Everyday Play
Page 5
• Laminate it (adult-only step).
• Demonstrate how to snip the edges of the paper to make a fringe.
• Encourage your child to use child-safe scissors to create a fringe around the outside edge of the paper.
More Fun!
• Invite your child to trace around a fork, spoon, and knife in their appropriate positions on the place mat. Then she can use the place mat to help her remember how to set her place at the table.
• Laminated place mats make great gifts.
Feely Shapes
Helps your child learn to draw shapes and use his hands to manipulate small objects
What You Need
variety of fabric, such as velvet, faux fur, corduroy, denim, silk, and lace | adult scissors | cardboard, paper, and glue | writing and drawing tools
What to Do
• Cut pieces of cardboard into different shapes of various sizes from 2” across and larger. Cut matching shapes out of fabric of different textures (adult-only step). Glue the fabric to each shape and let the shapes dry.
• Encourage your child to explore the different textures of the shapes.
• Talk about the shapes and show him how to trace around them.
• Place the “Feely Shapes” inside a bag or box. Ask your child to reach into the back and identify each shape by the way it feels. Ask questions to guide him, such as, “Does it have sides? Is it round?”
Glue Shapes and Letters
Gives your child practice in tracing shapes or letters
and develops hand strength
What You Need
color glue and/or glitter glue | paper
What to Do
• Draw shapes or write your child’s name on paper.
• Demonstrate how to squeeze bottles to trace the shapes or letters with glue, leaving a raised line on the paper.
• Help your child with tracing, as needed.
• Allow time to let the glue dry thoroughly.
• Encourage her to use her index finger to trace the shapes or letters of her name.
More Fun!
• Use glue shapes or letters for crayon rubbings. Place white paper on top of the glue shapes and invite your child to color over them with a crayon.
Incline Writing Boards
Develops your child’s effective grasp of a writing utensil
What You Need
three-ring binder (3” size) | non-skid plastic drawer liner | large paper clips | variety of writing utensils, such as large washable markers | plain paper
What to Do
• Cut a piece of non-skid drawer liner to the size of the three-ring binder (adult-only step).
• Place the three-ring binder on top of the drawer liner, with the wide side of the binder facing away from your child. Tilt the binder slightly to the left if your child is right-handed or slightly to the right if he is left-handed.
• Help him clip paper to the incline board using a large paper clip or clothespin on the side.
• He can enjoy drawing or writing on this inclined surface.
Journal Drawing
Helps your child gain control of a writing tool and
expands her pre-writing skills
What You Need
unlined paper (Young children should not write on lined paper until they are developmentally ready. See page 123) | variety of drawing tools, such as adult-size pencils, washable markers, or crayons
What to Do
• Explain to your child that journaling is a way to tell a story.
• Encourage your child to participate in “journal drawing” by asking her to draw about a particular subject or theme. For example, if you are talking about places where people live, ask her to draw a picture of the place (or places) where she lives.
• Ask her to describe her “journal drawing” to you. Transcribe her words onto the paper and read the dictation back to her. Journals can be wonderful keepsakes from your child’s early years.
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
Develops you child’s ability to draw or write on a vertical surface
What You Need
wall mirror or large, stable mirror | dry-erase markers | eraser or dry cloth
What to Do
• Have you child stand facing the mirror.
• Encourage him to use dry-erase markers to decorate himself on the mirror.
• Ideas: add hair, a mustache, a beard, a hair bow, earring, clothes, glasses, a hat, and so an.
• When you child finishes his drawing, show him how to use the eraser to clean off the mirror.
More Fun!
• If you have a full-length mirror, help you child trace around his entire body using a dry-erase marker.
Ribbon Drawing
Develops your child’s shoulder strength and gives her practice in forming shapes
What You Need
ribbon 1”-2” wide | small wooden dowel rods ½”-1” in diameter and 8” -12” long | staple gun or duct tape
What to Do
• Cut the ribbon into 4’ to 5’ pieces. Staple or securely tape one end of the ribbon to the end of the dowel rod (adult-only step).
• Show your child how to hold the dowel and make the ribbon move through the air.
• Ask, “Can you draw a circle?” “A square?”
• Make a shape or a letter in the air using your ribbon, and see if she can guess what shape or letter it is. Then, ask her to copy you using her own ribbon.
• Or, sing the following song to the tune of “Put Your Finger on Your Nose”:
Make a circle in the air, In the air.
