Social-Emotional Development
Bird Breathing
Encourage your child to flap their arms gently, as if they have bird wings. Have your child inhale as they raise their “wings” and exhale as they lower their “wings”. Repeat slowly a few times.
Cognitive Development
Seed Sort
Gather 3 types of seeds (dried beans, lentils, barley, sunflower seeds, etc.). Provide your child with tweezers (or your child can use their fingers) and 3 small containers to sort the seeds into. Encourage your child to sort one type of seed into each container.
Language Development
Birdwatching
Look out your window, sit in your yard or take a walk to look and listen for birds. Talk with your child about the birds you see. Some topics to discuss include bird body parts (wings, beak, feathers), nests, eggs, baby birds, what birds eat, names of the birds and where birds live in the winter. After viewing and discussing birds encourage your child to draw or paint a picture of a bird or a bird nest. Ask your child about their picture and with their permission write down their story.
Physical Literacy
Bird on a Wire
Lay a piece of rope on the ground or draw a chalk line on the sidewalk. Encourage your child to pretend that they are a bird on a high wire and walk from one end of the rope to the other with their wings (arms) spread out. If your child falls off, they can pretend to fly back onto the “wire”. For added challenge your child can try walking backwards or sidestepping on the “wire”.
Creative Activity
Bird Nest Creation
Invite your child to help you gather sticks, leaves, grass, yarn or string and make some uncoloured playdough. Encourage your child to use these items to create a bird’s nest. If desired, add a toy bird or make your own out of paper to add to the nest.
Additional Resources
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ – This website is a source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families on movies, books, apps and games and websites.
https://www.funbrain.com/ – A collection of educational games, books and videos for Pre-K through Grade 8 children.
Learning at Home Preschool Week 5
Learning at Home Preschool Week 23
