Resolutions & Family Time

As we start a new year, I am sure we have started some resolutions for 2018. Some of us are thinking health and wellness, some of us want to learn or experience something new, while others want to spend more time with friends and family. This month, we have some suggestions of games you can play, while you are working on spending more time with your family.

Elefun is a game with a motorized elephant blows nylon butterflies up into the air. Players try to catch them in their nets (or gather them up from off the floor). These are some skills you can practice:

 

  1. I can practice counting: After you have caught all the butterflies, take turns counting the butterflies in your nets. You can talk about concepts of “more” and “less” also.
  2. I can learn about colors: After you have caught all the butterflies, go through them and say their color. You can also have your child sort the butterflies by colors into the corresponding nets.
  3. I can learn basic concepts: You can practice “on/off” with your child by turning the Elefun game on and off, saying each action out loud as you do it. You can practice “in/out” with your child using the butterflies and the nets. When the child catches a butterfly, say, “The butterfly is in your net.” When the child takes the butterfly out of the net, say, “butterfly out.” You can also target “out” when the butterflies come up the elephant’s trunk (e.g., “The butterflies are coming out.”

Crocodile Dentist is a fun turn taking game that you push down the crocodile’s teeth without getting chomped. If the crocodile chomps you, you are out of the game. Keep going until there is only one person who has not been chomped and they are the winner! These are some skills you can practice:

  1. I can take turns: Give directions to the child to “push down a tooth” or “push in a tooth”. You can model the behavior as needed. After the child pushes down a tooth, celebrate and say, “my turn.” Push down one of the teeth. Next say, “your turn” and encourage your child to take a turn. If not, prompt the child with “push in a tooth.”
  2. I can imitate sounds: Gain the child’s attention by holding the crocodile next to your mouth. Model a target sound or word. Every time your child practices his or her speech sounds, they can take a turn pushing down the teeth. Praise attempts at speech sound production.
  3. I can identify and label body parts: Identify and label different body parts with your child. Point to a body part and say, “Look at his teeth” (include: eyes, nose, feet, tongue). After, you can also practice labeling body parts on you and your child. You can say, “Show me your teeth.”
  4. I can learn basic concepts: Gain the child’s attention by holding the crocodile next to your mouth. Next tell your child, “his mouth is OPEN.” Make an “O” shape with your mouth and say, “my mouth is OPEN.” Prompt the child, “Show me open.” Encourage production of “open”.  Use the same procedure for “close” when the crocodile’s mouth is closed.

Try these out while you are spending time with your family. They are a lot of fun and so much learning can be done too!

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