Category: Mess Level

  • Tell Me A Story

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to tell stories.

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Work together to create about 20 “story cards” on index cards (or paper). You can make them all at once, or spread it out over several days and
    … Continue reading

  • Family Dinner Counting

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to organize data with a chart

    Here’s What to Do

    1. At the beginning of the week, make a chart. Draw 7 columns and label them with every day of the week across the top. Draw
    … Continue reading

  • Fruit and Veggie Subtraction

    Your Child Will Learn

    Counting and introductory subtraction

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Gather 5 balls or soft objects and a box or basket to throw them in.
    2. Invite your child to imagine that the balls are a fruit or vegetable.
    … Continue reading

  • Repeat After Me

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to listen to and understand directions given out loud.

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Tell your child you’re going to play a following game.
    2. Give your child a direction. Ask them to repeat the words out
    … Continue reading

  • Listening Game

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to listen to, remember, and follow 2-step directions

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Tell your child you’re going to play a listening game. 
    2. Give your child a series of 2-step directions. Some examples:
      • Clap your hands,
    … Continue reading

  • More or Less?

    Your Child Will Learn

    Comparing the amounts of two groups of objects

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Wherever you are (home, playground, bus, store, etc.), direct your child’s attention to compare groups of objects. Try to find groups with 5 items
    … Continue reading

  • Building Fun

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to use different materials to build a structure

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Gather building materials from around the house (cereal boxes, cans, plastic containers, straws, egg cartons, paper towel tubes, etc.).
    2. Place the materials on
    … Continue reading

  • Fast and Slow Music

    Your Child Will Learn

    That music has different speeds (tempos)

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Play some music, perhaps while in the car. Hand your child a tissue and tell them to wave the tissue to the speed of the music.
    … Continue reading

  • Dramatic Play

    Your Child Will Learn

    How to express themselves and apply learning through play

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Invite your child(ren) to play pretend with you. Decide what you’d like to play together. Some ideas:
      • Use your kitchen table to play
    … Continue reading

  • I Know That Story

    Your Child Will Learn

    To enjoy reading familiar books with adults.

    Here’s What to Do

    1. Choose one of your child’s favorite books, ideally one with repeating phrases.
    2. Prompt your child to join you when you read the repetitive phrases on
    … Continue reading

  • Reset