Summer Guide for your Preschooler

‫בס"ד‬

Chabad Torah Tots

SUMMER GUIDE 2014 The world so big and so much fun, With stuff to touch and feel.

Hot and wet and dirty too, There’s learning that is real.

So here’s some tips for you today, To use inside and out.

To help you in your summer days, Exploring all about!

Over 10 Pages Featuring:    

Water Fun Getting Dirty Rainy Days Activities And So Much

More...!

A project of Chabad-Lubavitch of Winnipeg

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Lots of fun things to do… all can be made with things that are easy to find, that you probably have at home. Some are activities that are great for outdoor fun, and some for indoors too (for days that are just too hot or too rainy).

Bubble maker Cut the bottom off a water bottle. Put a sock over the end and secure with a rubber band. Put dishwashing soap and water into a large dishpan, mix gently. Dip the sock end into the soapy water. Blow out from the top of the water bottle. For more colorful fun, put some food coloring onto the sock. Remind your child to blow out, not suck in.

Some more bubble makers Anything that is water resistant, has one or more holes and will fit in the dishpan is a bubble blower. Slotted spoons, spatulas, fly swatters, 6 pack holders, badminton rackets, potato mashers, colanders, berry baskets, pieces of old laundry baskets, short lengths of PVC pipe, keys. Ask your child for ideas; there really is no end to what they may start suggesting.

Pool Noodle as a Funnel

Sensory experiences that children love to explore Goop 8 cups of flour and 1 cup baby oil. This becomes a moldable goop. Make castles, balls, anything. Add glitter for more sparkle. (This can keep for a while; put in a bag.)

Goop 2 Baking Soda & water. Add kool-aid, frosting powder, or extract for flavor and food coloring to the baking soda.. Slowly add the water to the baking soda (and flavoring and color), until you have a slightly damp moldable dough.

Soap Clouds Break an Ivory bar of soap into two. Place in a large bowl into the microwave for 2 minutes. It will expand into a cloud. Wait until it cools off. Fun texture to explore.

Recreating shapes

Beyond its obvious use, the Pool noodle is a rather inexpensive material that can be used in a myriad of ways. Using it in cool ways can teach your child innovativeness.

The Pool Noodle is interesting because of its many attributes:  Length  Lightweight  Floatability  Comes in variety of colors  Easy to poke into Easy to cut (with scissors or knife)  Hole in the middle  Bendability/ Flexibility  Soft (kids won’t get hurt)  Permanent marker write well on these  Duct tape sticks well  Can get wet  Can stand erect  Childproof (safe) You can use pool noodles for: Limbo stick Hockey stick Marble races (down the hole in the middle) Sprinkler (poke holes and attach to a hose) Lacing activities (cut the noodle into smaller circles and lace with yarn.

Soap clouds

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Great for a hot day! 

Block of ice Fill a lasagna pan with water. Freeze to a block of ice. Give your child some supplies to try to melt or crack the ice: Spray bottles (add some food coloring to the water), mallet, sponges, and whatever your child thinks may work. Some tips and more fun ideas:  1. When the block is partially frozen, put some plastic toys inside, then freeze.  2. Sprinkle salt on the block; it will begin to form cracks which can hold food coloring for a while. (Use an eye dropper to add color to the ice). 3. Put a towel under the block so it won’t move around as much when they are playing with it.  4. Change the stream on the spray nozzle and see if there is a difference.  5. Have 2 different blocks and have a race to see which one melts faster.  6. Spray warmer water on the ice.  7. Don’t freeze fully, take out to play when the center is still water.  (You can also freeze water in a large juice container and then tear away the container. Or freeze water in a balloon; you can measure how much it expands. Depending on the size of the balloon, it may take a few days to freeze fully.)

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Oil/ Ice experiment Freeze colored water (food coloring) in ice cube trays. Fill a glass jar with oil halfway. Put the colored ice into the oil. Watch the ice melt and color drops fall to the bottom.

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Fizzy Ice experiment Freeze vinegar in ice cube trays (your child can add food coloring). Place baking soda in a lasagna pan. Put in the vinegar ice. Watch the fizz. Sprinkle baking soda directly on the vinegar ice for more fizz!

Bottle cap fun

Bird feeder

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Use colored ice cubes for coloring some artwork Let your child drag the ice cubes over paper or on the sidewalk.

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Ice in the kiddie pool Bring in some tongs and other scooping utensils.

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Freeze water into a the shape of a ball (in a large balloon).

Use as a soccer ball. Or for playing ‘pass the ball around’.

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Icy color fusion Make ice cubes in primary colors. Then put a yellow and blue one into a ziplock bag and watch it turn to green water. Rub the bag between your hands to hurry the process. What other colors can we make?

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Ice cube bucket Freeze colored water in different containers—balloons, latex gloves, candy molds. Pour into a large dishpan or bucket. Bring out tongs, spoons, other scooping utensils. A thrill of different shaped ice to explore!

Other fun games – 

Summer Snow Spray (cheap) shaving cream into a lasagna pan and freeze. When frozen, use a spatula or knife to break it up a bit and let your kids play. What great sensory and cool fun! (Make several pans, kids can’t get enough of this.)

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Summer snowballs Mix 2 boxes of corn starch and 1 can of shaving cream. Mold into balls and start throwing!

TIP: If you can’t play outside. Play in the bathtub.

Magnetic fun

Bucket of ice

Paint in a bottle

Shaving cream

Painting with ice

Some favorite inexpensive activities from Chabad Torah Tots. You can do this at home.

Sorting with tongs. A pair of kid-friendly tongs and some colorful pom poms. Your child can transfer the pompoms into the separate compartments of an ice cube tray or egg carton. (Great fine motor activity.)

different liquids. (ex: red to shampoo and yellow to baby oil) Pour both into the bottle. Shake, then let settle. The lighter liquid will rise separating the color. Experiment with lots of different liquids—alcohol, water, soap, honey, etc.

