Three Little Kittens / Clothes Conversation

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Activities for Toddlers

 

Three Little Kittens

 

This wonderful poem is great for acting out. Choose someone to be the mother and three children for the kittens.

 

Three little kittens
They lost their mittens
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear
Our mitten we have lost.
What! Lost your mittens,
You naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.
No, you shall have no pie.

 

The three little kittens
They found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,
Our mittens we have found.
Put on your mittens,
You silly kittens,
And you shall have some pie.
Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r,
Oh, let us have some pie. 

    ~ Author Unknown

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Ask the children, "Have you ever lost something? How did it make you feel?"

 

For developing the idea – Ask the children, "Where could the kittens look for their mittens? Your hands!"

 

For moving forward - "Let’s say the poem again. You be the mother and I will be one of the kittens."

 

If you are in a classroom, say the poem together with all of the children and let them act out the various parts. They love to do the crying parts!

 

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Clothes Conversation

Show the children three kinds of clothing. For example, a boot, a heavy jacket, and a hat. Try to select articles of clothing that the children wear and are familiar with.

 

Show one article of clothing at a time and talk about why people wear this kind of clothing. 

 

Make a list with the children of the different kinds of clothes that people wear.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Ask the children, "Are you wearing any of the clothes that we talked about?"

 

For developing the idea – Ask the children, "Do you have boots? Where do you wear them?" Ask the same questions about other articles or clothing. If the child is wearing a sweater, then ask about the sweater.

 

For moving forward - Let’s look together at the magazines and you show me pictures of clothes to wear when it is cold. You can continue looking at magazines for clothes in different seasons, at different times of day, and at different places.

Head and Shoulders / Poetry in Rhythm

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Music Activities



Head and Shoulders
Here is a new way to sing or say this popular song.
Head and shoulders baby, one, two, three
Head and shoulders baby, one, two, three
Head and shoulders
Head and shoulders
Head and shoulders baby, one, two three

Now say the words and do the actions.
Head and shoulders baby – touch your head and shoulders and clap on “baby.”
One – hold your right arm out straight to the side and clap once.
Two – hold your left arm out straight to the side and clap once.
Three – hold your right arm out straight to the side
Repeat Above
Next
Head and shoulders – do actions
Head and shoulders – do actions

Back to the Beginning

You can say this chant with any two body parts. Knees and ankles, nose and hips, etc.
Start slowly and go faster and faster.
 
Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – "Let’s say the chant together and do the actions."

For developing the idea – "I’ll name a part of the body and you show me where it is."

For moving forward - "What are some other parts of the body that we could say in our chant?"

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Poetry in Rhythm
Music teaches the rhythm of language.

When you sing, you put vowels and consonants in a rhythmic pattern which enhances language.

Young children recognize words, sounds, rhythms, tones and pitches long before they talk, sing or dance. So, the more music your child has in her life, the better she will speak and read.

The following game develops rhythm through speech and develops wonderful listening skills.

Select a favorite poem or song.

I have chosen “Baa Baa Black Sheep” for this example.
Ask the children to “echo” what you say.

Adult - Baa, baa, black sheep
Children - Baa, baa, black sheep
Adult - Have you any wool?
Children - Have you any wool?
Adult - Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
Children - Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
Say each line and accent the first word.
BAA baa black sheep,
HAVE you any wool?

Now say two lines ..."Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?"

Let the children say the next two lines, “Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full."

Think of interesting ways to say tor sing the words for the children to copy.

Speaking rhythmically is a wonderful pre-reading skill.

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – I’ll say some words and you copy what I say. (use the same or a different song.)

For developing the idea – This time I’m going to sing a song just using the word “la.” See if you can copy me.

For moving forward – You sing a song and I will copy you.

Products from Discount School Supply® that I recommend:
Multicultural Velour Soft Babies - set of 4 (ALL4BY)
Green Toys Pizza Parlor Set - 27 pieces (GRNPIZZA)
Musical Scarves Movement Set - 19 pieces (DANCESET)

To See and To Smell / Oh, My Goodness! Oh, My Gracious!

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Activities for Infants

 

To See and To Smell

The current brain research says that what babies see and smell create brain connections. The external senses—vision, hearing, smell, and touch stimulate the neurons to connect with one another.

 

Exposing your baby to many different sensations will broaden his awareness of himself and the world.

