Acknowledgements - gapitc

Oh, the Places We Go!
Get a shoe box and decorate it with your child.
Gather simple “souvenirs” from places you visit with your child. You might bring
home a kids’ menu, a cup, or food container from a restaurant, a pine cone from
a playground, a napkin from an ice cream store, a brochure from the zoo, or a
drawing your child made at Grandma’s house.
Use the item to prompt your child to tell you and other family members about
the event. You can expect your two year old’s explanations to be brief so be
prepared to ask some questions to help him remember.
Put the items in the shoe box and occasionally take them out and enjoy the
memories of your outings with your child.
Puppet Play
Make two simple puppets with two paper plates, crayons, construction paper or
yarn, scissors (adults only!), glue, and a popsicle stick or straw.
Help your child make a face with crayons on his paper plate as you make one on
yours. Cut the construction paper or yarn to make hair (adults only!) and glue it
on. Attach the popsicle stick to the back with glue or tape
Have your puppet start talking to your child’s puppet. Encourage him to talk
back. Use toys such as animals, people, and cars, to help stimulate conversation.
If your child is enjoying the puppets, invite him to use both of them.
Put the puppets where your child can play with them later. Listen to see if he
begins to make up simple stories.
Try this activity with your child’s dolls or stuffed animals in place of the puppets.
Mighty Microphone
Make a simple pretend microphone with an empty toilet paper or paper
towel roll.
Help your child wrap it with a piece of aluminum foil.
Show your child how to talk into it. Talk in a regular voice and make silly sounds,
too.
Give your child the “microphone” and encourage her to imitate your sounds.
Then let her play with it on her own. She can sing with it, too!
A variation of this activity is to use a paper towel roll to tell secrets! Put the roll
to your child’s ear and whisper quietly back and forth.
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