Shaving cream fun. Put a spoonful of shaving cream onto a paper or in a tin pan. Your child can ‘finger paint’ in the shaving cream.  Add some glue to the shaving cream for a different consistency. It will dry as puffy paint.  Add glitter or food coloring or a bit of water paint for more colorful fun.

Water bottle bird feeder. Drill a hole for a wooden spoon, make the hole a bit bigger than the spoon so seeds can get onto the spoon. Fill with bird seeds. Watch the birds!

Discovery bottles. So many cool ways to use a water bottle.  Magnetic Fun. Fill a sturdy water bottle with paper clips, pipe cleaners, nails and other magnet-attracting items. Use a magnet outside the bottle to drag the items up the inside of the bottle.  Density bottles. Add food coloring to 2

Water bottle art. Pour a few drops of different color paint into a water bottle. Seal tightly. Roll the bottle around to create art inside the bottle.

Bottle cap games. Save your bottle caps. Turn them into games. Hide something under the cap (write letters, shapes, etc. with permanent marker) . Make into a matching or guessing game.  Your child can use the

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What better way to stay cool and have fun in the summer heat than playing with water!

Besides being great fun, and easily available, water play fosters learning in all developmental areas. It provides opportunities for children to experiment with math and science concepts, strengthen their physical skills, advance their social and emotional skills, and enhance language development.

Inexpensive water sprinkler

Water Fun! 

Explore the properties of water. Some stuff to have on hand:  plastic containers of all sizes and shapes  ladles, funnels, scoops, slotted spoons  syringes, basters  sponges, rags  paintbrushes, paint rollers  clean spray bottles  ice cube trays, molds  sieves, strainers  soap, bubbles  hoses, pipes, gutters

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Encourage your child’s exploration  Pouring  Transferring water with sponge or rag (soaking it up and squeezing it out)  Clean toys or rocks  See what happens when wet things fall (water is transferred to the floor)  Paint with water (paintbrushes or rollers)  Watch water puddles evaporate  Splash  Make footprints  Ripples and waves  Watch ice melt (add salt for fun)  Sink & float  Washing

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Build a sprinkler system from PVCs Get some PVC pipes and connectors. Connect. Drill holes. Attach to a hose. Make it a family project. (Find building ideas online.)

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Car Wash Let your kids wash your car. Fill up spray bottles with water. Use the hose.

Give them rags. Just have fun!

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Target practice with the hose Place some objects on a table and give your child the hose and challenge them to push down the object with the water from the hose.

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Frozen water balloons Play bowling; roll frozen balloons. Experiment with what will happen if we throw the frozen balloon on the floor.  What will happen if we place the balloon in the sun, in the shade. Using different colored balloons, which one will melt faster in the sun.

Water wall

Spray bottle fun

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Sponge balls (also called sponge bombs) See picture below. Soak. Squish. Throw. Play. To make these: Cut sponges into strips. Stack 2 layers of 4 sponge strips.

Tie fishing line or floss around the sponges as tightly as possible.

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Create a water wall Attach pipes, hose, cut-off water bottles and all sorts of containers to a wall. Let the kids pour water into the various containers and experiment.

Build it with your children.

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a few toys, containers, leaves, pieces of fabric. Add glitter or food coloring for a different experience. ªThrow in some ice cubes; you can add food coloring first, or freeze a small toy inside. Let your child explore the properties of ice, and try to figure out how to get to the toy in the ice. (Salt helps the ice melt faster). 

Create waterfalls Form heavy duty aluminum foil into trenches (fold up the sides) and let the water flow. ª Or use rain gutters as a trench, experiment with the slopes to explore the physics of water flow. ª Add little leaves to float in the fall.

Water table or bucket Fill a large flat bucket (like the ones busboys might use in a restaurant) with water. Add

Washing the car

PVC sprinkler

Sponge balls

Benefits of water play!

Most children love playing with water… and they are learning so much too!  Problem-Solving Skills. As children manipulate water play materials, they begin to understand why and how things happen.

For example, given sinking and floating objects, a child will soon discover that just because something is large in size does not mean it will sink.  Math. Children begin to understand and experiment with concepts such as more/less, same/different, many/few, empty/full, before/after, greater than/less than, and counting.  Social & Emotional Development. Water play is one of the most relaxing activities children can experience.

After all, many adults relax in a warm bubble bath or hot shower!

Water play relieves tension by encouraging children to release their emotions with pouring, pounding, and swooshing. In addition, social skills expand as children play cooperatively; negotiate; and share equipment, space, and materials.  Science. Water gives children an avenue to contemplate issues such as: What makes rain? Where does water come from? What makes mud? Children also learn physics principles such as the effects of force (increasing the water flow through increased force); effects of gravity (water runs downhill); and change in state (solid, liquid, gas).

Painting with water

Excerpted from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com

 Physical Development. Water play encourages the development of eye/hand coordination through pouring, squeezing, stirring, painting, scrubbing, and squirting. Children strengthen their gross motor skills by running, dodging water drops, and hopping through a sprinkler. They widen their sensory experiences as they put their hands in different textures (gritty, squishy, and slimy) and different temperatures (warm, cool, and cold).  Language Development. Children learn new vocabulary such as sieve, funnel, eggbeater, stream, bubbly, moisture, and evaporation. Water play is such a meaningful experience for young children that it can be extended to writing experiences as well. Children may draw pictures of sprinkler play, then dictate a description or story to the teacher. Another valuable writing experience involves the adult writing down children’s predictions, such as how long it will take ice cubes to melt in the sand box or how many babies one batch of soapy water will wash.  Creative Development. Water encourages children to use their imagination. As the children play, they may pretend that they work at a car wash or live in a rain forest. Water also encourages children to try out new ideas and solutions to problems in a safe environment.

