bag.
Each person gets a turn to be a character. The player randomly pulls one item from each bag to put on. Once dressed, the person describes who he is and what he does.
Puppets
Puppets are magical. Not only can they breathe life into any story, but they often seem to have a wonderful effect on young children. Many children who have speech difficulties or are shy often feel more comfortable using puppets for expression. A child can project her own fears, wishes, and dreams through the character of a puppet. Make a puppet with your child and watch her imagination soar.
Rubber Finger Puppets
This a quick and easy way to make finger puppet characters for your child.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Scissors
Old rubber dishwashing gloves
Permanent markers
Cut the fingers off the rubber gloves.
Let your child use the markers to create a face and other features.
Plate Puppets
Because this project is so simple, you may wish to let your child make
a few puppets and then put on a show.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Dessert-size paper plate
Crayons
White craft glue
Wooden craft stick
Let your child decorate the plate with crayons to make a face.
Help her glue on the stick to use as a handle.
Big Head Puppets
This project takes a little more time and effort, but it is well worth it. Remember to use caution when using Styrofoam with young children because it can be a choking hazard.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 25 minutes
Scissors
Styrofoam craft balls
Markers
White craft glue
Yarn pieces
Thin fabric remnants, 4–5 square
Use the scissors to gouge a hole in the bottom of the Styrofoam ball. The hole should be wide enough to fit your child’s finger and deep enough for her finger to fit in the ball to the first knuckle.
Let your child use the markers to decorate a face and other features.
Help her glue on the yarn pieces for hair.
When your child is ready to operate the puppet, have her drape the fabric over her index finger before attaching the head. The fabric becomes the puppet’s body, and the middle finger and thumb become its arms.
Bag Puppets
This is a traditional puppet craft. Frog puppets are especially cute to make.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Small paper lunch bag
Crayons or markers
Show your child how to insert her hand into the bag. Her thumb goes below the fold and her fingers go above it.
Encourage her to open and close her hand to make the puppet talk.
Let her decorate the puppet with crayons.
CHAPTER 9
Games
Playing games is a universal pursuit. Games help children burn off energy, develop social skills, and practice a variety of academic skills. When you teach your child a new game, you are also helping him learn how to follow directions. The games in this chapter are very simple; feel free to adapt them and add more rules and details as your child’s skills develop.
Traditional Games
Many games have remained virtually unchanged as they have passed from generation to generation. You will also find similar variations in other cultures. Here are just a few classic games that your toddler may enjoy.
Doggie, Doggie, Where’s Your Bone?
Here is another game that is easy to adapt. You can change this game into, “Cupid, Cupid, Where’s Your Heart?” or “Baker, Baker, Where’s Your Cake?” or “Robin, Robin, Where’s Your Worm?” Remember that young children may be uncomfortable closing their eyes, so don’t worry about enforcing this.
Activity for a group
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
Small toy or dog bone
Have children sit cross-legged in a small circle on the floor. Be sure that there is plenty of room around them.
Choose one child to be “It.” That child crouches in the center of the circle with a toy or
Each person gets a turn to be a character. The player randomly pulls one item from each bag to put on. Once dressed, the person describes who he is and what he does.
Puppets
Puppets are magical. Not only can they breathe life into any story, but they often seem to have a wonderful effect on young children. Many children who have speech difficulties or are shy often feel more comfortable using puppets for expression. A child can project her own fears, wishes, and dreams through the character of a puppet. Make a puppet with your child and watch her imagination soar.
Rubber Finger Puppets
This a quick and easy way to make finger puppet characters for your child.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Scissors
Old rubber dishwashing gloves
Permanent markers
Cut the fingers off the rubber gloves.
Let your child use the markers to create a face and other features.
Plate Puppets
Because this project is so simple, you may wish to let your child make
a few puppets and then put on a show.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Dessert-size paper plate
Crayons
White craft glue
Wooden craft stick
Let your child decorate the plate with crayons to make a face.
Help her glue on the stick to use as a handle.
Big Head Puppets
This project takes a little more time and effort, but it is well worth it. Remember to use caution when using Styrofoam with young children because it can be a choking hazard.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 25 minutes
Scissors
Styrofoam craft balls
Markers
White craft glue
Yarn pieces
Thin fabric remnants, 4–5 square
Use the scissors to gouge a hole in the bottom of the Styrofoam ball. The hole should be wide enough to fit your child’s finger and deep enough for her finger to fit in the ball to the first knuckle.
Let your child use the markers to decorate a face and other features.
Help her glue on the yarn pieces for hair.
When your child is ready to operate the puppet, have her drape the fabric over her index finger before attaching the head. The fabric becomes the puppet’s body, and the middle finger and thumb become its arms.
Bag Puppets
This is a traditional puppet craft. Frog puppets are especially cute to make.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Small paper lunch bag
Crayons or markers
Show your child how to insert her hand into the bag. Her thumb goes below the fold and her fingers go above it.
Encourage her to open and close her hand to make the puppet talk.
Let her decorate the puppet with crayons.
CHAPTER 9
Games
Playing games is a universal pursuit. Games help children burn off energy, develop social skills, and practice a variety of academic skills. When you teach your child a new game, you are also helping him learn how to follow directions. The games in this chapter are very simple; feel free to adapt them and add more rules and details as your child’s skills develop.
Traditional Games
Many games have remained virtually unchanged as they have passed from generation to generation. You will also find similar variations in other cultures. Here are just a few classic games that your toddler may enjoy.
Doggie, Doggie, Where’s Your Bone?
Here is another game that is easy to adapt. You can change this game into, “Cupid, Cupid, Where’s Your Heart?” or “Baker, Baker, Where’s Your Cake?” or “Robin, Robin, Where’s Your Worm?” Remember that young children may be uncomfortable closing their eyes, so don’t worry about enforcing this.
Activity for a group
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
Small toy or dog bone
Have children sit cross-legged in a small circle on the floor. Be sure that there is plenty of room around them.
Choose one child to be “It.” That child crouches in the center of the circle with a toy or
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