Activities

Read Chalk by Bill Thomson. Pause on each page and encourage the children to tell what they think is happening in the story.

Give the infant large pieces of chalk to use on the chalkboard indoors or on the sidewalk outdoors. Encourage him/her to scribble. Monitor carefully to make sure the child doesn't put chalk in his/her mouth.

During outdoor time, using chalk, have the children trace each other's outline on the playground. Encourage them to draw personal characteristics on the outline – eye color, hair color or clothing.

Put equal amounts of baking soda and corn starch in a spray bottle until it is 1/3 full.  Add washable nontoxic paint.  Add warm water to fill the bottle and shake it well.  The children can spray paint an area of the sidewalk.

During outdoor time, give the children chalk. Have them draw a large circle. Instruct them to “Draw a bug inside your circle,” or “Draw a line under your circle.

Play slow tempo music followed by faster music to change the auditory stimulation for infants. Encourage them to listen to the songs being played. Talk about the different sounds.

Read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems to the group. Encourage the children to talk about how the story would be different if it happened in different locations such as on a boat or an airplane.

During outdoor time, go to a different location for outside play by visiting a neighboring playground or a park.

While reading a book such as Judy Schachner's Skippyjon Jones, pause to ask the children questions about how the characters may be feeling. Use questions such as, “Skippyjon's ears are droopy and his head is hanging down.

Set out a variety of hats, such as firefighter, chef and nurse. Model for the children how to choose a hat and then create a character based on it. Talk through a day in the life of the character.

Play a game similar to Charades. Encourage each child to act out a given task such as, “I want to eat,” or “I want to take a nap,” or “I want to paint.” This can be done in small group.

Blow bubbles in an open area (either indoors or outdoors). Encourage the children to chase the bubbles and pop them with either their hands or feet.

Do this activity with older infants. You will need Cheerios and wax paper. Cut a strip of wax paper about 5 inches wide and place a Cheerio every few inches along the length of the paper. Fold and twist the wax paper between each Cheerio.

Provide the children with a small bowl of Cheerios and a couple of different sizes of measuring spoons. Have the children use the different measuring spoons to scoop up the Cheerios.

Read "Chicken Little."  Invite the children to lie down on a blanket and discuss whether the sky can really fall.

Hey there (name).

Have the children pair up with a partner. One will be the leader. The two children will stand facing each other. The leader will make a movement and their partner will “mirror” the movement. After a few turns, encourage them to switch roles.

Read Children Around the World by Donata Mortanari and have the children name similarities and differences between themselves and the children in the story. Chart these responses on a “Same and Different” graph.

Add paper lanterns, fortune cookies and other items to dramatic play area for children to explore. Have the children paint on paper and fold into fans.

During outside time, provide a variety of choices for the children and have them choose one thing they want to do before free play.