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Studies now also show that going beyond seeing green spaces to actually touching them has a powerful and positive effect. Making direct contact with soil, whether through gardening, digging for worms, or making mud pies has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and facilitate learning.

Playing in dirt (and even better, in mud) teaches the most important lesson about being outside: It’s okay – no, good – to get dirty. Dig it, toss it, mold it, wet it, whatever – just don’t be afraid to touch it! 

Mud kitchen. Oh, the joy!

Dirt can actually help make you feel happy. There are types of bacteria that are naturally found in soil which activate the neurons that produce serotonin – a key chemical in many bodily functions, as well as a natural anti-depressant.

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Dirt is great for the immune system, especially in children. Research as shown that early exposure to the naturally occurring microbes in soil will help build stronger, more disease-resistant kiddos.

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And it’s so fun. And fun is good!

Sensory experience

The Get Dirty Challenge!

We at Chabad Torah Tots believe that children love to get down and dirty!

We’d love to see pictures of your child playing outside, getting dirty, with mud or anything else. We’ll share these with the children during the first weeks of school.

Please email your pictures to: torahtots@chabadwinnipeg.org

Mud cupcakes

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Take your child out during or after a rain to play with the mud. Yes, it’s messy, very messy, but they will probably love you for it. Your child will pick up your attitude about this activity. If you’re squirming about the mess, they may not enjoy it as much.

 Barefoot, and the less clothes the better. Less to clean

up. More importantly, let your child really experience the mud, let it be a full body sensory experience.

Squishy mud between the toes.

 Accept that there will be a huge mess. And plan for it.

Bring a bag to place the dirty clothes in. Have a hose or sprinkler to wash down your child and the toys.

 Agree on clean up routines beforehand. Establish with

your child how and where they will clean up— themselves and the items they plays with. Set it all up beforehand. It should be easy for your child to do.

 Clean up ideas. Have a large bowl or bucket of warm,

 Make your own mud. Mix up some potting soil, several

scoops of sandbox sand, and a bucketful of water. Put in a large flat container, or if you can handle it, in a corner of your yard. Close to a water source—so the kids can add more water, and it also will be easier to clean up.

 Mud prints. Your child can stick their hands or anything else (that you both agree on) into the mud and then imprint it onto paper or the sidewalk. (It washes off later.)

 Draw with mud. Give your child a stick and a muddy

surface to draw on. Mistakes are no problem; mud is a very forgiving medium. Just smooth them over and start again!

 Build a house or a town. Use sticks to create a frame

and then pack mud onto it. Add trees (pine cones) and rivers.

sudsy water for easier cleanup. A hose is great too. You  Mud pies, cookies or soup. Provide (old) cooking utensils can also include some sponges, bottle brushes and even and encourage your child to make mud food. Add more toothbrushes for the cleanup. Make clean up part of the water and grass or twigs for soup. Drier mud makes play. cookies; add pebbles or gravel as sprinkles.

Mud prints

Painting with mud

Exploring mud puddles

Exploring mud puddles

What you need: Imagine the thrill of ‘cooking’ with mud. Oh the playing and learning that can happen!

If you can bear it, bring your play kitchen outside, or create your own outdoor kitchen. It can all be hosed down.

They’ll have fun with the: creating  testing  experimenting  decorating  foraging  filling  pouring  emptying  transferring  mixing  stirring  whisking  frothing  scooping  ladling  handling  molding  patting  smoothing  mark-making  throwing  splatting  splashing  picking  sharing out  serving  selecting  collecting  gathering  garnishing  shredding  crushing  mashing

 grinding  measuring  adding  brewing  boiling  decanting! The fun that kids love!

Invite other kids and parents to share in the fun (and clean up)! They can bring even more props for more fun.

More about Mud Kitchen—http://www.muddyfaces.co.uk/mud_kitchens.php

Real life utensils (from second hand stores or 99 cent stores): Bowls Containers Spoons Measuring spoons Funnels Ice cube trays Candy molds Ladles Ice cream scoops Strainers Cookie cutters Cupcake trays Whisks Old microwave (kids love to open and close the door and press those buttons) Soil Water Plants Herbs Twigs Pebbles Gravel Sand Pine needles Shells

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Oh the fun in your own backyard. Even if it is a tiny space. Just being outside is great!

And you’ll get the benefits of being outdoors—the fresh air, the larger space to run around, without needing to leave home and packing up supplies. Here we share some ideas for making your own backyard a preschooler’s fun space.

Some favorite Chabad Torah Tots Outdoor Activities 

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Bring some indoor toys outside Your child will find new and innovative ways to use them. A truck can become a hauler of grass, and outdoors it can travel even further distances. The play kitchen takes on a new life with all sorts of play food from the backyard— pebbles, grass, twigs. (Washable toys only!)

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Found materials Let your child play with odds and ends. Milk crates, planks of wood, laundry baskets, old wheels, buckets. And just let the imagination run!

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Obstacle course 1. A plank of wood on the ground can be a balancing beam. 2. Place a jump rope on the ground in a curve and your child should follow its path. 3. Place two chairs for your child to crawl under. 4. You can use cones, hoola-hoops, tires to create a course for your child to follow. 5. Lay a ladder down on the ground and jump between the rungs. 6. Doormats—jump from one to the next. 7. Caution tape or yarn to make a maze. (Lots more obstacle course ideas online).

Art Studio There are so many new things to draw—the trees, flowers, the birds. The sky scene is always changing– lighting, clouds, colors. Include some of the nature into 3D art. Paint with leaves, twigs. Paint on rocks, on bark.

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Wash the walls with water You can use sprayers, hose, paint brushes, brooms.

Be creative and have lots of wet fun!

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Bug Lab Kids are fascinated by bugs.