 

Try gently rubbing your baby’s arms with different fabrics. Satin, silk, wool, and terrycloth are good fabrics to start with.

 

Use descriptive words as you rub the fabric on your baby’s arm. Some words that you can use are soft, silky, scratchy, cool, rough, and smooth.

 

Give your baby an opportunity to experience different smells. Go outside and smell the air, the flowers, the grass, and a leaf.

 

Cut in half a lemon, a lime, and an orange. Enjoy the smell of the freshly cut fruit.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Repeat one of the activities for three consecutive days. 

 

For developing the idea – After three days, do the activity one time and then add a new activity. For example if you were rubbing a fabric on your baby’s arm, the new activity could be rubbing the same fabric on your baby’s cheek.

 

For moving forward – Give a fabric to your baby and let him rub it on your arm. Ask him to rub it on the parts of your body that you rubbed on him. 

 

Repeat the same idea by giving him a piece of fruit for you to smell. Respond with appropriate words.

 

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Oh, My Goodness! Oh, My Gracious!

The newest brain research says that when children receive warm, responsive care, they are more likely to feel safe and secure and to be able to build attachments to others.

 

To encourage a sense of security and safe feelings, say the following to your child.

 

Oh, my goodness,

Oh, my gracious,

Look who’s here, look who’s here.

Oh, my goodness,

Oh, my gracious,

It’s my favorite (child’s name)

 

Hold your child close and give him a big hug.

 

Repeat the poem again and when you hug your child, hold him high in the air and then bring him down for a big kiss.

 

Try rocking him, slowly spinning him around, or any other loving motion.

 

Your little one will absolutely love this!

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Say the rhyme and leave out your child’s name for her to fill in. 

 

For developing the idea – Play the game using a stuffed animal and say the name of the stuffed toy. 

 

For moving forward – Clap your hands as you say the rhyme. When you come to the name at the end of the rhyme, hold your hands over your head and clap several times.

The Wonderful Box / Family Language

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Activities for Toddlers

 

The Wonderful Box

 

The following story is from my book "The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes and Dances For Young Children."

 

You will need a box wrapped in pretty paper with a toy inside. In this version, there is a top in the box. That idea can be changed.

 

Tell this story to the children:

 

Look at this wonderful box. It’s all wrapped up. with pretty paper and a pretty bow. It’s a present. I wonder what’s inside? Do you wonder what’s inside?

 

What do you think is in the box? Maybe it’s a ball. Maybe it’s a doll. Maybe it’s a rattle for a baby.

 

Let’s pick up the box to see if it is heavy or light.

 

Let’s shake the box to see if we can hear something.

 

Maybe it’s a book. Maybe it’s a toy car. Maybe it’s a jack-in-the-box. Let’s find out.

 

Let’s take off the bow and carefully take off the paper. We might want to use it again.

 

OK! Are you ready to see what’s inside?

 

Look! It’s a top!

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – Talk about the box and use descriptive words.

 

For developing the idea - “What would you put in a box for a surprise?”

 

For moving for forward - “If a rattle is in the box when you shake it, would you hear a noise? What else could be in the box that makes a noise?”

 

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Family Language

 

Discuss the names in a family. Mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, etc.

 

Ask each child, "What do you call your mother?" There will be a variety of answers...Mommy, Mama, etc. 

 

Let each child share what they call their mother.

 

Continue on with sharing names of other family members.

 

Remember to count pets as members of a family.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Can you tell me names of your family members?

 

For developing the idea - What do you do with each family members? Do you play with your sister? Do you read stories with your grandmother? How about your dog or cat? Do you play with them?

 

For moving for forward – If you were a father, what would you say to me? If you were a dog, how would you play with me?

 

Recommended products from Discount School Supply®:

Families Books - set of 7 (FAMBKS)

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Singing with Bells / Funky Sounds

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Music Activities for Infants and Toddlers

Singing with Bells

Place a jingle bell inside an empty film canister. Tape or glue the lid on securely. Shake the canister and sing familiar songs like "This Old Man," "A B C Song," and "One Elephant."

Play this game with the bell.

Sing to the tune of "If You’re Happy and You Know It."

