Invite your child to think and solve problems.

Collect materials, which encourage thinking and problem solving.

• Cut out pictures of things that go together and paste each picture on a separate card. Examples of pictures to collect include:

ü Shoe and Sock

ü Flowers and Vase

ü Cup and Saucer

ü Hammer and Nail

• Collect real objects that go together, examples of things to collect:

ü Baseball and Bat

ü Comb and Brush

• Cut out pictures that your child can put in order and paste each picture on a separate card. Have sets of 3 picture cards. Here are examples:

ü Baby, Boy and Man

ü Planting flower seeds, Flowers growing, and Picking flowers

Involve your child in discovering things that go together.

• Begin with real objects.

ü Place the real objects you have collected on a table or on the floor.

ü Make sure the objects that go together are separated from each other.

ü Ask your child to find the two objects that go together.

ü Invite your child to tell you why the two objects go together.

• Use pictures next

ü Lay the picture cards of things that go together face up on the table or floor. Make sure pictures that go together are seperated from each other.

ü Ask your child to find the two pictures that go together and tell you what they do.

Play pattern games with your child.

• Create a movement pattern and ask your child to repeat it. For example:

ü Step, step, jump- step, step, jump (take two steps forward, then jump)

ü Clap, clap, pat – clap, clap, pat (clap your hands twice, pat your knees once)

• Start a pattern using objects and ask your child to “Make a pattern just like this one.”

ü With eating utensils: fork, spoon, fork, spoon

ü With colored counting bears: red, yellow, red, yellow.

Involve your child in putting pictures in order.

• Give your child 3 photos of themselves at different ages: baby, toddler, and now.
• Ask your child to put the pictures in order, starting with the picture when he or she was the youngest.
• Invite your child to put in order a set of the picture cards that you have made; for example, a baby, boy and man.
• Continue this activity with photos or pictures. You might use 3 photos of other family members at different ages.

Additional Ideas:

Make and purchase puzzles for your child to complete. Cut up greeting cards or the front of a cereal box in a puzzle like shape. Give your child the cut-up pieces to fit back together. Cut up a vinyl placemat in puzzle-like shapes. Use placemats with designs. Give your child a cut-up placemat to fit the pieces back together. Store the puzzle pieces in zip lock bags. Purchase puzzles at dollar and discount stores and at garage sales.

Websites for more information:

http://www.freejigsawpuzzles.com/kids_art_jigsaw_puzzles.htm

Activities you can do with your child:

· Find things that begin with the letter “S”.

· Make a “paper chain” using 3 colors and help your child start a color pattern. Use completed chain as a decoration in your room.

· Go to the grocery store. Pick out fruits and vegetables and have your child name the colors.

· Look for things that are white all week.

· Practice counting from 1 to 15.

· Plant flower seeds in a pot or in the ground.

· Make a picnic lunch and eat with your child outside.

· “Read” a picture book by making up stories to go along with the pictures.

· Have your child help to fold clothes and count how many you folded.

· Start a nursery rhyme and have your child finish it.

· Practice your phone number and address.

· Go outside and ride your bike.

· Read a story to your child. Point to each word as you read it.

· Draw a picture of fun things to do during your summer.

· Find words that rhyme with “stop”.

· Count groups of ten using cereal like Cheerios.

Books suggestions for four & five year olds:

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff