Category: Social Emotional Learning

  • Laughs and Chuckles

    Your Child Will Learn

    To communicate feelings of pleasure and delight

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Let’s discover games that make me laugh. Here are some ideas to try:
      • Nuzzling my tummy with your face
      • Playing ‘pat-a-cake’ with my hands or
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  • Playing with Peers

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to play with another child

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Set up play dates with another similarly-aged child. I probably will only want to play with a friend for about 30 minutes.
    2. Supply some toys that
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  • Dramatic Play with Dolls

    Your Child Will Learn

    To act out my own feelings and practice conversations with dolls

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Gather dolls, action figures, puppets, and stuffed animals to play with. Help me find simple pretend or real props to use
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  • Peek-a-boo!

    Your Child Will Learn

    That people still exist even when they’re not visible, and that playing games is fun.

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Play quick games of “peek-a-boo” throughout our daily routines. Some ideas:
      • When my head reappears from under
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  • Talking Through the Steps

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to talk themselves through all the steps of a task. 

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Explain that sometimes when you’re trying to do a tricky task, you use “self-talk,” or saying the steps out loud to
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  • Follow Me!

    Your Child Will Learn

    Observing, imitating, and responding to others’ actions.

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Place your baby on the floor sitting or lying down. Tell them you’re going to play “Follow Me!”
    2. Tell your baby you’re going to show
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  • Wait and Count

    Your Child Will Learn

    A strategy to use when they need to wait

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Invite your child to practice waiting.
    2. Give them a simple counting task to complete when you leave the room (like: counting red things
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  • Listening Rules

    Your Child Will Learn

    The 4 rules to prepare themselves for listening

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Talk about rules you both follow at work, at school, and in your home.
    2. Teach your child these 4 listening rules and invite them
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  • Mindful Breaths

    Your Child Will Learn

    Fun breathing techniques to help your child feel calm

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Practice a flower breath
      • Imagine smelling a beautiful flower: take a deep breath in
      • Imagine blowing away dandelion seeds: blow slowly out through
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  • Tears and Tantrums

    Your Child Will Learn

    That you are there to help when they’re upset

    Here’s What to Do

    1. When your baby is crying, first reflect on how you are feeling. It is very common to feel stressed or anxious when your
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