News for Black Hills Early Learners

Early Childhood Connections is a weekly contributor to Early Learning Activities

At the end of each activity domain and goals for the activities are provided. For a copy of the Early Learning Guidelines click on the photo.

Infant Corner Activities for children under 1

Development Motor development milestones to watch for in your 7-9 month old: Sits without support Sits and reaches for toys without falling Moves from tummy or back into sitting Starts to move with alternate leg and arm movement e.g. creeping, crawling. Motor Development HPD-3 Play This video and information from Pathways shares simple ways to encourage gross motor development for your 7-9 month old. Link to Info and Video Here Motor Development HPD-3 This homemade baby guitar instrument using rubber bands is lots of fun for babies! It’s so easy to make. Along with the rubber bands you just need a simple baking pan. Link to Activity Here Motor Development HPD-4

Busy Toddlers Activities for children 1-3

Physical/Outdoor  This open-ended motor activity based on Pete the Cat book will take some time to set up so leave it up for a couple days for the children explore different ways to play. Link to Activity Here Motor Development Goal HPD-4 Link to Read Aloud Pete the Cat Love My White Shoes Similar to making a bird feeder, winter garland for birds and woodland animals is super fun and easy for kids to make. It is a great way to practice fine motor skills and keep the birds happy. There are lots of options for making garland. You could string up popcorn, cheerios, cranberries, pretzels or dried fruits. Consider using slices of dried oranges or apples. Motor Development Goal HPD-5 Science/Sensory Amaze your toddlers with this science experiment using pop cans. Is it magic? Link to Activity video Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-9 Some days it is simply too cold to go outside to enjoy the snow. You know, those days when you have extreme cold warnings. So bring the snow inside! Link below to 7 fun activities for kids to play with snow indoors. Link to Activities Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8

Literacy/Math Children enjoy the book Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed By Eileen Christelow based on the fingerplay. The link below has a variety of activities to include with this book. Link to Article Here Link to Read Aloud Video Foundations of Reading Goal CLL-4  This Number Hockey game requires baby food jar lids and a little time to set up. Don't get too fussy about rules just enjoy and explore the numbers. Link to Activity Here Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-4 Social Emotional Bedtime will go more smoothly if you establish a routine your child can count on. A good bedtime routine is long enough to ease your child into a relaxed state, but not so long or complicated that it's a chore for you. Infants and young children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep daily in order to support healthy development. Parents also need to feel rested in order to be nurturing and responsive. When your child does not get enough sleep, challenging behaviors are likely to occur and have a negative impact on your child’s ability to learn. How to Help Your Child Have a Successful Bedtime Self-Regulation and Pro- Social Behaviors Goal SED-4

Hands-On Preschoolers Activities for children 4-5

Physical/Outdoor How does a snow obstacle course for kids sound? This is winter fun at its best because its quick to set up, fun for the whole family or a classroom and it will tire your kids out fast. Check out these awesome snow day activities! Link to Activity Here Motor Development Goal HPD-4 This activity will take some time to collect a variety of locks and keys but what a fun fine motor activity for preschoolers. The activity was done in a classroom but could be adapted for home. Place locks all around the classroom or home. Put small locks on clipboards, large locks on baskets, and middle sized blocks on chairs and so on… Link to Activity Here Motor Development Goal HPD-5

Science/Sensory The Magic Milk Experiment is such a cool way to teach kids about chemical reactions. You’ll set off an explosion of color in a dish of milk, using just food color and dish soap. The ever-changing waves of color are fascinating to watch for children and adults! Link to Activity Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-9 Density is a fascinating and sometimes tricky idea to understand. This Drink of Density will help bring home the idea of density in liquids, not to mention it looks cool when your all done, it’s tasty, and it’s even good for you – what more could you ask for in a science activity! Link to Activity Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-9

Literacy/Math Here is an easy ABC maze activity to strengthen alphabet recognition. All you need is floor space and painters tape! Link to Activity Here Foundations For Reading Goal CLL-8 Use this amazing paper chain challenge to explore math concepts. Link to Activity Here Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-4

Creative Arts This activity from The Dad Lab has children draw the other half of a celebrity face. Better yet enlarge photos of your child, cut in half and have them draw the other half of their own face! Link to Article Here Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12 These Toilet Paper Roll Icicles are fun and easy for kids to make using cardboard rolls, paint and string. String them across a window at home or in the classroom for a touch of color and whimsy this winter. Link to Activity Here Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12