number of blocks he/she thinks the doll is tall. Lay the doll on the floor and lay the blocks next to it to check their guesses. Ask the child to add or subtract blocks to adjust to the height of the doll. You can also do this with your child's height.
The Chain Reaction
With your child, set blocks on end in line, one after the other. Space the blocks like dominos for the effect if one block is moved that it creates a chain reaction. After, ask your child to predict what will happen when the first block is pushed.
Roads, Train Tracks, and Tunnels
Give your child blocks and assist in creating roads, train tracks for mini cars/trains. Cut round boxes in half to create tunnels.
Knock 'Em Down
Use margarine tub containers, and have your child stack them and know them down. Kids loce the drama and repetition of this activity.
Name it
Ask your child to write their initials or first name using alphabet blocks instead of paper and pencil. Stretch it out across the whole room.
Block Maze
If you have a small animal (hamster, etc.) have your child build a block maze, house that they can run around in.
Stuffed Animal Homes
Have your child build a block home(s) to fit their variety of stuffed animals.
Ramp it
Help your child create a variety of ramps. Roll small balls down the ramp.
Mirror Images
Get a table-top three-way mirror. Encourage your child to build with small blocks in front of the the mirror. Children learn the concept of reflection and can use it to build their block design.
Making Patterns
Give your child a variety of colored blocks with different shapes. Create a pattern for your children to mimic.
I Spy a Block
Place a variety of blacks on the floor. Encourage your child to describe the blocks. Use characteristics that help your child to focus on the shape, color, or size. Example: "I spy a triangle block. Where is it?"
Source
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Playgroup: Playing with Balls - Activity Ideas
Child Development and Ball Play:
Balls bounce, roll, soar, and move. The dynamics of moving balls will help your child learn principles of physics and cause and effect.
Activities and Ideas:
One-Handed, Blind-Folded Cotton Ball Transfer: Players blindfold themselves by using a spoon held with one hand. The objective is to transfer the most cotton balls in 30 seconds from the bowl to the plate.
Playing Catch: Use a variety of balls and try these activities:
-Drop a ball, let it bounce and then catch it.
-Throw a ball up high and catch it.
-Throw a ball high in the air and try to clap as many times before you catch it.
-Throw a ball against a wall and catch it.
-With a friend, throw a ball back and forth.
Home Bowling: There can be 2, 4 or 6 players. Divide the kids into two teams and set up each group at a distance on either side of at least five empty two-liter soda bottles. Each team should have at least 3 balls. Each team takes a turn trying to knock down the bottles by rolling the balls into them as quickly as possible. The team first to knock all the bottles down wins. Milk cartons, empty oatmeal containers, empty cans also work for this activity.
PIG: 3-6 players. Have the kids stand in a circle and throw the ball back and forth in no specific order between players. All players need to be a alert while playing because they will gain on letter of the word PIG every time they fail to catch the ball. When a child collects all three letters he is out. The last player remaining in the game wins.
Monkey in the Middle: Someone is chosen to be the "monkey" be in the middle of the circle that is formed by all the players. A ball will be passed around in the circle, the person in the middle will attempt to intercept the ball. When this happens, the person in the circle who last touched the ball becomes the "monkey".
Foursquare: On a concrete slab, divide a 6 feet wide section into a square then into four small equal-sized squares inside. Number each square with one child on each number (1-4). The child in square 1 begins by bouncing the ball to a different square without hitting the lines. The child in that square must hit the ball into another child's square without bouncing it twice and so on. A child who doesn't hit the ball into the appropriate square or hit the ball before it bounces the second time is out. All children rotate up a number. The objective is to reach square one and hold that position.
The Rhyming Ball Game: Have all players sit in a circle. Hold a ball, say a word then roll it to the next person. The player receiving the ball chooses a word that rhymes with the previous word. Everyone takes turns choosing the first word and the rhyming word.
Ball Bounce: Have each player hold and stretch the edges of a parachute or large sheet. Place a ball in the center. Demonstrate how to flap the parachute while bouncing the ball. Count out loud to keep track of how long the children can keep the ball going without it bouncing off the parachute. To make the game more challenging add more balls!
Name Ball: Have players stand making a large circle. A player will start by saying his name then gently passes a small ball that is easy to grip to the child on the left or right of them. The child receiving the ball must same their name as they're catching the ball. The process continues until every player has said their name. Next round have each player say the name of the child right or left of them when they catch the ball. You can change up the game by speeding up or using more players.
