Sentence Sandwiches

• Bread Slices
• Jelly
• Alphabet Cereal

Toast bread, if desired. Spread jelly on bread. Use the letters to write words or sentences.

Smiley Snack

• Red apple slices
• Peanut butter
• Teeth:  Marshmallows, candy cornraisins, nuts, berries

Spread peanut butter on one side of each apple slice. 

Arrange the teeth on one of the slices, then place the other slice on top.

Make a Mobile

Gravity is always pulling on objects. An object balances when gravity is pulling equally on every part of the object. When you make a mobile, it takes a little effort and experimentation to make the mobile balance.

Using tagboard or cardboard, cut 5 equal-sized stars, a big star and a moon. Cover the shapes with aluminum foil. Cut dowel into 1 12-inch piece and 3 6-inch sections. Punch a hole in each shape and tie yarn through the hole. Hang the three short dowels from the long dowel so they hang at varying lengths. Tie one in the exact middle, and one from each end. Tie the moon to the long rod to make it balance. Tie the large star on the side opposite, but on the shorter rod. Tie the rest of the stars on the small rods, so that there are two shapes on each small rod. When the mobile is balanced (you will have to move the shapes around a little) tape the sting so that they stay in place.

Sink the Orange

Float an orange in a bowl of water. Does it sink or float? Challenge a friend to make the orange sink. Peel the orange and watch what happens.

Apple Tree

Float an orange in a bowl of water. Does it sink or float? Challenge a friend to make the orange sink. Peel the orange and watch what happens.

Penny Wish

Every time someone walks into babies room, ask them if they would like to make a wish for baby. Invite them to put a penny in a decorated jar.

As baby grows into toddler, toddler into child, continue the tradition.

As your little one grows older, tell them that the jar is filled with wishes made by people who love them.

Silence is Golden

A picnic out to a peaceful place can be a real pleasure. While enjoying the great outdoors, listen with baby for sounds. Waves crashing on the beach, birds, airplanes, cars, children playing . . . Point the sounds out to baby.

Paper Tearing

Little ones love to tear paper. Be sure to supervise closely, because they also love to put things in their mouth. Provide different kinds of paper: tissue paper, wrapping paper, foil, old magazines. This is a very sensory experience because of textures and the sounds that are made by the various materials. Older children will enjoy tearing and creating a collage or picture. Show how to wad the paper and throw it. For a toddler or preschooler, make a target for throwing the “ball” through, or just play catch.

The Choo Choo Train

Here comes the choo-choo train (Sit facing baby and hold both her hands)
First it’s going forward, then it’s going back (pull one hand toward you while pushing the other toward your child; continue to alternate)
Now the bell is ringing: ding, ding, ding! (ring imaginary bell)
Now the whistle blows; whoo, whoo, whoo! (pull imaginary whistle cord)
What a lot of noise it makes (cover both your ears) Everywhere it goes!