| That precious little person in your life is definitely the | | | | humpWorms wiggleBugs jiggleRabbits hopHorses |
| cutest thing on the planet earth, and positively the | | | | clopSnakes slideSeagulls glideMice creepDeer |
| most intelligent! Why, he was born speaking Greek, | | | | leapPuppies bounceKittens pounceLions stalk-But-I |
| and you don't even know any foreign languages!But | | | | walk!~~~by EVELYN BEYER~~~WHISKY |
| seriously, language is one of the first ways | | | | FRISKYWhisky frisky,Hipperty hop,Up he goesTo the |
| developmental growth in children is noticed by the | | | | tree top!Whirly, twirly,Round and round,Down he |
| general population. Mom and Dad and Grandma and | | | | scampersTo the ground.Furly, curly,What a tail,Tall as |
| Grandpa know this baby is the next Baseball Hall of | | | | a feather,Broad as a sail.Where's his supper?In the |
| Famer or Albert Einstein, but the cashier at the | | | | shell.Snappy, cracky,Out it fell.ANONTHINKING SKILLS |
| supermarket won't know diddly squat about that | | | | AND SELF-CONCEPT BODY AWARENESS FOR |
| adorable big blue eyed baby unless she can speak | | | | TODDLERS:Counting repetitively to two with a |
| intelligently while strapped safely in the shopping | | | | toddler gives him a boost in premath skills. Have your |
| cart.So how can one help promote language skills | | | | child point to his ears, eyes, hands, feet, legs, knees, |
| besides reciting the abc's and Mary Had a Little Lamb | | | | cheeks, elbows, thumbs, big toes, or heels, and count |
| and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star over and over | | | | each one with him: One, two, one, two, one, |
| again?Starting with finger plays, action rhymes, and | | | | two...Progress to 5 fingers or toes.FUN HUGGING |
| songs to sing, there will be numerous activities listed. | | | | CUDDLING GIGGLY TIME WITH YOUR TODDLER |
| Each will explain the multi purposes of and the age of | | | | OR CHILD OF ANY AGE:The following rhyme is a |
| the child for which the activity is intended. More will | | | | favorite with kids of all ages.Round and round the |
| be added over time as they are found.FOR MOTOR | | | | garden runs the little mouse. (Hold your child's hand |
| SKILLS WITH TODDLERS:Start with clapping and | | | | palm up, running your finger in circles very lightly on |
| tapping your hands and feet. Let your toddler mimic | | | | his palm.)Up, up, up he scampers, (Touch your child's |
| your actions.Read the following rhyme, clapping and | | | | arm on wrist, inside of elbow, and upper arm on each |
| tapping when indicated:I have two little hands that | | | | "up".)Into his little HOUSE! (Tickle your child's underarm |
| clap, clap, clap.I have two little feet that tap, tap, | | | | on HOUSE!) This is almost guaranteed to be a |
| tap.Clap, clap, clap.Tap, tap, tap.Clap, clap, | | | | favorite of both you and your child!Fun TICKLY KNEE |
| tap.Encourage your child to SAY "Clap" and "Tap" as | | | | Activity:All ages of my daycare kids have loved this |
| you say the rhyme.FOR SELF-CONCEPT BODY | | | | over the years. Very simple for people who don't |
| AWARENESS WITH TODDLERS:Sing the following | | | | memorize things well, it's a great standby for just |
| song to the tune of "The Farmer In The Dell."Where | | | | about any child! Just tickle the child's knee above and |
| are your piggy toes?Where are your piggy toes?Oh | | | | to the outside of his knee while reciting the following, |
| no, where have they gone,(pull off socks)I see your | | | | and be almost 100% guaranteed that squeals of |
| piggy toes.Pulling off socks is one of the first skills a | | | | delight will follow, along with constant begging for |
| toddler learns. Sing this song while pulling off your | | | | MORE, and DO IT AGAIN!Tickly knee, tickly knee, if |
| child's socks, then let your child pull them off by | | | | your laugh, you don't love me! (That's it! See, I told |
| himself. Encourage your child to pull off the socks | | | | you it was simple!)FUN SEASONAL FINGERPLAYS |
| without any help while you sing the | | | | AND ACTIVITIES:Tune-The Mulberry BushJumping in |
| song.SELF-CONCEPT AND MOTOR SKILLS FOR | | | | the pumpkin patch, (jumping through the whole |
| TODDLERS:One of the most challenging things a | | | | verse)Pumpkin patch, pumpkin patch,Jumping in the |
| toddler is learning is how to dress herself. Somehow | | | | pumpkin patch,So early in the morning.**Substitute |
| it always seems the diapers come off easier than | | | | clapping, stomping, flying, swaying, winking, |
| the shoes go on!Encourage your child to practice | | | | etc.SIMON SAYS FOR HALLOWEEN:1. Fly like a bat.2. |
| motor skills and begin recognizing opposites by giving | | | | Stomp like a monster.3. Walk like a skeleton.4. Hop |
| her a hat that fits easily on her head. Have her put | | | | like a bunny.5. Pounce like a cat.6. Dance like a |
| the hat on and take it off, saying Hat on, hat off, | | | | ballerina.7. Roll like a pumpkin...COUNTING FIVE LITTLE |
| hat on, hat off as she does.SELF-CONCEPT AND | | | | PUMPKINS:Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.One |
| BODY AWARENESS FOR TODDLERS:Sing the | | | | fell down and broke his plate.Four little pumpkins |
| following to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"Head and | | | | sitting on a gate.One fell down and lost his |
| shoulders,Head and shoulders.Knees and toes,Knees | | | | skate.Three little pumpkins sitting on a gate.One fell |
| and toes.Eyes and ears,Eyes and ears.Mouth and | | | | down and lost some weight.Two little pumpkins |