Source: Help Me Grow of United Way
Balls bounce, roll, soar, and move. The dynamics of moving balls will help your child learn principles of physics and cause and effect.
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| Photo |
One-Handed, Blind-Folded Cotton Ball Transfer: Players blindfold themselves by using a spoon held with one hand. The objective is to transfer the most cotton balls in 30 seconds from the bowl to the plate.
Playing Catch: Use a variety of balls and try these activities:
-Drop a ball, let it bounce and then catch it.
-Throw a ball up high and catch it.
-Throw a ball high in the air and try to clap as many times before you catch it.
-Throw a ball against a wall and catch it.
-With a friend, throw a ball back and forth.
Home Bowling: There can be 2, 4 or 6 players. Divide the kids into two teams and set up each group at a distance on either side of at least five empty two-liter soda bottles. Each team should have at least 3 balls. Each team takes a turn trying to knock down the bottles by rolling the balls into them as quickly as possible. The team first to knock all the bottles down wins. Milk cartons, empty oatmeal containers, empty cans also work for this activity.
PIG: 3-6 players. Have the kids stand in a circle and throw the ball back and forth in no specific order between players. All players need to be a alert while playing because they will gain on letter of the word PIG every time they fail to catch the ball. When a child collects all three letters he is out. The last player remaining in the game wins.
Monkey in the Middle: Someone is chosen to be the "monkey" be in the middle of the circle that is formed by all the players. A ball will be passed around in the circle, the person in the middle will attempt to intercept the ball. When this happens, the person in the circle who last touched the ball becomes the "monkey".
Foursquare: On a concrete slab, divide a 6 feet wide section into a square then into four small equal-sized squares inside. Number each square with one child on each number (1-4). The child in square 1 begins by bouncing the ball to a different square without hitting the lines. The child in that square must hit the ball into another child's square without bouncing it twice and so on. A child who doesn't hit the ball into the appropriate square or hit the ball before it bounces the second time is out. All children rotate up a number. The objective is to reach square one and hold that position.
The Rhyming Ball Game: Have all players sit in a circle. Hold a ball, say a word then roll it to the next person. The player receiving the ball chooses a word that rhymes with the previous word. Everyone takes turns choosing the first word and the rhyming word.
Ball Bounce: Have each player hold and stretch the edges of a parachute or large sheet. Place a ball in the center. Demonstrate how to flap the parachute while bouncing the ball. Count out loud to keep track of how long the children can keep the ball going without it bouncing off the parachute. To make the game more challenging add more balls!
Name Ball: Have players stand making a large circle. A player will start by saying his name then gently passes a small ball that is easy to grip to the child on the left or right of them. The child receiving the ball must same their name as they're catching the ball. The process continues until every player has said their name. Next round have each player say the name of the child right or left of them when they catch the ball. You can change up the game by speeding up or using more players.
Source: Help Me Grow of United Way
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
"Play is a Child's Work"
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Types of Play
Unoccupied Play: The infant is usually stationary, making random movements and no apparent purpose.
Solitary Play: The child (usually 2 - 3 years) is focused on their play, not noticing others.
Onlooker Play: The child will show interest in other children's play through observation, but may not become involved in the play. They'll learn and apply what they've seen later in their own play. It is most often a younger child observing an older child.
Parallel Play: Children (infants to preschool age) playing side-by-side with the same types of toys or activity, but not together.
Independent Play: This is playing with just yourself. This type of play teaches children to be independent and emotionally satisfied. It's important for all children of all ages to learn independent play.
Associative Play: This involves more social interaction rather then the use of a toy, for example, pipe cleaners become swords. It's common that one child directs the play of the group.
Cooperative Play: This play involves team work and organizational skills to accomplish a goal or task.
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Benefits of Play
- Encourages the use of imagination
- Develop dexterity
- Develop physical, cognitive, and emotional strength
- Create and explore
- Learn to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts and to learn self-advocacy skills.
- Practice decision-making skills
- Learn leadership skills
- Encourages physical activity
- Social interaction: build enduring relationships
- Learn communication skills
- Adjust easier to school
- Learn readiness
- Learn problem-solving skills
Sources:
Parten, M. (1993). Social play among preschool children.
Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 28, 136-147.
American Academy of Pediatrics link
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