Activities

Create a tummy time mat using photos of infants displaying different feelings and add a child safe mirror to the center.

Make a feelings meter from poster board divided into six sections. Label each section with a different emotion such as happy, mad, grumpy, sleepy, shy, worried.

Sing this song with the children:
Sometimes on my face, you'll see (Point to face.)
How I feel inside of me (Point to chest.)
A smile means happy (Smile.

Get two baskets. Make a sign for one that says "Happy" with a happy face and a sign for the other that says "Sad" with a sad face. Cut out lots of pictures from magazines and give them to the children. Sit with the children and look at the pictures.

Place small plastic toys in a non-transparent, plastic container. Add rice or sand. The children take turns reaching inside the container and grabbing a toy. Without looking, each child tries to determine what it is based on what it feels like.

Use a “feely box” for the children to touch an item inside and guess what it is. You can use a tissue box and include items with different shapes and textures.  This can be done in small group.

Use a “feely box” for the children to touch an item inside and guess what it is. You can use a tissue box and include items with diff erent shapes and textures. This can be done in small group.

Create a feely box and place it in the science center.

Use mystery “feely boxes” for the children to guess what is inside. You can use tissue boxes and put different fabric pieces or small toys in the box for them to feel.

Place the infant on his/her back on a blanket. Have him/her explore using bare feet. Encourage awareness and movement with the touch of soft items like a feather or toy.

Gather several medium-size balls. Invite pairs of children to sit on the ground "feet to feet" with their legs spread apart. Give a ball to each pair and show them how to roll it back and forth gently.

Provide felt pieces for the children to use with the song “I Went to Visit a Farm One Day.” As the children listen to the song, have them find the animal to place in the barn.

Many authors, such as Jan Brett, have printable cutouts on their websites. After reading a story such as The Mitten to the class, encourage the children to retell the story using felt board pieces.

Create "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" felt board pieces. Read the story several times. Afterward, encourage the children to participate by adding felt board pieces as the story unfolds.

On a felt board, display cutouts that represent

a range of feelings such as happiness, sadness and fear. Refer to the board throughout the day to help the children learn to label their emotions.

After a field trip to the local market, have the children draw things they saw or did. Have them talk about their art. Compare responses and talk about the similarities and differences.  This can be done in small group.

During outdoor time, divide the class into multiple groups and have a relay race. For example, the children have to take a sponge, run to the other end to dip the sponge in water and then run back and squeeze their sponge into their team's cup.

You will need pairs of socks in different sizes and colors and a small laundry basket. Empty the socks onto the carpet. Have the children find matching socks which they will place as matched pairs into the basket.

Set up the game in the traditional manner, with one less chair than children. When the music stops, the children work together to find space for a child who does not have a chair. Continue to play, removing a chair each time.

Gather a variety of soft toy animals. Call out different body parts and have the children point to their bodies then point to the same part on the toy animal. Point out how body parts look different from one another.