Children Build Skills While They Pretend If you were asked to name the best toy ever, what would you say? A Barbie doll? Nintendo? A Cabbage Patch Kid? In 2011, Wired magazine put out their list of the “5 Best Toys of All Time.” The list contained, in order: a stick, a box, string, cardboard tubes and dirt. At first this seems like some sort of a joke. Why would an electronics magazine select these ordinary objects? Think about it. All of these items can become other things. A stick can be the oar to your box that becomes a boat, while the cardboard tube makes a great language, problem solving and telescope. Another stick and some social-emotional skills. These string make a great fishing pole! skills all lead to future academic The best part? They can become success, so pretend play should be different things when this game is encouraged in every household. The best way to do this is to create over. According to Scholastic magazine, a prop box for your child. It doesn’t pretend play involves using an have to be full of expensive items, object to represent something else just start off with some of the items by giving it action and motion. In listed by Wired. You can also add doing so, your child is building such things as clothing, hats, shoes,
cooking and eating utensils, and old books and magazines. Don’t forget writing utensils! Your child can be encouraged to create signs, menus or anything else that goes along with their pretend play. Don’t forget to add yourself, but let your child be the boss. Pretend play also builds those important leadership skills.
Finding Screen Free Family Activities
special place for books and magazines. Ask an older child or other family member to read to a younger child Children are learning all the time. Head Start has and to you. compiled a list of activities that can become part of your Outside the Home daily routines or just a fun day. Learning for children is Children should go outdoors every day for exercise, fun. Learning and playing with your children can also fresh air and fun. You and your children will have be fun for parents and grandparents. greater freedom outdoors to jump, hop, swing, look, In a world of virtual learning, it can be difficult to find activities that don’t involve screens.
In the Kitchen
and listen. Let your children make noise! Remind them In the kitchen, you and your children can do many about any rules you have for playing outside. Talk about all the things you and your children see in things together: put away groceries, prepare meals and snacks, set the table. Your children will feel good about the sky, near the house or apartment their successes as they use their large and small muscles Look up toward the sky at different times of the day and look for shapes and colors. with your children. Read to your children each day.
For more ideas, visit: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs. Give your children a chance to imitate reading to gov/parenting/article/fun-learning-parents-childrenyou from magazines, books, and newspapers. Have a activities-handbook.
