Mason Jar

Inspiration: A Mason jar
Target Goal: Increasing positive language, communication and behavior.
Age: Any

Purpose:
With our busy lives and hectic schedules it is important to put an emphasis on the positive.  Acknowledging and rewarding positive behavior and language in your kids is a great way to reinforce good behavior.  This activity focuses on encouraging your child to do and say nice things.  Give them examples of what you expect from them and things that you like for them to say and do.  See examples below.

Supplies:
A Mason jar
Ribbon
Scissors
Paper strips
Rubber band
Pen

1) Cut 8.5x11inch paper in half and then into 1inch strips.
2) Stack in a pile and place a rubber band around the stack.
3) Decorate the Mason jar with a ribbon.
4) Write down all of the positive things your child does and says. Remind them that once it is all filled up that they will earn a reward.
5) Fill up your jar, once it is full take out all of the strips of paper and read them out loud together.
6) Reward your child with a treat of their choice.  You could take them to the aquarium or do an activity that will serve as a reward for all of their positive language and behavior!

Modification:

You can modify what is written on the slips of paper to achieve any goal you set.  If your child has limited language use, you could use this project as motivation to increase there utterance use from 2 words to 3 words.  Every time they used a 3 word utterance you would write it on the paper and put it in the jar.  For example if your child is saying "want ball" you would encourage them to say "I want ball" instead.

Enjoy!

Chalk Board Word Wall

Inspiration: Chalk board paint

Target Goal: Acquisition of early language

Age: 1 year or when your baby begins to say their first words.  For children who have language delays this project could work at any age.

Supplies:

Chalk board (directions to make chalk board below)

Chalk

Items of your choice to hang the chalk board (screws/drill)

1) Buy a chalk board or make a chalk board(see below) and hang it on a wall in your house.

2) On the chalk board write the words you hear your child saying.

3) Fill up the chalk board with the words and read them to your child daily to reinforce the words.

To make your own chalk board:

Supplies:

Piece of wood 

Chalk Board Paint

Paint brush

Chalk

Screws and plastic mirror mounting brackets 

Directions:

1) Buy a piece of wood sold at a hard ware store.  At home depot there is a section of pre cut pieces of wood and manufactured wood in the building supplies. I found a piece that was 2ft wide by 4ft tall.  You want to use something that is light weight so that you can hang it easily on the wall.  

2) Paint one side of the board let it dry and paint a second coat.  Chalk board paint works best with multiple layers of paint.

3) Hang the board on the wall with mirror mounting brackets see image below.

4) On the chalk board write the words you hear your child saying.

5) Fill up the chalk board with the words and read them to your child daily to reinforce the words.

First Words:

It is never too early to begin to communicate with your child. Babies begin to make sounds and babble at 6-8 months. When you hear your child babble, babble back to them. Encourage the back and forth interaction of communication from the beginning. Label and give everything a name. During meal time talk about what your children are eating and drinking. During bath time label the shampoo and the wash cloth. Give toys names and play with your children often. Lastly, there can never be enough emphasis placed on the importance of reading to your children. Read signs, labels, cereal boxes and books to them. Try to make every experience a fun learning opportunity.  

Enjoy!

Easter Eggs

Inspiration: Easter eggs

Target Goal: Reading kindergarten sight words

Age: 3 years and up

Supplies:

Plastic Easter eggs

Scissors (decorative edge if desired)

Colorful paper

Marker/pen

1)  Write the words on the paper with enough space to be cut out in 1x2 inch rectangles.  See list below for sight words.  Sight words are the words that children should be able to read based on kindergarten curriculum standards.  

2) Cut the words out and place them in the plastic eggs.  If desired, add candy and/or treats to the eggs. 

3) Hide the eggs.  When the children find the eggs practice reading the words with them out loud.

Modification:

If your child is not reading words yet put paper with a single letter of the alphabet in the egg and practice naming the letters and the corresponding sound. For example, letter A sound "ahhh"

Enjoy!

Example of some kindergarten sight words:

run, from, stop, here, said, come, big, they, fun, have, am, all, did, her, you, look, a, jump, him, out, had, there, was, old, are, go, by, no, I, some, get, so, and, she, up, give, not, my, to, like, for, you, on, has, an, at, do, it, we, in, yes, can, see, the, dad, me, he, mom, look.

Sea Shell Board Game

Inspiration: sea shells
Target Goal: Children will expressively identify the ABC's, colors and shapes.
Age: 3 years and up

Supplies:
Sea Shells (use for game piece)
Markers
Pencil
Stickers
Dice
White paper cut into 1.5x2 inches for game cards
11x14 inch Poster Board

1) Draw the outline of the board game using a pencil so you can erase if you make mistakes.

2) Go over the pencil outline once you have completed your desired design with a marker.

3) Add stickers and glitter to decorate the game board.

4) Add the sea shell for game pieces.

5) Make game cards.  Write the uppercase and lowercase letters on the 1.5x2inch pieces of paper to be used as the game cards.

Directions:

All players choose a shell and put it on the start space.  The group decides who goes first.  The first person picks a card from the stack and says the name of the letter out loud. If they are correct in identifying the letter the player rolls the dice and moves their shell to the appropriate space. Repeat these steps with all players until someone wins by making it to the space labeled finish! 

Modifications:

You can target other goals such as colors and shapes. 

Enjoy!