What’s Featured This Week?
Looking to get creative during this time? Most household items can be turned into a playful activity with your kiddos. Below, we’re highlighting how you can keep language-learning full of fun with our Household Toy of the Week: Toilet Paper Tubes! As always, you can try to use some of the example words and phrases in italics while you play!
Create a New Play Area!
- Roll the tubes across the table, down a ramp (overturned books, puzzles, and baking sheets all make great ramps), or back and forth. (It’s rolling. The tube went down. We’re pushing it.)
- Play a game of peek-a-boo while looking through the tube. (You’re under the blanket. You’re hiding. I found you!)
- Line up all the tubes and encourage your child to knock them over bowling-style with a ball. (Ball. The ball is rolling. It crashed. The tubes fell down.)
- Pretend the tubes are tunnels or garages for small cars. (Garage. The car is inside. It’s parked. It’s a tunnel. The car drove through the tunnel.)
- Pretend to drink from the tubes like cups. (I poured the juice. We’re drinking.)
Tip of the Week: Show rather than tell
You can encourage your child to play by setting the toilet paper tubes out, handing them directly to your child, and demonstrating the above play ideas. These actions will encourage him to play without giving him lots of instructions. By showing your child ideas for how to play rather than telling him what to do, you can keep the interaction fun and encourage him to be creative. If your child joins in or has a different idea, you can follow his lead. Children like routines because they know what to expect. So, after your child does a few actions, help establish a routine by “going back” and repeating the first step so that he can do it again.
Additional Ideas
Looking for some more fun things to try around the house?