Create a bug-arium, so they can observe the bugs. Include a magnifying glass.

Check on the bugs every day to see how much has changed. Prepare food for the bugs.

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Outdoor art

Cardboard box fun!

Big cardboard boxes They can be so many things—trains, stores, forts! Give your child some large boxes. Add some markers and tape and see what they come up with! And once the boxes fall apart, you can open them up for a final art project.

Observing bugs

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Set aside an area of your backyard for children’s play and workspace (AKA mess). Or better yet, let them have the whole backyard. Allow for the toys and games to stay overnight. The next day, they can get right back to their play.

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Bubbles Kids love following and popping the bubbles as they blow in the breeze. (Make your own: 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons light karo syrup or 2 tablespoons glycerin, 4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid.)

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Make a stage Hang up a sheet from a tree branch and the kids can make plays for their parents (or their toy animals).

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Play with sticks and stones Sticks invite imaginative play.

They can be so many different things: a wand or a fishing pole. They can also be laid down in parallel lines to create a road or path.

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A hammock in a shady spot will be the new family hangout for reading, napping and literally hanging out.

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Hang a blackboard on the fence. Color with chalk, paint with water, use chalk spray (see below), mud splats. Wash it all down with a hose.

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Campout in your own backyard Set up a tent in the backyard and get into PJs and read stories, eat popcorn and  have some nighttime fun. And maybe really sleep outside that night.  Observe the stars For one special night, keep your child

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up to see the full moon or the stars. Use a telescope. 

Animals! If you dare. Bring a chicken or a rabbit to your  backyard. Feed them your scraps. Maybe you’ll even get an egg.

Sidewalk chalk

Bubbles

Forts, castles and play houses Let your child turn a patio table into a fort. They can play underneath. Add some old sheets as walls or curtains for more fun.

Foam pool noodles They’re so versatile. As a hockey stick, as a funnel, as a limbo stick. Or as a sprinkler; poke some holes and attach to a hose.

Kids Garden Let your child choose the plants and be responsible to take care of it. (Help them pick something that grows rather quickly.)

Kids Garden

Make your own Chalk Spray Kids never tire of outdoor chalk! Here are a few super fun ways to make it even more exciting (and even educational).

Tracing. Bring out all sorts of odd shaped things for your child to trace.

Science: Add lots of baking soda to the chalk spray (see side bar). After it is on the ground, spray with some vinegar and watch it fizz!

Dress up dolls: Trace your child laying on the ground, to create a full size doll. Your child can add the face and hair, and then dress it up with real clothing, or they can draw on clothing.

Cities & roads: Draw roads and houses and stores for the trucks.

Color games: Color different color circles, or squares on the ground. 1. Announce a color and your child should jump only on those until you announce another color. 2. Give a

pattern for them to follow– jump to yellow, red, yellow, etc. 3. Play a memory game, by adding another color after each round. Red. Red-yellow. Red-yellow-yellow (like that old Simon game). 4. A maze—get from one side to the other by only going in squares of a particular color. [Shapes: You can play similar games with shapes.]

ABC 1. Write letters on the ground. Then call out a letter and your child should only jump on those letters. 2. Announce a word and they should jump onto the letters that spell that word.

Ice Chalk Freeze the chalk liquid (in ice cube trays—all different shapes, or as popsicle, with a stick to make it easier to hold). 1. Use as a crayon. 2. Do ice melt experiments (which color melts fastest?) 3. Watch the colors melt together. 4. Use as a stamp. Your kids will come up with even more cool ways to use these ice chalks.

Ratio: 1 tablespoon of flour (or cornstarch), 10 drops of food coloring (or 1 teaspoon of washable paint), and about a half cup of warm water. ** Washes well from sidewalk, but keep away from cars and siding.

You can also put the colored liquid in a bucket and let the kids dip sponges into it and then throw those sponges onto the ground. Splat!

Or paint with paint brushes, twigs or any other materials.

Tips: Use a paper funnel to get the flour into the bottle.

Use neon food coloring for brighter colors.

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Field trips can provide wonderful learning experiences for children of all ages. And they provide a wonderful change from being home or in camp. Of course, there are the well known local museums and theme parks. Preschoolers especially love those short field trips to simple and local destinations, without the long lines.

Petting zoo

Some fun places to go: 

Any place can be an adventure. It’s all in the presentation and attitude. And slowing down to address the child’s curiosity.  Pet Shop  Ask for a tour of the bakery in the supermarket  Local fire station  Police station  Post office  Flower Shop or Nursery  Library or book store (for story hour)  Concerts in the park  Senior Center  Farm for fruit picking  Farmer’s Market  A trip on the train or ferry (to nowhere)  Recycling center  Meet the artist at a gallery  Boat or Car Show  Nature centers  Bird sanctuary  Gardens and greenhouses  Local theater  Construction sites  County Fair  Feed the ducks in the park  Train or bus station or airport

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Check out the local Tourism Center or front desk of a local hotel for more local ideas.

Pick up brochures. Find out about local fairs or events in the park. Find out about the more obscure museums in your area, like the Museum of Dentistry or Museum of Recycling.

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Family picnic

Check out local businesses  Beekeeper  Home Depot (ask for paint chips, and check out all those sinks and toilets)  Auto mechanic  Bank  Dance Studio  Pottery shop  Music store or studio  Barber shop  Veterinarian  Donut shop  Ice cream factory  Humane Society (SPCA)

Some Chabad Torah Tots Preschool Favorites: 

Children's Museum

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Planetarium

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Assiniboine Park Zoo

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Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Center

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Academy Bowling Lanes

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The Forks

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FortWhyte Alive

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Birds Hill Park

Police Station

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Preparing for the trip  Check days & hours In advance The days and hours of operation of these facilities are subject to change. Avoid unpleasant surprises by checking their website. Better yet, call to confirm current schedules before your visit.  Plan around your child’s nap schedule A tired and cranky kid can’t really enjoy the trip. Allow enough time for naps and fun.  Prepare your child about the trip Help your child know what to expect, what they will see and do, what they can and cannot touch, how long you will be there, who else will be there.  Have enough food and drink (and some extras) Hungry or thirsty kids are no fun. Bring food that you know they’ll eat. They can even help you prepare it before the trip.