| nose,Mouth and nose.Have your child touch each | | | | sitting on a gate.One fell down and said "Don't be |
| body part as it is sung, then repeat the song naming | | | | late!"The littlest pumpking sitting on a gateFell down |
| different parts of the body.THINKING SKILLS FOR | | | | and said, "No more pumpkins sitting on the gate!"FIVE |
| TODDLERS:Recognizing that an object is still there | | | | LITTLE OWLS:The first little owl has great, round |
| though it can't be seen is a significant milestone for | | | | eyes. (Point to one finger at a time.)The second little |
| toddlers. Play peek-a-boo often with your child, and | | | | owl is of very small size.The third little owl can turn |
| play games where an object is hidden with a blanket, | | | | her head.The fourth little owl likes mice, she said.The |
| scarf or bandana, or inside another object.MOTOR | | | | fifth little owl flies all around,And her wings make |
| SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:Recite the following rhyme | | | | hardly a single sound.FOUR SEASONS POEM:Spring is |
| with your toddler sitting on your knees. Move your | | | | showery, bowery, flowery.Summer is hoppy, choppy, |
| knees and toddler up and down following the | | | | poppy.Autumn is wheezy, sneezy, freezy.Winter is |
| lyrics.Marching, marching,Up we go.Marching | | | | slippy, drippy, nippy.ANONMUD poem:Mud is very nice |
| marching,Nice and slow.Marching, marching,Down, | | | | to feelAll squishy-squash between the toes!I'd rather |
| down, down.Marching, marching,Through the town.Let | | | | wade in wiggly mudThan smell a yellow rose.Nobody |
| your child stand and stretch up high and bend down | | | | else but the rosebush knowsHow nice mud feels |
| low, or be lifted high or put down low as you recite | | | | between the toes.by Polly Chase BoydenThunder |
| the poem.MOTOR SKILLS, LISTENING, AND | | | | Finger Play:Thunder crashes. (Clap hands.)Lightning |
| EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS:Large motor skills are | | | | flashes. (Move hands with zigzag motion.)Rain makes |
| needed in order to develop as well. Sing the following | | | | puddles. (Flutter fingers.)So I can make splashes. |
| song to the tune of "The Farmer In The Dell" and let | | | | (Jump.)Fun, new words, even if they're not real, can |
| your child giggle and wiggle as you both do the | | | | be a great way to get a baby or toddler exposed to |
| movements to the song. Substitute different body | | | | different sounds. The earlier a child is exposed to the |
| parts and actions.Shake your arms like this,Shake | | | | sounds of different languages, the easier it will be for |
| your arms like this,Clap your hands and turn | | | | him to pick up on them and learn them more fluently. |
| around,Shake your arms like this.MOTOR & | | | | Here are some fun poems with silly words to share |
| THINKING SKILLS, EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS AND | | | | with your child:The Cow Poem:The cow mainly moos |
| ALL AGES:This is a great one to do when you're | | | | as she chooses to mooand she chooses to moo as |
| super busy, yet your child is demanding your | | | | she chooses.She furthermore chews as she chooses |
| attention. It is also a great activity to do for | | | | to chewand she chooses to chew as she muses.If |
| transition times such as after story time getting | | | | she chooses to moo she may moo to amuseor may |
| ready for lunch, after playtime getting ready to go to | | | | moo just to moo as she chooses.If she chooses to |
| the store, and other difficult times when you just | | | | chew she may moo as she chewsor may chew just |
| HAVE to do something else besides hold your toddler | | | | to chew as she muses.by Jack PrelutskyAnd a silly |
| on your hip.Recite the following actions, doing the | | | | one for an older child, Eletelephony:Once there was |
| motions slowly at first, then quickly. The kids will | | | | an elephant,Who tried to use the telephant--No! no! I |
| dissolve into peals of laughter and free you up to get | | | | mean an elephoneWho tried to use the |
| a few things done.Clap, clap, clap your hands as | | | | telephone--(Dear me! I am not certain quiteThat even |
| slowly as you can.Clap, clap, clap your hands as | | | | now I've got it right.)Howe'er it was, he got his |
| quickly as you can.Rub, rub, rub your hands as slowly | | | | trunkEntangled in the telephunk;The more he tried to |
| as you can.Rub, rub, rub your hands as quickly as you | | | | get it free,The more buzzed the telephee--(I fear I'd |
| can.Roll your hands...Wiggle your fingers...(sometimes I | | | | better drop the songof elephop and telephong!)Songs |
| wiggle my fingers accidentally on their ribs!)Twiddle | | | | and fingerplays are so much fun, and are a great |
| your thumbs...Stomp your feet...Wiggle your | | | | bonding activity between a child and her parents, |
| body...Wiggle your eyebrows...Slap your knees...Blink | | | | grandparents, and other caregivers.More songs, |
| your eyes...ACTION AND LANGUAGE BUILDING | | | | poetry, and fingerplays will be added to this guide |
| POETRY FOR THE YOUNG CHILD:Poetry is a clearly | | | | over time as I run across them and as I myself have |
| delightful way to introduce children to new words | | | | time. Thanks for looking, and be sure to mark this as |
| and language skills. Here are a couple of poems that | | | | one of your favorites for easy |
| have not only lots of fun words to learn, but to act | | | | reference!eviews.ebay. |
| upon, too!JUMP OR JIGGLEFrogs jumpCaterpillars | | | | |