At Home Activities To Support Learning:

  • Books, books and MORE books! Read to them as often as possible. Use a variety of voices, point to the words as you read and emphasize rhyming words. Read favorite books over and over. Have them ‘read’ to you.
  • Let your child be responsible for jobs around home. This allows them to develop a sense of responsibility, ownership and independence. Things they can do: set the table, dust the furniture, put away their toys and clothes, match socks, wash and dry unbreakable dishes, carry packages, rake leaves, tend the garden, water the plants, wash the windows, pick out their own clothes, or care for pets.
  • Have fun playing games and cards. A deck of cards is a wonderful tool for learning, counting, sorting and ordering numbers. They will also learn how to take turns and play fair.
  • Listen to your child and expect them to listen to you. If they won’t listen to you, they will have trouble listening to the adults at school as well. Provide opportunities for them to practice, when necessary.  Recite and sing favorite nursery rhymes and songs. Talk about the words, what they mean and point out rhyming words.
  • Discourage baby talk. Talk to them often to help them acquire language skills and vocabulary. Ask them “W & H” questions: why, where, who, what and how.
  • Have an art box or cupboard available for them to explore. Include items such as crayons, glue, tape, sticks, paper, paints, scissors, playdough, pencils, a variety of writing supplies, and other interesting items.
  • Play counting games, rhyming games and sound games as you travel.
  • Arrange for your child to play with other children their age.
  • Combine learning with hands-on play. String Cherrios, buttons, beads, noodles. Sort clothing, socks, silverware, buttons, coins, or cards. Let them draw, color on newspapers and coloring books. Trace hands, and feet, pictures, from coloring books, shapes, blocks or cookie cutters.
  • Muscle coordination boosters: work on zippers, buttons, snaps, belts, shoelaces, scissors, crayons, stencils, and dot-to-dot pages.
  • Games to play: throw and catch, kick a ball, bounce a ball, I Spy, Mother May I, Red Light, Green Light, Follow the Leader, Hokey -Pokey, or Simon Says.
  • Build with empty cans with lids, empty milk cartons, shoe boxes, legos, blocks or anything you can find.
  • Point out letters or words on sings, in stores or while traveling.
  • Practice writing letters and numbers.
  • Pour liquids into cups or bowls
  • Help cook or bake. Let them stir, measure, pour, etc.