Don’t rely on restaurant foods— they may not like it.

 Your phone number in case child gets lost Put your name and cell phone number in as many places as possible on your child. Label their clothes, put a piece of paper in their pocket. Even write your phone number on their palm.  Check out the venue’s website Many typical venues (such as museums) offer teacher or parent guides on their websites. You can download these for free and use them to plan your excursion.

During the trip  Encourage your child to write about or draw about the trip Bring along a clipboard with paper and pencil. Encourage your child to copy words, sketch pictures of what they are seeing, write down questions that your child wants to explore later.  Slow down to the speed of a child Try to experience the trip with the wonder and excitement of your preschooler. Allow enough time for

your children to be amazed with the many things to see, touch, explore and ask questions about anything and everything.  Takes cues from your child Notice when your child is tired or bored or overstimulated, and adjust your plans accordingly.  Photos Take pictures so you can look at the photos and reflect on the experience later. Take candid shots, rather than posed.  Talk to the people there To get a fuller experience, allow your child to talk to the people at the zoo or pet shop. They might just give a behind the scenes tour, or a memento to

Of course the destination itself is fun or educational. You can make it even more fun and enrich the experience. Here are some ideas:

Challenge “Let’s see how many red strawberries we can

Scavenger Hunt Create a list of things to look for on the

Role Play “Pretend we are the captain of the boat, what do

trip. This can be based on where you will be going—for a trip to the zoo, your list can include some animals.

we need to do before we set sail?”

Seeking the answer to a particular question Pose a

sturdy). Your child should then look through the hole and describe what they see. Then discuss how what is seen through the hole varies from seeing it without the peephole.

question before the trip: “I wonder what food the sheep eats.” Or better yet, seek to find the answer to a question your child brought up.

Let your child take pictures Let your child point out what they want to take pictures of, and them give them the camera or phone. For more fun, email or txt the picture to Grandma right then!

pick .” “Let’s see how many different flowers we’ll find at the flower shop.”

Peephole Cut a hole in a paper (cardstock paper is more

Binoculars or Magnifying Glass

See things up close.

Discuss the difference these equipment make in how we can see things.

Rate, Put in order Rate the size of various birds: “Which is largest, smallest?”

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It’s been in the news lately … the important role nature plays in the well-being of children. Intuitively, it makes sense. Running around outside, breathing fresh air, using muscles to jump and climb. Studies have shown that: 

Nature reduces stress levels and speeds recovery from illness, injury or stressful experiences.

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Exposure to nature increases children’s ability to concentrate, enhances self-control, and diminishes the effects of ADD.

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Exploring dirt and bugs

Nature provides a rich source of hands-on, multi-sensory stimulation, which is critical for brain development in early childhood.

Some favorite Torah Tots Outdoors Activities: 

Point out interesting elements Kids love to explore these interesting elements. “Doesn’t that twig look like the letter V?” Point out hollow trees, small caves, large rocks, and allow your child to explore and experience the beauty of nature.

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Nature Jewelry Put duct tape on inside out and collect small items to attach to the tape.

Instant jewelry!

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Take lots of pictures When you get home, download your pictures and talk about what

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Scavenger Hunt Make a list of things to look out for outdoors— by colors, or by shapes.

Ex: something yellow, something round, something that moves, something heavy.

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Alphabet Hunt Choose a letter and try to find things that begin with that letter. Change the letter every few minutes.

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What is that? Bring along a field book to help you identify the names of the plants and bugs.

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Listening Walk Tell your child that you’ll count quietly and they should just be quiet

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Sketch what they're seeing Bring along colored pencils and paper (on a clipboard).

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Measuring nature Collect twigs, rocks, etc. Measure them, put them in order of height, line them up, weigh them, sort them.

you saw.

Exploring a pond

and listen to the sounds of the outdoors. Then together discuss what they heard.

(Early morning is a great time to hear the birds.)

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Introduce your little one to the wonderful world of nature—in your own backyard, the local park or on a hike.

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Get your kids outside every day and look

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Embrace the pace set by your child Make

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Keep your child’s regular schedule in mind

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Talk, talk, talk Name what you are seeing.

around for the small things—a mushroom, an ant, a particular plant.

Nap times, meal times, potty breaks.

Talk about how wonderful it is to be out in nature. Describe what you feel, what you are hearing, smelling. Encourage your child to join the conversation.

frequent stops. Even if it means you won’t get to see the big waterfall. Be flexible, and ready to change plans.

Allow for detours.

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Give your child some responsibility like

Be interested in what your child is interested in Stop and explore what whatever it is that your child is curious about.

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Involve your child in the preparations They

carrying something. Even something small, like a box of raisins. Give them a backpack. It’ll make them feel important. can help pack the snacks or choose the destination or what to look out for during the next outdoor adventure.

Call it an adventure "Who wants to go on an adventure today?"

Potty Breaks Prepare your child about potty breaks. There may not be a bathroom, but there are trees around in the woods.

Hey, it’s all nature!

To look out for on your outdoor adventure!

A feast for the senses Sights

Spider webs Ants, bugs, insects Birds, butterflies Nests Animal scat (poop) Animal tracks Buds Touch

It wasn’t until I kept a record of our outdoor activities that I noticed: The more time we spent playing outside and exploring nature, the better our moods (especially mine!).

