More activities and games
Create a book
Show your child that she or he is an author and illustrator by creating blank book for them to design and fill.
Making the book
The book cover can be made out of construction paper, the cardboard from a cereal box (if both sides of the box have writing on them, tape or glue a blank piece of paper or the white side of wrapping paper on both sides) or plain white paper.
The inside pages can be any type of blank paper (copy, notebook, construction paper). Insert as many pages as you like.
Simply place the blank inserts in between the book covers and staple the left side – you’ve created a blank book.
Your child can design the cover, give the book a title and sign it as the author. Inside he or she can write or draw anything – it’s their book!
Suggestions
- Have your child write or draw about something they’ve done or learned each day of the winter break.
- Have your child write down questions they have about anything and then leave blank space. As your child learns the answers, she or he can write them in the book.
- Ask your child to write down or draw their dreams: what do they want to be when they grow up? What do they want to learn in school? What do they think the future will be like?
Have Story Time
Set aside time to have your child read to you from a book, magazine, newspaper, labels on food (for example, cereal, pasta, frozen vegetables, etc.) Reading with your child for as little as 15 minutes a day can a make a big difference
Another option is to listen to an audio book (check out the selections available through the DC Public Library).
Have a “Talk Show”
You or child can be the hosts. The topic: whatever your child wants to discuss! It could be about what they did that week, something they read, issues they’ve been thinking about, or just about them. If possible, make it a festive occasion by having your child dress up, have them sit in a special place, and invite others to watch the live show.
Play cards
Grab a deck and let the games begin! Many card games teach and reinforce skills such as matching, sequencing, strategizing, collaboration, competition, and following instructions. (Don’t where to start? Consider Go Fish, War, Rummy, Hearts, Spades. If you need to learn the rules, do a quick on-line search “playing card games.”)
Play a board game
Like cards, board games also teach and reinforce many skills you child uses at home and in school.
Put on a play
Ask your child to act out part of a story he or she has read or ask him or her to use their imagination and make something up.
Have a puppet show
After your child reads a story (or makes one up), have them create a puppet about the character, then act out the story using the puppets.
Puppets
There are many ways to create puppets. For example, you can draw a character on a piece of paper, have your child design and color it, cut it out and tape it to a straw, pencil or pen.
Or you can use a brown paper lunch bag. Have your child decorate the bag with crayons, markers, pen or pencil.
Invite your Child to Movie Night at Home
Select a movie to watch with your child at home. Afterwards have a discussion about the characters, the plot, different possible endings for the movie.
Play school
Set aside time each day for your child to teach you something they learned.
Talk about school
Talk to your child about school – what they like and dislike; what they find challenging and interesting.
Talk about what you would like your child to accomplish and find out what your child wants to accomplish. This is a great time to talk about college, careers, setting goals and priorities.
You may even want to write down three goals your child has for the rest of the year and post them some place you and your child can see them. Then help your child work towards those goals.
DC Public Library
