This is a super easy and quick game to set up that includes singing and will challenge your child's memory and help them with their letter recognition.

Your child should be able and ready to play this game if they know how to sing the alphabet and appear to have an interest in letters. To challenge further or play the game in a different way, see the Handy Tips at the bottom.

To play this game you will need a set of alphabet cards or books. You print off a set here for free if you don't have any or you could do a quick google search for ones that appeal to you (there are tons available) or simply make your own in Microsoft Word or other publishing progams.

So proud!

- Place all the cards/books in a big pile. Let your child rummage through them and give them a good mix up

- Sing the alphabet song with your child and then ask them what the first letter of the alphabet is (Repeat the song if needed until your child figures out that Aa is the first letter)

- Let your child find the letter Aa. If they are struggling, try giving them hints until they find it (eg. The capital A has a pointy top. etc or use colour hints if appropriate or Show them the letter Aa in a book or some other form of print as an example and have them find the match)

- Once they've found the Aa and put it aside, ask them what the next letter of the alphabet is and repeat the singing and hints etc until they have found it and put it beside the Aa.

- Repeat until your child has correctly identified and put in a line the entire alphabet. Well done!



Handy Hints

- To simplify this activity, have your child identify which is the next letter that needs to be found by singing the alphabet (and pointing along) and then help them find it (maybe make it a race?). Show them the letter then put it in the line and sing the alphabet again while pointing to the line and have them tell you which is the next letter to be found. Remember to make it fun!

- To extend this activity, try including letter sounds and words as well. What is the first letter of the alphabet? What sound does it make? Can you think of a word that begins with that sound? etc.

- As your child sings the alphabet, have them point to each of the corresponding letters they've already found to help reinforce the connection between the letter name and the symbol.

- Mix it up. Try playing the same game but this time call it, "Find the missing letter." Take one of the letters out and have your child try to identify the missing letter by using the same singing and finding technique.

- If your child loses interest half way through, don't push it. Just leave it and pick it up from the letter you were up to another time when they are interested again. Pushing and forcing learning at this early age level won't help your child develop a positive association with letters and learning. If anything, it could have the opposite effect. Remember to make learning FUN.


Debs :)

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Children love to replicate the behaviours of adults, especially if it involves water!

Here, with this fun pretend play activity, I got 3 things accomplished. 

1) I kept her entertained, 2) She was learning AND 3) the dirty toys and doll's clothes got clean! haha

Ages: 2+
(M was just 3 here. See the Handy Tips at the bottom to simplify or extend to meet your child's needs)

 The setup: An Invitation to Play. using a couple of towels on the floor I set up a washing station (bowl of soapy water for washing and bowl of clear water for rinsing) and a child-sized clothes line with pegs. We then collected toys from around the house that needed a wash

 Learning about order and process. First we wash and scrub in soapy water. Lots of fun pouring, swirling, scrubbing etc here

 Second we rinse all the soap off in clear, clean water

 We don't need to scrub the material the same way we would with plastic toys. Notice how the material absorbs the water

 Understanding order and process gets easier the more we practice

Wringing out the clothes to remove the excess water. This is trickier than it seems for little kids... especially ensuring all the material is OUT of the water before squeezing and that it doesn't go back in!

Pegging up the clothes to dry. This requires good fine motor skills and is fabulous for practicing coordination

 Swishing it round and round in the water... just like a washing machine does!

 Coordination required here! There was a lot of dropping the peg while trying to adjust the clothing to be hung. I was happy to see her demonstrating patience and keep trying

Whilst doing this activity she role-played being "mummy" and commentated her every move. 
Fabulous language practice!

Handy Tips:

- Talk with your child about what they are doing. This will help them understand the physical and mental processes they are going through as well as giving them the vocabulary to describe it.

- Use new language and descriptive words like, "process", "wringing out" etc. This will help with their language development.

- Simplify this activity for young toddlers who might not have the fine motor skills and coordination required to peg up clothes by just giving them some plastic toys or plastic plates etc, to wash

- Extend this activity by assigning your child a pretend role (mummy, daddy, Mr Washer etc) and allow them to get into character. This can add to the imaginative aspect of the activity and often promotes language development as they commentate their actions.

- We had to change the rinsing water at one point because it got too soapy.

- Demonstrate how or where to hold the clothing in order to peg it up if your child needs the assistance




Happy playing,
Debs :)

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Using just 3 elements and some different coloured paper backgrounds provided a fun and creative little activity.

 These few materials were so appealing for little hands and minds that the pages were quickly filled

Learning about the order (glue BEFORE glitter etc) and practicing fine motor skills are just a couple of learning experiences that were practiced in this activity

Some tips:

- Using different varieties of pasta allows for different shapes, textures, sizes, uses etc to be explored and discussed

- Extend this activity by creating and discussing patterns

- Talk and ask questions while your child is busy at work. "What does that shape pasta remind you of?" "Why do you think there is a hole in that pasta?" "Why is the glitter so shiney?" etc.

- Give your child different types or colours of paper to create their masterpiece on. See and talk about the different things they create on different pieces and take the time to talk about the different colours.

Debs :)

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