Acknowledgements - gapitc

To the Very End
Cut a drinking straw into six to eight one-inch-long pieces. Get a shoe lace at
least 10 inches long.
Tie a large knot at one end of the lace.
Encourage your child to string all the straw pieces onto the lace.
Compliment her for staying with the task until the very end.
Your two year old is naturally curious and will want to explore everything without
concern for safety. Supervise his activities carefully as he tries out new skills and
imitates adult behavior.
Your child’s daily schedule should allow a lot of time to play with toys and activities
that interest her. This is how she will learn to focus on school tasks later.
You know your child and how long he can stick with an activity. Provide games
and toys that are challenging but not too difficult. Two year olds will often express
their frustration through temper tantrums and other behaviors that let you know
they need help.
Play pretend games with your child to stimulate imagination. Take a make-believe
trip to the beach and pretend to swim and look underwater for fish. Pretend
to be animals at the farm and make the sounds and movements of the chickens,
cows, and pigs.
Practice problem solving aloud with your child. For example, on a rainy day say,
“Let’s have our picnic inside since it is raining,” or “We are out of bread so let’s
make sandwiches with tortillas instead!” This will encourage her to “think outside
the box” and find creative solutions to problems.
Your two year old may seem “bossy” and determined to do it “his way” because
of a growing sense of independence. If so, try to encourage him to use this persistent
attitude to complete puzzles, learn to zip his jacket, and return his toys
where they belong.
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