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 From day 1, children are eager and determined to understand how the world works. Play is how children learn to communicate, problem solve, test ideas, and get along with others. Link to Video "The Power of Play" Link to Articles Here: Stages of Play from Birth -6 mos Stages of Play 6 mos. - 12 mos. Play When your baby is able to sit up on her own fill a small plastic pool with soft stuffed animals to create a fluffy bin. Link to Activity Here Construction of Knowledge: Thinking and Reasoning Goal CD-1 Starting around 6 months, baby begins to recognize herself in the mirror and can begin to learn more about what she can do. Baby is also beginning to put language and vocabulary together. And a mirror is crucial to this process. Link to Activity Ideas Here Developing A Positive Sense of Self Goal SED-1

Busy Toddlers Activities for children 1-3

Physical/Outdoor Toddlers naturally chase bubbles when they see them. It is a great way to develop their gross motor skills as move and run into a certain direction, as well as jump and try and catch the bubbles. Link Here to homemade bubble recipe Motor Development Goal HPD-4 Use water colors and eyedroppers to create a rainy day fine motor craft.  Link to Activity Here Motor Development Goal HPD-5 Science/Sensory Stick with earthy natural colors, all-natural contents for this spring garden sensory bin. Link to Activity Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8 Create an interesting rainbow spring Sensory paint by mixing hair gel, birdseed and scents! Link to Activity Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8

Literacy/Math Learning our names is the springboard for literacy learning. Make a spell your name game to help children learn the letters of their name. Link to Activity Here Foundations of Reading Goal CLL-4 Recycle those plastic Easter eggs into simple math practice with counting or shapes. Link to Activity Here Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-4 & 5 Social Emotional Fasten your seat belt! Your toddler's probably on an emotional roller-coaster now: One minute he's as happy as ever, and the next he's a mess. It may be a year or two before he outgrows temper tantrums. Until then, expect to deal with regular outbursts of anger and frustration. While it's difficult to predict what's going to spark a tantrum, you can cut down on their frequency by making sure your child gets enough sleep and eats well during the day. Remember, a hungry, sleep-deprived toddler is a meltdown waiting to happen. Link to Article "How to Deal with Toddler Temper Tantrums" Self-Regulation and Pro-Social Behaviors Goal SED-5

Hands-On Preschoolers Activities for children 4-5

Physical/Outdoor Try some spring themed yoga for movement and calming. See how much fun engaging in moving can be this Spring.  Link to Activity Here Motor Development Goal HPD-4 This spring flower activity packs some wonderful skill practice for both hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Link to Activity Here Motor Development Goal HPD-5

Science/Sensory We could sure use some rain in western South Dakota! But whether it rains or not preschoolers love water in the sensory bin. Create a simple rainy weather sensory bin for preschoolers. Link to Activity Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8 Some washers from the hardware store and paint is what you will need to make these lovely painted homemade wind chimes! Great gift ideas or to decorate your yard or playground. Link to Activity Here Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8

Literacy/Math Don't pack away the plastic Easter eggs. Make a set of letter eggs. Write the upper case letters on one half, the lower case letters on the other half. Hide them in a sensory tub and see if you can find them and match them together. Foundations of Reading Goal CLL-4 Here is a playful, hands-on math game for preschoolers that school-agers might enjoy too. Count lima beans and put them into numbered flower pots. Link to Activity Here Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-4

Creative Arts Make cloud paintings by giving each child a blue sheet of paper. Place white paint (that has been watered down a bit) on the paper. Give children straws to blow the paint around! Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12 On a windy day take paper cut into kite shapes. Go outside, put a few drops of paint on the kite shapes and let the kids hold the papers up for the wind to move it around! When dried, add ribbon to the end for tails. Discuss with the children the two different processes of blowing paint! Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12