Theme for the Week - Dogs
Dogs are a favorite pet for many and even if you don't have a dog, you can still have some fun learning more about dogs. Here is a great website with a ton of dog-related activities to check out.
Letter of the Week: B - for Breed. Point out things that start with "B" - bread, ball, back. Show your toddler a picture of both a capital B and a lower case b. Draw a B on paper and let him/her trace over it, or use your child's finger to draw it in the sandbox or dirt. Use bath tub or refrigerator letters to show him/her this letter as well.
Number of the Week: 5 - When you show your child anything say "5 balls" (or whatever you are counting). Write the number 5 on paper or show your toddler a flash card. Show your child 5 things at a time and count them - "one, two, three, four..." - so your child gets used to the pattern. If nothing else, hearing the number is good for him/her.
Songs of the Week: Bingo - This link has the words and if you scroll down, there is also a video! The good part about this song is that it teaches both letters and a pattern. As you sing the song and leave out the letters and clap instead, it teaches your toddler to anticipate the sound of the letter in his/her head. This is a skill we understand must be taught - it's not inherant. This website Bus Songs has TONS of other fun songs too!
Story of the Week: Clifford - Clifford is a giant red dog and kids love him. If you search your local library, you'll find many Clifford books. Recently, I searched my local library on-line and placed holds on all the books I wanted and in a couple of days, they were ready to pick up. Instead of trying to browse the shelves with a busy toddler, I picked them up, checked them out and was on my way. Here's a link to public libraries in the United States if you'd like to see if your local branch is here. Let me know if you use this link. I don't even browse anymore; I just hold books and go get them when they're ready.
Snack of the Week: Hot Dogs on a Cracker - I like this snack because you cut up the hog dog. I recommend Hebrew National hot dogs although you can also use tofu dogs if you don't want to use meat. Check out our link to the craft this week for more ideas.
Spanish Words of the Week: dog - el perro, paw - la pata, nose - la nariz, tail - la cola, to bark - ladrar. Also I just discovered 123TeachMe - it is a fabulous resource for Spanish - kid's activities, a verb conjugator, pronunciations - tons of great stuff. Check it out.
Do It Myself: Care for a Pet - If you have a dog, let your child help brush or feed it. If you have other kinds of pets, let your child do something to care for the pet to help him/her understand how to care for another being.
Activity of the Week: Hot Dog Craft - We just love No Time for Flashcards and here's another fun craft from them. Be sure and scroll down for other fun stuff. If you'd like crafts about dogs, check out this link. Love the dog tags and sponge paw print ideas.
Yoga Pose: Downward Facing Dog and Upward Facing Dog - Do both of these if you have a tummy ache. These links are from Yoga Journal. PS - Our kids always liked the Yoga Kids series if you'd like more ideas for doing yoga with your toddler.
Sign Language Sign of the Week: Dog, Run, Ball, Jump. If your toddler is still learning how to talk, sign language can be a great way for them to communicate. And as they get older, they'll pick up signs faster and it can be more of a fun thing versus a way to communicate.
Remember to give your toddler/preschooler a hug and tell him/her you love them. Hope you have a wonderful week!
