Social-Emotional Development
Calming Strategy – Bicycle Pedaling
Have your child lie on their back and move their legs slowly as if pedalling a bicycle. Count slowly to three and then five and repeat the counts. Have your child breathe in, to the count of three (three left leg-right leg revolutions) and out to the count of five (five left leg-right leg revolutions). Complete 5 counting cycles.
Cognitive Development
Playdough Cookie Counting
Gather play dough, a cookie tray, dice and small pebbles or beads. Have your child roll the die. Encourage them to make enough cookies to match the number on the die. For example, if they rolled a 5, they would make five cookies. Once the cookies are made, have them roll the die again and decorate each cookie with that many pebbles or beads.
https://www.teach-me-mommy.com/playdough-cookies-and-bead-sprinkles/
Language Development
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Discuss with your child the 3 Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Brainstorm with your child ways your family can reduce water or electricity usage. Encourage your child to make reminder signs for one of your ideas (turning off light when you leave a room, turning off the water while brushing your teeth, etc.). Find a place to post the reminder signs for the family.
Physical Literacy
Bowling
Stand 5 water bottles, empty potato chip canisters or food boxes up in a triangular bowling pin configuration. Have your child roll a ball at the recycled items to try to knock them down. You may need to add a bit of weight to help the items stay standing. Reset and repeat. Work on your child’s addition skills by keeping score.
https://thetiptoefairy.com/water-bottle-fun/
Creative Activity
Litter Bug
Talk with your child about the importance of keeping our world clean by disposing of trash properly. Explain to them that someone who doesn’t properly dispose of their trash is called a “Litter Bug”. Encourage your child to create their own “litter bug” from recycled and natural materials.
https://www.education.com/activity/article/litter-bug/
Additional Resources
www.arcademics.com Find fun and free educational games for children in grades K-8. Featuring a wide variety of math, language arts, typing and geography games.
https://www.getepic.com/ Get 30 days of free access to 40,000 digital books for children ages 3-12.