Infant and Toddler

Infant and Toddler Early Learning Activities

Kindergarten Readiness ABC`s – B is for Block Play

2013/01/03 admin Leave a comment

Did Santa bring any blocks or construction toys to your house for play-time and, of course, some kindergarten readiness learning and fun? Block play is a super activity for building all kinds of brain connections and thinking strategies. Following is a short list of a few of them. When kids engage in block or other construction play, they are:

lifting, pulling, pushing, balancing, stacking, matching, carrying, manipulating, and fitting together,

organizing, problem-solving, and planning,

developing and strengthening both large and small muscle coordination,

learning about shapes, colors, quantity, and spatial orientation,

imagining, visualizing and creating,

exploring the science concepts of balance and gravity.

Children can play with blocks and construction toys for years because the toys are adaptable for so many different stages of development. Blocks are available in a variety of materials, even sponge ones for the very young, that are in bigger pieces. Wooden ones make lots of noise when they fall over. Plastic ones are quieter but can be surprisingly painful when stepped on, as many parents know. Both boys and girls enjoy playing with blocks.

This video shows 2 children of different ages playing with blocks and how it develops as children do. Does your day have some space and time for playing and learning with blocks and other construction toys?

Infant and Toddler, Social and Emotional

Kindergarten Readiness – Helping Children Regulate Emotions

2012/12/28 admin Leave a comment

Christmas and holidays have been wonderful and now that the excitement is wearing off and the routine is returning, logically shouldn’t kids be more settled and calmer instead of driving you crazy? While adults may be breathing a sigh of relief, kids do not yet have the same skills to control their emotions and this is something to support for both their kindergarten readiness and life-skills learning.

For kids, there has been a lot of stress this month. Some activities have been positive and fun, and some have been disruptive and difficult. Just think of the build-up to Christmas, the toys, visits with Santa, friends and family, lots of attention, different meals at odd hours, various bedtimes and possibly unfamiliar places to stay. This has all accumulated and kids are overexcited and overstimulated.

One way to release tension is through wild, loud activity but this isn’t the best solution. Instead, we need to help children find some acceptable ways to unwind. Here are some suggestions:

Some time at the playground or a community pool or gym can give your child an outlet for all that energy.

Switch on some fast music at home and you and your child can dance and dance. Gradually, slow down the pace and change to softer, quieter music.

If you have a big drum–and some earplugs–your child can beat out some of the tension.

Run some water in the tub or the kitchen sink and let your child measure, pour, and stir. Water is very calming and you will notice your child becoming more relaxed. When needed, there is no rule that limits bathtime to once a day.

Nature can also help kids reconnect to their quiet side. A long walk or hike in the park also reconnects them to nature.

General development and early learning includes self-regulating skills and strategies. Kids do not come with these already in place, we need to help them learn how to calm themselves and release tension in acceptable ways. Some form of inside or outside physical activity is very effective.

Besides being overexcited and overstimulated, kids may also be overtired. A solution for that is a nap. For grownups, too! Could you use one?

Holiday Activities, Infant and Toddler

Kindergarten Readiness – Helping Children Say Thank You

2012/12/27 admin Leave a comment

When children go off to preschool and kindergarten they will become members of a group so social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and saying please and thank you are important for early learning and kindergarten readiness. These are also significant as life skills.

Helping children learn the strategy of saying thank you is like other learning, it needs real opportunities and practice. Usually, after Christmas there are several people that kids need to thank. And there are different ways to do that:

Your child may want to phone someone to tell them thank you.

Help your child print a note. It may be actual words or a page of lines and stickers.

Drawing a picture is another way of saying thank you.

Take a photo of your child with the gift to send along with the note.

Take a quick video of your child saying thank you. This video on Youtube sounds like it was especially made for the kids’ grandparents who probably treasure it.

We want kids to be truthful and sometimes they receive gifts that are not well-liked. Instead, kids can say something simple like thank you for thinking of them. Taking the time and making the effort to help kids say thank you gives our children the message that we think saying thank you is important. There is no doubt that kids learn from what we do. Does this give you some ideas of how to help your child say thank you after Christmas?

Holiday Activities, Infant and Toddler

Kindergarten Readiness – Playing with Boxes Fun & Learning

2012/12/26 admin Leave a comment

Today is Boxing Day, and while adults have their traditions, for kids it’s a day for some kindergarten readiness fun and learning while playing with BoXes. Boxes can be every bit as much fun as the toys that were in them. After all the stimulation of Christmas, kids need a way to limit all that … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Playing with Boxes Fun & Learning →

Holiday Activities, Infant and Toddler

Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Playdates & Social Skills

2012/12/20 admin Leave a comment

Christmas is a time for family and friends, and the early years the best time for learning, so what kindergarten readiness play-of-the-day combines both? How about a playdate! The holiday season is already busy, but playdates for little ones do not need to be long, and the emphasis is on play. Dr. Gwen Dewar states … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Christmas Playdates & Social Skills →

Infant and Toddler, Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning Basics: Taking Action

2012/11/30 admin Leave a comment

Parents and caregivers often ask what young children need to know before kindergarten; this is the final post in this series on kindergarten readiness and early learning basics. No matter the age of your little one, this will give you a general picture of what to do as your child’s very first teacher. Kindergarten readiness, … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning Basics: Taking Action →

Infant and Toddler, Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning Basics: Learning Tools

2012/11/29 admin Leave a comment

Parents and caregivers often ask what young children need to know before kindergarten; this is the 22nd in a series of blog posts on kindergarten readiness and early learning basics. No matter the age of your little one, this will give you a general picture of what to do as your child’s very first teacher. … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning Basics: Learning Tools →

Infant and Toddler, Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten Readiness & Early Learning Basics: Science Fun

2012/11/24 admin Leave a comment

Parents and caregivers often ask what young children need to know before kindergarten; this is the 19th in a series of blog posts on kindergarten readiness and early learning basics. No matter the age of your little one, this will give you a general picture of what to do as your child’s very first teacher. … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness & Early Learning Basics: Science Fun →

Infant and Toddler, Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning Basics: Colors

2012/11/23 admin Leave a comment

Parents and caregivers often ask what young children need to know before kindergarten; this is the 18th in a series of blog posts on kindergarten readiness and early learning basics. No matter the age of your little one, this will give you a general picture of what to do as your child’s very first teacher. … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning Basics: Colors →