A simple homemade doll gives greater meaning to familiar words.  • woman’s ribbed sock • shredded paper or batting (for stuffing) • thick thread • craft items such as yarn, ribbons, sequins, etc. Read a book of nursery rhymes and discuss the characters. Make your own Humpty-Dumpty! Flatten the sock so that the sole of the foot is face […]
 Let your child’s fingers do the reading. • fabric pieces and other materials with different textures • cardboard • glue • hole punch • yarn • copies of family pictures Cut out pieces of fabric. Glue each to a separate piece of cardboard. Punch holes in the cardboard and tie the pieces together with yarn to make a book. Encourage your child […]
Turn a simple container into an early reading experience.  • tubular container, such as a Pringles or oatmeal container • photos (family snapshots or magazine clippings) • clear contact paper Collect pictures about your baby’s life, highlighting his family: Mom and Dad, family members, friends, and pets. You can also cut out cars, houses, flowers, and other […]
Tickle your child’s tongue with a homemade book of rhymes.  • magazine or catalog with appealing pictures • children’s safety scissors • glue stick • stapler • drawing paper • marke • die  Ask your child to staple together several sheets of paper. She can make a cover for the book with crayons or markers. Give your child an appealing magazine […]
These sewing cards are tailor-made for your toddler. • washable markers or jumbo crayons • paper plates • shoestring or yarn • scissors (adult) or large circle punchInvite your toddler to use the markers or crayons to decorate the paper plates. She may need you to provide gentle guidance in holding the marker and using it to make marks. Once […]
A reflective look at how two halves make a whole.  • construction paper • markers, crayons • scissors • safety mirror Ask your child to draw a few simple pictures of familiar objects. Then cut the pictures in half lengthwise.  Let him place the mirror next to each half-picture. What does he see? Draw half a shape on a […]
Simple sorting games teach your child how to categorize. • small boxes or containers with lids • multiples of the same or very similar toys • animal stickers • sturdy cardboard Put one small toy in a box and five to eight small toys in another box. Encourage your child to explore what is in the boxes. Count the toys […]
This sticky situation is perfect for toddlers.  • clear contact paper • collage materials — felt, ribbon, paper scraps (construction, wrapping, tissue) • construction paper (optional) Cut a piece of clear contact paper — approximately 12 to 15 inches square — and peel off the back. Provide your child with collage materials, and encourage her to stick them […]