Make a circle in the air, In the air.
Make a circle in the air And shake it if you dare. Make a circle in the air, In the air.
Shape Person
Gives your child practice in tracing shapes and participating in a prewriting activity
What You Need
variety of shape stencils | washable markers | paper
What to Do
• Demonstrate one way to use shape stencils to draw a person. For example, show your child how to use a square for the head, a circle for the tummy, and triangles for legs and arms.
• Encourage your child to explore different ways to make a “shape person.” He may trace the stencil or color inside the stencil.
• Ask him to tell you about his person. Transcribe his description of his person onto the paper. Ask him questions about his shape person, such as “What shapes did you use?”
More Fun!
• Give your child glitter glue, jewels, and scrap pieces of material for him to decorate his “shape person.”
• Make more than one and create a story about them.
• Make them into puppets by cutting them out and attaching them to craft sticks. Have a puppet show.
Sidewalk Shadows
Develops drawing and tracing skills
What You Need
sidewalk chalk
What to Do
Note: This activity requires you and your child to work together.
• Find a safe sidewalk or paved area.
• Lie down on the sidewalk and tell your child to use sidewalk chalk to trace your body, making a “sidewalk shadow.”
• Change places and trace your child’s outline on the ground.
• Encourage her to add details to the “sidewalk shadows.”
More Fun!
• Encourage your child to use chalk to write your names on the shadows.
• Bring buckets of water and paintbrushes out to the sidewalk. Your child can make the shadows disappear by painting them with water.
Simon Says
Encourages your child to learn directional terms needed for writing and improves coordination
What You Need
No materials needed
What to Do
• Teach your child the rules of “Simon Says.”
• Play the part of Simon and give commands that include direct
ional terms including up, down, under, and on top. For example:
• Simon says, “Put your hands UP in the air.”
• Simon says, “Put your feet UNDER your chair.”
• Simon says, “Put your chin ON TOP OF your hand.”
More Fun!
• Consider adding “left” and “right” terms to the game. Most four-year-olds have trouble differentiating between “left” and “right” so you should model the commands to help your child be successful. Stand with your back to your child and make the motions as you describe them. This will help him follow the directions.
Bead Jewelry
Gives your child experience with stringing items, develops her bilateral hand skills, and improves her eye-hand coordination
What You Need
variety of small beads (½” diameter or smaller) | plastic thread | non-skid plastic drawer liner cut into a place mat-sized rectangle | child-safe scissors
What to Do
• Place beads on the non-skid mat so that the beads will not roll away.
• After your child decides if she wants to make a bracelet or a necklace, give her child-safe scissors to cut the thread to the appropriate length. Help your child cut the thread, if necessary.
• Tie a knot in the end of the thread.
• She can string the beads to create a masterpiece.
• Help her tie the two ends of the thread together when she finishes stringing the beads.
More Fun!
• Challenge your child to make a repeating pattern with the beads.
• Place the beads on the non-skid mat and help her plan a pattern before stringing the beads. Talk with your child about the patterns.
Make Your Own Lacing Cards
Develops your child’s eye-hand coordination and his confidence in using tools
What You Need
old greeting cards | child-safe scissors | 1-hole punch | yarn or string | duct tape
What to Do
• Set out the child-safe scissors and old greeting cards and invite your child to choose one of the cards. Show him how to cut the card along the fold, so that he ends up with two pieces that are the same size.
• Show him how to use a 1-hole punch, and ask him to punch holes around the edges of the cards.
• Measure out a length of yarn that will cover the card, with a bit left over. Cut the yarn and cover one end with a piece of duct tape to make a tip. Your child may need help with some, or all, of this step.
• Encourage him to lace the yarn through his card.
Tambourine
Develops your child’s lacing skills and her ability to use various tools to create objects
What You Need
paper plates | fingerpaints, or paints and brushes | buttons | stapler | 1-hole punch | spoon | yarn and large markers or crayons
What to Do
• Give your child two paper plates and invite her to decorate the bottoms of the plates with fingerpaints or paints and brushes.
• Help your child staple the decorated paper plates together, keeping the staples around the outside, but leaving approximately 1” along the edge for hole-punching. Leave a 2” opening at the top of the plates for filling.
• Help her use a spoon to put buttons inside joined plates, and assist her in stapling closed the remaining opening at the top.
• Encourage your child to use the 1-hole punch around the outside edge of the plate (beyond the staples so that buttons cannot fall out).
• Give her a length of yarn with a large knot at one end and she can lace up the tambourine.
• Tie off the end of the yarn and trim the excess, when finished (adult-only step).
• Turn on music or sing and shake the tambourine to the beat or have a parade!
Beauty Salon and Barber Shop
Improves your child’s bilateral hand skills
What You Need
large male and female dolls with hair | hairbrushes, combs, and curlers | foam soap and craft sticks for shaving | various decorative hair items such as clips, barrettes, rubber bands, and hair bows | cotton balls, cotton swabs, and makeup brushes or small paintbrushes
What to Do
• Has your child ever been to a salon or barber shop? If so, ask him if he can tell you what types of things happen there. You may expand on your child’s ideas about the salon or barber shop by talking about different services that barbers and salon employees provide.
• Set out the various materials and encourage your child to use them to style his doll’s hair or pretend to cut it.
• Help him learn the correct ways to use the grooming tools.
More Fun!
• Add play money to the area so the dolls can pay for his services. Your child can manipulate, count, and sort the coins and paper money.
Kite Flying
Develops your child’s eye-hand coordination
What You Need
thick paper, such as oak tag, card stock, or construction paper | yarn or string | stapler, 1-hole punch, and tape
What to Do
• Show your child what a large diamond shape looks like.
• Then, ask her to draw two large diamond shapes (as close to the same size as she can) on her paper to cut out.
Note: Many four-year-olds will draw a square or shape other than a diamond, which will work fine for this project.
• Show her how to put the matching “diamonds” together using a stapler or tape.
• Help her cut a piece of yarn or string for the kite tail and punch a hole at the bottom of the kite.
• Invite your child to thread the yarn through the hole and help her tie a knot to secure it.
• Next, help her cut another piece of string to fly the kite with. Punch a hole at the top of the kite, thread the yarn through the hole, and tie a knot.
• Encourage her to hold onto the kite string and run around to “fly” her kite inside or outside.
More Fun!
• Set out markers and other materials for her to decorate her kite.
Making a Collage
Gives your child experience using scissors, and
experimenting with various materials
What You Need
variety of materials to cut or tear, including construction paper, greeting cards, junk mail, foil, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and newspaper | poster board or oak tag cut in half- or quarter-pieces | glue sticks and school glue | child-safe scissors
What to Do
• Talk to your child about how to make a collage.
• Set out the various materials and encourage him to choose, cut and tear, then glue the materials to the poster board or oak tag to make his own collage.
• Find a prominent place to display the collages that he makes.
More Fun!
• Provide collage items that do not need to be cut, such as cotton balls, small pom-poms, felt scraps, pieces of yarn, and ribbon.
Polka-Dot Shapes
Gives your child experience cutting with scissors and
improves her grasp strength
What You Need
construction paper cut in half, 5” x 7” index cards, or 5” x 7” cardstock | marker | 1-hole punch
What to Do
• Using a marker, draw a large shape (at least 4” across) on a piece of paper. Make sure the lines of the shape are close to the edges of the paper.
• Show your child a 1-hole punch and how to use it, and then have her try it herself.
• Encourage her to punch holes along the edge of the shape.
More Fun!
• Use the hole punch to create simple lines or letters.
• Use the “polka-dot shape” as a template. Show your child how to place the “polka-dot shape” on another piece of paper and use markers to color in each hole. Lift the template to see the shape. Connect the dots to form the shape.
Chapter 5
I’m Ready for Kindergarten!
Your five-
year-old is becoming more confident in her ability to use tools and materials like scissors, tape, glue, and hole-punches. As she reaches her sixth birthday, she may have established a consistent grasp pattern that she will use for holding writing utensils and for self-care tasks. During the year, she may also develop a growing interest in writing as a form of self-expression, learning how to write her name and other letters of the alphabet that are relevant to her, such as letters for the words “mom” and “dad.”
At age five, your child may be interested in learning how to:
• Draw a person with facial features, limbs, and other details (proportions are unrealistic)
• Build steps with small blocks
• Imitate drawing a diamond shape
• Write his first name and a few letters (may include letter omissions and/or letter reversals—letters may not be in a straight line)
• Create symbolic representations of objects with clay or playdough (may not resemble the real objects)
• Create symbolic representations of objects through drawing or painting (may not resemble the real objects)
• Sign and label drawings (may include inventive spelling, letter omissions, and/or letter reversals)