Shake the bell in the air, in the air, (hold your hands over your head to shake the bell)
Shake the bell in the air, in the air,
Shake the bell in the air and hold it up right there,
Shake the bell in the air, in the air.
Shake the bell on the side, on the side, (hold hands to one side for shaking)
Shake the bell on the side, on the side,
Shake the bell on the side as you smile very wide,
Shake the bell on the side, on the side.
Shake the bell down below, down below, (shake the bell below your knees)
Shake the bell down below, down below.
Shake the bell down below and smile and say “hello,”
Shake the bell down below, down below.

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence - “This jingle bell will make our singing sound beautiful.” Sing several familiar songs and shake the bells.

For developing the idea –“Which song did you like singing? Can you think of another song we could sing?”

For moving forward – “Do we have to shake our bells all through the song or could we shake them at certain times?” Try singing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and only shaking the bells on word “lamb.”

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Funky Sounds

 

Brain research says that auditory discrimination of various types of sounds must be developed in order to be able to process letter sounds.

 

This activity is an important pre-reading experience.

Locate several types of containers with lids.

 

Fill each container with a different object such as sand, buttons, bells, stones, beads, birdseed, etc.

 

Securely attach the lid with super glue and/or tape. You can decorate the outside of the container if you like.

 

Give your child the opportunity to shake and make some noise with each filled container. You may even wish to leave one container empty just for novelty.

 

Talk to your child about the different types of sounds you hear when the container is shaken.

 

Choose familiar songs to sing as you shake the different containers. You might sing some of them loudly or softly, in a high or a low voice. Let the sound help you decide what to do with your voice.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Shake each container and talk about how it sounds. Is it loud or soft? Is it light or heavy? Is it tinkley or thundering?

 

For developing the idea - Select a container and ask your child to select one also. Choose a familiar song and sing and shake together.

 

For moving for forward – Go outside with your child. Listen to the different sounds. Airplanes, birds, the wind and cars.

 

Products from Discount School Supply® that I recommend:

Wooden Wind Chimes - set of 12 (BREEZY)

Kitchen Bottle Collection - set of 5 (BOTTLES)

Big Mouth Animal Puppets - set of 8 (FUNPUP)

Brawny Tough Jingle Wrap - set of 10 (JBELLSET)

Gold Jingle Bells - 150 pieces (BELLS)

Cluster Bells (CLUS)

 

Outside Exploring / Seek and Ye Shall Find

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Activities for Infants

 

Outside Exploring

 

Brain research says that early childhood experiences exert a dramatic and precise impact, physically determining how the intricate neural circuits of the brain are wired.

 

The brain takes in information through the senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound) and translates that information into a response.

 

Playing outside on a lovely day is a wonderful way to experience all of the senses.

 

There are so many things to do.

 

Let your baby crawl in the grass while you crawl along with him.

 

Name each thing that your baby seems interested in.

 

Smell flowers, tickle with grass, look for bugs, etc.

 

Rolling over in the grass is fun to do and your baby will enjoy the light, prickly feel of it.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – Say to your baby, “We are having fun playing outside.”

 

For developing the idea – Do activities that use the senses. Look at flowers, smell the flowers, listen to the birds, touch the grass, and taste some herbs.

 

For moving forward – Repeat the same activities and use say the name of the body parts you are using. For example, “I see the flowers with my eyes.” or, “I smell the flowers with my nose.” Continue on with all of the senses.

 

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Seek and Ye Shall Find

 

Brain research says that an infant’s brain can discern every possible sound in every language. By ten months, babies have learned to screen out foreign sounds and to focus on the sounds of their native language.

 

Listening for the source of a sound is a very good game for developing auditory awareness.

 

This kind of game needs to be played in the early years to strengthen brain connections for the future.

 

You will need a wind-up clock that makes a nice sound.

 

Hold the clock and sing a little tick, tock song with your baby.

Tick, tock, tick tock

Goes the clock,
Tick, tock

 

Now take the clock and put it under a pillow.

 

Ask your little one, “Where is the tick tock?”

 

Help guide him to the clock, using the sound to locate it. Once he understands how to play this game, he will want to do it again and again.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Hide the clock in the same place several times so that your baby will know exactly where it is.

 

For developing the idea –Begin hiding the clock in different places while your baby is watching you.

 

For moving forward – Ask your little one “where shall we hide the clock?”

 

Recommended Products from Discount School Supply®:

Time Buddy (AP40015J)