How do you beat the summer heat?
With so many triple digit days ahead, it’s crucial to find fun activities to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Reading is one way to cultivate learning and shared interaction.
Regardless of your child’s reading skills, or lack thereof, there are various ways to encourage interaction. Labeling is great for toddlers. There are many things one could label: colors, objects, actions, etc. For children who are able to name various items, you may consider having a chid point to colors, objects, actions, etc. For children who are starting to read, you may stop at certain words, or for those advanced you may take turns reading a different page. The goal is to pick fun books that will spark their attention, while they learn and have fun!
Have fun with peekaboo or hide-and-seek. Both activities promote shared enjoyment and interaction.
Both activities promote shared enjoyment and interaction. You can also add in some tickles, once someone is found, to increase the laughter during the activities. Depending on the age of your child, and prior to starting the game, you may want to move though your house together to find fun and creative places to hide.
Challenge your child to pay attention and listen with a fun game of hot and cold.
This game is similar to hide-and-seek, but instead of looking for a person, you will be looking for a hidden object. As the seeker moves away from the object the hider says “cold,” as the seeker moved toward an object the hider may say “warm,” and if the seeker is really close the hider says “hot.” This game relies on social cues and listening skills.
Sharpen your child’s imitation skills with nursery rhyme hand motions.
Imitation is an important skill development that children learn from their environment. Watching one’s hand movements and listening to a nursery rhyme, helps cultivate hand-eye coordination and interactive play skills. Imitation also helps to strengthen a child’s fine and gross motor skills. There are many simple nursery rhymes that can be easily searched on the internet, just in case you’ve never heard of them: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Head Shoulders Knees & Toes, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and The Wheels on the Bus.
Outdoor water play is always a win win.
There are so many fun outdoor water activities; for example, one can enjoy a classic water balloon fight, splash pad, run through the sprinklers, slide down the water slide, and sit in an inflatable pool. Just make sure to apply and reapply sunscreen. That sun can be brutal.
If you are interested in speaking with a child psychologist the author, Dr. Fontes, is currently accepting new clients. Schedule your free 15 minute consultation to see if she is a good fit. Contact her today at 909-693-3017 or dr.fontes@fontestherapy.com.