Leaves, pine needles Bark, twigs Pebbles Smells

Wet soil Composting leaves Leaves (rub between your fingers) Sound

Birds Wind Gurgling brooks Taste

Leaves (make sure that they are not poisonous) Hiking

Climbing & exploring

 Insect Repellent (There are some organic and homemade repellents.)  Sun Screen (even in the woods).  Lots of water For you too! A camelback water backpack makes it easier to carry lots of water.  Snacks Dried fruit, energy bars, nuts, crackers & cheese.

“Special outdoor snacks—to boost our energy.”

Binoculars

 Good shoes Comfortable and sturdy.  Layered clothing  Small first aid kit To make it even more fun and engaging:  Flashlights  Bug catchers  Magnifying glass  Compass  Bag to keep what you find  Sketch book & colored pencils  Binoculars  Field books of nature  Camera

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You might be taking some sort of trip this summer—going to visit friends or family. Or you might be going to a fun destination. Here are some tips and ideas to make the road trip easier, and even fun! 

Keep the car cool and comfortable.

Cool air helps prevent back seat car sickness. And reduces temper flares.

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Stop to let your child let off steam. Find a park or rest area with some running around space.

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Bring favorite snacks. These are just as soothing as comfort items. Put them in small containers that the kids can handle alone. A few special treats might make things much easier.

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Travel mirrors are wonderful. A well placed mirror works wonders. A quick glance can tell you what is going on in the back seat.

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Take care of yourself. A vacation with kids can take a lot out of you. Adults who take care of their own needs can better take care of the kids.

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Plan to travel when the kids should be asleep. Early morning or late night.

Make sure the kids are in comfortable, soft clothing. Traffic is light at that hour, kids are sleepy and you can usually drive several hours without stopping. Make your stop for breakfast your first stop.

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Bathroom breaks—about every two hours should be fine.

Don't stop the car if everyone is happy.

Only take a break when they start to fuss. During that stop, make sure you fill

up your gas tank, eat or buy snacks, and use the restroom, so that if your preschooler happen to fall asleep, you don't have to wake them. 

Use puppets to give updates or tell your children things that they might not listen to you: “Next snack is in 10 minutes.” “Hands are for coloring, not hitting brothers.”

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Keep stuff within reach with a child-safe plastic bungee leash. Attach one end to car seat strap, the other to a cup handle or favorite toy. Your child can retrieve what they drop without you having to hunt for it in the back seat (while you are trying to drive!).

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Lay towels or old sheets on the seats to keep the car clean. This makes it easy to dump out all those crumbs that seem to get everywhere during a car trip!

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Have an extra set of clothing easily accessible – for everyone in the car, adults included. You never know!

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Check that your car and car seats are in good condition before the trip. Fill the tires, check the oil, fill a tank of gas before setting out.

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NEVER let your kids out of sight when stopping at rest stops—no matter how inconvenient it is for you. Don’t leave them alone in the car alone—even for a few seconds.

Magnet puzzles

Car caddy

Cookie tray as lap tray

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Masking tape It’s easy enough for them  to tear. And it comes off the car easily.

Let them put tape on the window or the back of the seat.  Magnets and cookie sheet Magnets work well on cookie sheets. 1. Attach magnets to the back of puzzle pieces, cards or anything. 2. Make magnet  mosaics tiles. Make a match the pattern game. Color some squares in different colors and your child should match the pattern with the magnet tiles.  Felt & sandpaper Cut felt into different shapes to use on sand paper.  Pipe cleaners are fun! They can be bent into all shapes and creations.

Sing together Crank up the music and sing together. Or sing silly songs you know. Or some songs from school.

Aluminum foil sculptures Give your child the foil and see what they do with it; let them mold it into anything. Play a ‘guess the sculpture’ game.

The versatile Cookie sheet 

Use a cookie sheet as a lap tray— the type with a small lip.

That lip helps keep things from rolling off. The tray will catch many crumbs and spills. It’s very easy to wipe down. It is also magnetic, so it can be used for magnet games. Magnets can be used to hold paper down when they color or write.

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Attach felt to the underside for a felt board fun!

Talking games “What letter makes the ‘ah’ sound?”, “Let’s say words that start with letter ‘p’.” “What animal makes this sound—moo?”

Coloring books and pencils or crayons (Beware: Crayons can melt in a hot car.)

Unravel an old cassette. Or unwind a roll of yarn or ribbon.

Apps for the road Mommaps—Mom Maps helps you find family fun places, kid friendly locations on the go!

Pipe cleaners and styrofoam

Unravel an old cassette

Sandpaper board & felt

Playgrounds! (from Parent magazine) Uses your GPS to locate playgrounds nearby.

the trip.

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Start packing a few days in advance, or at least make a detailed list of everything you’ll need. So you can add things to the list as you think about them.

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Pack in ziplock bags—either 1 outfit per bag. Or all socks in a bag, all underwear, all T-shirts, etc. This makes it so much easier to rummage through the suitcase.

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Make a list of anything that has to be added at the last minute. Put right next to the car keys or tape to the front door.

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Bring plenty of zip lock bags for everything. And a few mesh bags for laundry, wet clothing, etc.

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Pack the car the day before the trip. A quick double check will tell you if you've forgotten anything.

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Don’t forget the blankie or other comfort items that are not packed because your child might be using it right before

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Pack many more diapers than you think you might need.

Pack more pairs of underwear. You never know! (If you are flying, plan to buy diapers and toiletries when you get there, don’t waste precious luggage weight and space for that. Order in advance and have it delivered to your destination.)

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Bring lots of diaper wipes for cleaning anything & everything. (Make sure they don’t dry up in the heat of the car.)

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Bring along lots of favorite foods. You never know what food might be available there.

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Pack snacks in small containers or packages.

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Don’t let a rainy day stop your outdoor fun! Embrace the opportunity for special rainy day fun! As long as it isn’t cold outside or stormy, it can be so much fun to play outside!

