Activity Times

First of, there is a video to this. This post has a lot of information, and the information is important! So, please read on, and follow with the video. I appreciate you!
​
Why Activities? Children learn through play and through observation. As one of the primary adults in their life, you are one of their primary learning tools! Having an activity paired with a skill that you want to teach your child will increase the time that they gain to learn that skill, as well as increase their bond and attachment to you during play.
 
But I’m not a teacher? Parent, caregiver, teacher, friend… All the same. If you give care to a child, you are one of their teachers. They watch everything that you do, and hear every word you say. These young children are taking in the environment, the emotions, and the actions of every moment so that one day they can replicate the actions they see from you. Your child looks forward to time with you, and will look to you for information and answers to the questions that they can’t verbalize yet.
 
What Is the Adult Roll During Activity?

1. Pick a skill your child hasn’t fully developed yet.
2. Plan an activity based on that skill.
3. Gather the materials you need for the activity.
4. Set them up in an appropriate area and make the activity look inviting.
5. Make sure their physical and emotional needs are met before starting.
6. Bring or call your child to the activity.
7. Ask open-ended questions.
8. Model.
9. Explore.
10. When your child loses interest, have them help you clean up and put away the area.

That’s a lot of information and super confusing! Yes, and that is why I will be providing examples. Without example, I get that… it would be hard to understand. Just like children! We adults need examples when we set out to learn new things, and that is the purpose of a specific activity time. When I can’t figure something out, I tend to google it and search for a how-to video since I am a visual and kinesthetic learner.
 
But infants are too young for curriculum? Contrary to popular belief, infancy is the best time to run curriculum. Their brains are absorbing everything around them and turning experience into evidence. Infancy is the best time to model skills, teach multiple languages, and set the standards of routine for the rest of their life.
 
But my child doesn’t want to pay attention? Yes that happens. This probably means that the curriculum wasn’t designed with them and their interests in mind. If your child is a “wild child” and loves to run around, hating to sit still…Make a movement-based activity. If your child loves to get messy, do an outdoor activity with mud, paint, water… If your child loves a specific toy that they refuse to let go of, make an activity based on that toy. Every playful interaction is a learning experience, and can provide more and more experiences when you are intentional and meaningful about what you plan.
​
This still seems complicated! I know… It is a learning process, especially for someone who hasn’t had experience in writing curriculum or learning child development. So, I adapted a curriculum form from my old childcare center, and made it easy. Parents and Caregivers, you don’t need to write this out, but I know that I am a planner. I love to write out plans just to help me and the situations go as smoothly as possible. I recommend writing it out the first few times, especially until this just becomes a natural process for you.
 
For this form, I will use a daunting task for many people…PAINTING. Painting always seems so difficult because of the clean up and the unknowns. Making plans can help prevent that, and make the clean up easier. I am also going to pair the activity with an interest AND a skill to work on that seems like it has no relationship to paint. So, I give you… my example:

---

I know- this is a lot... Which is why there is a video coming soon!

Give this a share, please. <3
​
I wish you well,
-Teacher Emmy.