News for Black Hills Early Learners
We are here to bring you fun activities for any child ages 0-5 years. We hope you find this useful and helpful during this very unusual time. Happy learning!
The holidays are typically a time when families from near and far come together to celebrate. This year may look a little different but you can still make Holiday memories even from a distance. Click on Wreath for ideas for your family.
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

When babies are around 6 months of age, they learn to clap. Clapping gives them immense joy, as it produces sound. You can show your baby how to clap, and make her clap. Take your baby’s hands in yours and teach her slowly. Clapping can be made more interesting by using rhymes or songs your baby likes moving to.
Curiosity, Information-Seeking, and Eagerness Goal AL-1
At 6 months, babies can be surprisingly social (stranger anxiety has yet to develop) and delightfully generous with smiles, giggles, shrieks and squeaks.
Developing A Positive Sense of Self Goal SED-1
Play

Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker's man, bake me a cake as fast as you can. This well-known clapping game may seem silly, but it's a great way to help your baby develop a number of important skills.
Motor Development Goal HDP-5

A box with a lid isn't just fun for your baby. Just some of the skills developed are fine motor and eye-hand coordination. You can clap and encourage baby to clap with excitement when they find what's in the box.
Curiosity, Information-Seeking, and Eargerness Goal AL-1
Busy Toddlers
Activities for children 1-3
Physical/Outdoor

Have you ever noticed kids love lines? Not the kind you stand in or color outside of, but the kind you walk on. Cracks in the sidewalk, painted lines on the blacktop, stone walls, balance beams or ordinary ropes are magnets for little feet. Use a simple rope to create gross motor activities for toddlers.
Motor Development Goal HPD-4
Work on fine motor skills with this fun watercolor preschool wreath.
Motor Development HPD-5
Science/Sensory

Use those candy filled plastic candy cane shaped tubes, that you can buy just about in any store during the holiday season, to make sensory tubes. After you enjoy the candy!
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-9

Have a snow day any day! You can make it snow no matter how hot it is outside. Be sure to do this project in a tall, clear container so you can see the "blizzard" you’ve created!
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8
Literacy/Math

Here is a great flannel story using snowmen that is sure to get and keep the attention of toddlers.
Don't have a flannel board? Just glue flannel to an old cookie sheet or watch the video below for 4 other simple ways to make your own.
Foundations for Reading Goal CLL-4

Here are two more simple math activities for toddlers using Candy Canes.
Mathematical Thinking and Expression Goal CD-4
Social Emotional

Fred Rogers reminded us: "When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary." Some two year olds and most three-year-olds can use simple emotion words — such as "happy," "sad," "excited" and "scared" ― to describe how they are feeling. Link to PBS for Parents to find activity ideas to help your child understand and manage emotions. Including an interactive game called "Cookie Game."
Self-Regulation and Pro-Social Behaviors Goal SED-4
‌
Hands-On Preschoolers
Activities for children 4-5
Physical/Outdoor

An indoor obstacle course is a playful way for your preschool children to get the exercise they need. Create a snow themed obstacle course that can be done indoors.
Motor Development Goal HPD-4
If you are looking for ways to help your kids with scissor skills, this activity is for you. Take squares of colored cardstock or construction paper and make cutting mazes for the kids.
Motor Development Goal HPD-5
Science/Sensory
Fill a bin with Christmas Water Beads and other Sensory ideas for December.
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-9

Have a little fun with hockey and turn it into a simple science experiment. Using a cookie sheet explore how items glide across ice.
Scientific Exploration and Knowledge Goal CD-8
Literacy/Math
Write your child’s name on a piece of paper.  Use an uppercase letter for the first letter and lowercase for the remaining letters. Cut the letters out, so each letter is its own strip of paper. Present them to your child saying, “What do you think these letters could spell?” Let your child play with them. Together spell your child’s name. Mix them up and spell it again.
Foundations For Reading Goal CLL-6

Using seasonal items to create learning activities is a great way to get kids excited about learning.
This quick and easy Christmas bow counting activity in one your kids are sure to love!
Mathematical Thinking and Expression
Goal CD-4
Creative Arts

The colors in the book Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner are cool with blue moonlit snow and warm with glowing snowmen from the lights around the town. After your little learners enjoy story time with this popular winter tale, you can invite them to paint a nighttime sky and build a playful snowman of their own with this fun Snowmen at Night art Activity.
Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12


Grab some red and white paint to make these easy candy cane paintings using one finger!
Creative Arts and Expression Goal CD-12