Plan for the wet mess and have fun while learning in the rain!

S me favorite Torah Tots Preschool Rainy Day activities

Puddle Painting

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Take a nature walk around the neighborhood. Discuss: How do things look different when it is raining? Do things look different when they’re wet?

Do colors change? How is this neighborhood walk different than a notrainy day? Let your child take pictures.

Make a book.

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Painting in the rain. Bring out some washable paints and paper and let the rain make a masterpiece.

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Puddle Art. Using eye droppers, drop food coloring onto the sidewalk or asphalt. Let the rain drops make the art.

(Check first if the food coloring will stain the sidewalk.)

Discuss: Do the colors look different on the white sidewalk and the black asphalt?

Does one dry faster? Does one wash off faster?

Rain Gauge. Investigate & measure rainfall, using a plastic measuring jug, or an old baby bottle which has measurements down the side.

Build a shelter from the rain with a tarp.  Let your child wrap the string around the stokes. Climb underneath. Or better yet use a transparent shower curtain, so your child can see the rain over their head.  Bring the trucks outside to play. Discuss: “How hard is it to push the trucks in the  mud?” (Then, later they can clean the trucks with the rain water and a toothbrush.)

Sweeping the rain

Look at reflections in puddles. What can you see? Can you see your face reflected in a puddle? If you jump in the water what happens to the reflection?

Blow bubbles in the rain. Discuss: How does the rain affect the bubbles?

Dancing in the rain. Twirl, jump. Into the puddles.

Observing the evaporation

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RAINY DAY

Sometimes, the rain outside just forces you to stay inside. Here are some great indoor activities for your children.

Some favorite Torah Tots Preschool activities 

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Painting with an eye dropper Put vinegar and food coloring into the compartments of a muffin pan—different color in each section. Fill a lasagna pan with baking soda. Give your child an eye dropper to drop vinegar into the baking soda.

Colored fizz! (You may have to demonstrate how to use the eye dropper.) They can also use the eye dropper and colored water to paint onto paper on into the baking soda.

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Dance, dance, dance Put on some good loud music and dance away! Great exercise for both of you!

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Dress Up Let your child try on grown up clothing—old hats, ties, shoes.

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Paint the bathtub Put your child in the bathtub with washable paint and let them paint. (Test first to confirm that the paint comes off the grout). Then let them wash off all the art.

Masking tape fun Give your child a roll of masking tape. Let them create a masterpiece. They can make roads for their cars. They can add blocks to make houses. They can make mountains for the  cars to drive on by making the tape go onto the chairs and couch. (Masking tape, also called painter’s tape, comes in lots of different colors too!)

Cutting & scrapbooking Give your child lots of old magazines and let them cut, cut, cut. They can tape or glue them into a scrapbook.

Book-a-thon Read lots of books together. Record the reading, so your child can listen over and over again.

Bring out the photo albums Talk about relatives. About places where they’ve been. Show pictures from when you were young.

Eye dropper painting

Tape roads (on the couch)

Bathmat & glass gems Use the underside of a bathmat (with the suction cups). Give your child some marbles and challenge them to place all the marbles in those little cups. They can make patterns, etc.

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Bring out a new or special toy Something new is always exciting.

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Fun in the kitchen Children love to help bake, prepare salad, make sandwiches or pop popcorn.

Bathmat & glass gems

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Gardens provide a wealth of opportunities for kids to get their hands dirty while learning lessons in many different areas of the environment.

Digging/Playing in the Dirt

Getting children involved in gardening and especially growing food is a great way to give them an appreciation for real, wholesome foods and where they come from.

Some favorite Torah Tots

Gardening Tips:

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Take a nature walk around the neighborhood & observe. Discuss: How do gardens look different? What do you like about the gardens you see? Do you like the colors? How is this different than our home garden? Let your child take pictures. Make a book.

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Weeding. When the weather is dry, (as it usually is in the summer), it is easy for the children to get rid of weeds. In general, it is better to do this as a joint activity, as sometimes children find it hard to differentiate between weeds and precious young plants.

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Teach, Teach, Teach. One of the most important parts of gardening is being able to teach your child. Talk about what a plant needs to grow. Don’t know all the answers to your child’s questions? Go to the library or nursery together.

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Guess the color and shape of the seeds are in the packet. Seeds come in all sizes, colors and shapes. Sketch them, photograph them, analyze them.

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Journal the planting. Keep a log of the progress, take pictures.

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Sing a Song as you garden.

Plant a little seed in the cold, cold ground (Squat down pretend to plant) Out comes the yellow sun, big and round (Put arms above head like sun) Down come the raindrops soft and slowly (Dancing fingers) Up comes the flower grow, grow, grow (Jump as flower emerges)

Observing the blooms

Watering the Plants

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Allow your child to choose some of the seeds (or plants).

This will make them even more excited about gardening.

IMPORTANT! Make sure you also include some quickgrowing and easy- to-care-for plants in your garden.

Ask your child to help with continued care of the garden.

Allow them to help water, add mulch or otherwise tend to the success of the plants. This helps them learn life responsibility.

Transferring compost or soil to smaller containers. Your child can use a spoon, rather than a trowel, to transfer the soil or compost. Water the compost BEFORE adding the seeds, or they might get flushed out with overwatering.

Your child can dig holes for seeds with their fingers. Tiny fingers are perfect size for digging holes.

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Watering. You can use almost anything as a watering can.

This is probably the favorite job of any young gardener.

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Kids are generally over enthusiastic with the watering.

Show your child how to use the mist on the hose. Or use a eye dropper on tiny seedlings in small containers. Observe

how much water the plants are getting. 

Together make a chart with pictures and steps to care for the plant.

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Create plant markers to know which plants are where.

Paint or write on tongue depressors, rocks, wooden spoons, etc.

