Daily awakenings: how to create a responsive child through play

Day 1: observations

I'd like for you to close your eyes and imagine a penny. Describe it on a piece of paper to the best of your knowledge. Now, get your purse and pull one out. Show it to your child. Let them explore it and make notes. What did you learn??? What did they learn??

It's incredibly important to remember what kids see, and what you see are different, but similar. Make connections by observing how your child learns. Touch, sight, taste, smell, sounds are all APPROPRIATE ways for them to learn!

Day 2: making connections

Take what you learnt from day 1, and continue the penny learning. Use the following as a guide, implement what you feel is appropriate.

Did your child :
Feel the penny? Rub it against their cheek, against you? Did they trace the picture? Touch each letter?

***** bring crayons and paper out. Show them how to trace the penny, make a rubbing. Fill a sensory bin with penny's and rice. Give them baggies and a jar of penny's. Give them a sensory bin with water and pennies (see where I'm going with this???)

If they banged the penny into something, dropped it, tossed it-

*******Give them a jar of pennies with a lid to shake, let them drop pennies into water, give them lots of random objects to tap the penny onto.

If they smelt/tasted the penny(some kids will!!)

Give them spoons of differing materials, let them wash the pennies before licking

If they looked (and I mean LOOKEd) at the penny

*** give them president books and pennies, give them flash cards to match letters, rubbings would be fun, show them how to drop water onto the pennies until the bubble breaks, clean the pennies

If your child asks questions about the penny:

**** show them the symbols, describe them, set up a counting station with numbered markers (plates, paper, egg cartons) to count the pennies into

Day 3: child led

Revisit any area that may pop up, as your Childs interest grows. Allow them to use the pennies in any way during play. Answer questions, help stack, and most importantly encourage them to explore!!

Day4-9999999999999999999

Watch as your child gains knowledge, makes real life connections, and gains independence :)


Repeat with any and all objects, create new activities based on your Childs interest, and enjoy ;)