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Start from seeds. There is something magical about planting a seed and watching it sprout.

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Engage all your child’s senses in the garden. Discover the textures, smells, sights, tastes and sounds of your garden.

Plant herbs with scents. Smell the wet soil. Listen to the birds, the water whooshing over the plants. See the colors.

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Eat the food you grow. Encourage your child to go outside and tear off a basil leaf to add to their sandwich. Plant tomatoes, pepper, herbs for pizza.

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Buy kid sized gardening tools. And store them in a separate bucket, so they can carry it alone. They’ll feel so grown up.

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Avoid working in the midday sun and heat. Work in

Sunflowers Potatoes Rosemary Lavender Strawberries 

Lettuce

Pea pods Basil Chives Plant markers

Pizza garden

Watering with eye dropper

Wheatgrass  Bush beans

Reading books about gardening can help get your child excited about their garden and also help them understand the perseverance and patience needed for gardening. Some favorite books at Chabad Torah Tots are: Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert Who Grew My Soup by Tom Darbyshire I Eat Vegetables! by Hannah Tofts I Eat Fruit! by Hannah Tofts The Carrot Seed by Ru th K r a u ss Zinnia’s Flower Garden by Monica Wellington The Tiny Seed by Er ic Ca r le

Reason For A Flower by Ru th Heller Big Yellow Sunflower by Frances Barry Jack's Garden by Henry Cole Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert Flower Garden by Ev e Bu n tin g And the Good Brown Earth by Kathy Henderson From Seed to Plant by Ga il Gibbon s

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There are many developmental benefits from the unstructured play at a playground beyond the expenditure of excess energy and for developing gross motor skills. At the playground, the children have opportunities to learn to make decisions, work and play within a community of others, and to try out ideas and explore the play environment.

Swinging at the slide

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the swing), lever lifts (seesaw), friction (on the slide), and balance (on the seesaw).

Teachable Moments Because there is no particular agenda for playground play, it lends itself for learning anything. Finding a bird’s nest can lead to great discussions and exploration about birds and animal habitats and bird families and what do birds like to eat … and … and … Be ready to follow your child’s lead.

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Seeing the world from different vantage points Children can climb high, hang upside down, swing ’higher than the trees’, and see their world in different ways.

Physical development The playground provides an excellent opportunity for the children to develop their bodies and coordination – by running, climbing, balancing, lifting, pushing, jumping, running. (Physiological readiness precedes other learning.)

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Social Development Children learn how to ask to play with the other children, how to include others into their games and cooperate with other people in the game, how to be kind to people, how to talk to people and what to do when someone is not nice to them.

Self Confidence Children need challenges to develop self-confidence. Playground equipment provide lots of opportunities to try new activities and then work until they master the skill. This makes them feel pride in themselves.

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Creativity When playing at the playground, children use their imagination as they create scenarios for their play—“I’m a firefighter going down the pole”, “a mountain climber going up the slide” (backwards).

Physics At the playground, children get to experience the concepts of gravity (down the slide), momentum (as they pedal on

Swinging high

Climbing

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explore their world with confidence, while knowing that a parent or caregiver is there if needed. Be around, watch your child … but don’t interfere.

Children and risks at the playground Children learn about their own strengths and limitations by physically challenging themselves. Those challenges help them develop selfconfidence, giving them a sense of personal power and a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. The playground is a great place for all this.

It is inevitable that children will sometimes fail as they attempt a new skill or level. That means that a child will probably fall in the playground.

Failure is normal; and it helps children develop resilience.

Children take calculated risks to stretch themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. When experiencing moments of apparent risk, their minds are placed in a state of alertness, resourcefulness, and expectancy. Encourage the risk taking by praising the determination and the perseverance.

Don’t worry: Most children will naturally regulate their exposure to

what they perceive as risk without the assistance of a grownup. If they are not overprotected and sheltered from risk, they will learn to make judgments about their own capabilities and make their own reasoned decisions about the risks involved. There is usually no need to hover over them.

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Check to see that the equipment isn’t faulty and is safe, and is appropriate for your child’s age and stage. And then let them free.

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Hold yourself back from calling “Be careful!”; your child probably knows that already.

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Allow your child to explore and play with the playground apparatus that they want to. They may be playing at the climbing structure for hours and totally ignore the slides. The playground experience is about them, not about a checklist of playing with every piece of equipment provided.

The right balance between supervision and freedom 

All parents want to protect their child, physically and emotionally.

This should be balanced with providing your child with a secure base, a sense that they can

The playground is a shared space—with other children and families. Do your part to keep it safe and peaceful so all can enjoy.

Assume responsibility for your child Don’t zone out, don’t get distracted by your cell phone or texts. Pay attention and supervise your child— for their safety and to make sure that your child doesn’t cause injury to others. Be ready to intervene when necessary.

Never give another child any food You never know what their dietary restrictions or allergies are. And you may just ruin their appetite for the lunch that their mother prepared for them. (Would you want someone to give your child any food without asking you?)

Ask others for cooperation Use words and tone that encourage cooperation. If a child is sitting at the bottom of the slide, saying something like: “My child wants to go down the slide and if you don’t move, they may hurt you. Could you please

move?” may get you further than saying “You need to move, now.” If cooperation is not granted, seek out the offending child’s parent or caregiver and ask for help.

Let everyone have a turn If your child has been on the zipline (or swing) for several minutes and a line is forming, begin to wrap up your child’s turn. Don’t abruptly take them off; give them a warning that it will be someone else’s turn in one minute.

Don’t reprimand or discipline someone else’s kid You can point out the situation and how you feel it is affecting the playground dynamics or safety. Let the parent deal with it—in the way that the parent knows will work best for their child.

Even if you don’t agree with the parenting style, it’s not your child.

More etiquette rules at: http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/aguide-to-playground-etiquette/

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