Watch your child enjoy this activity using an adult paint brush! Set a large piece of paper on the floor of your house or sidewalk. Show your child how to go back and forth on the paper using water. Your child may end up 'painting' more than the paper!

The habit of counting to children will begin to help them understand numbers when they are older. Whenever your child is going up or down the stairs, count each step. Your child will begin to absorb this language.

Children love their own space to play! Locate a large cardboard box. Turn it upside down and cut out a door and windows. Encourage your child to take favorite toys inside the house to play. Encourage your child to say , "Bye Bye" when going inside and ,"Hello" when entering your space.

Children love to paint on an easel! Try using blue and yellow paints. Enjoy watching your child create the color "green".

Shapes are fascinating to children! Show your child 2 rectangles, 2 squares, and 2 circles. Scatter the shapes on the floor in front of your child. Put one of the shapes in your hand and name the shape. Ask your child to find the other shape. If your child just wants to play with the shapes, that's fine! Try the activity later.

This activity helps your child with number recognition. Draw a line down the center of a paper plate. Draw another line across the paper plate, making 4 sections on the paper plate. Write the number 1 in one of the sections, number 2 in the next. Continue with writing the numbers 3 then 4 in the other sections. Hand your child a glue stick and a cup of raisins. Help your child count out the number of raisins to glue on each section of the plate. Help your child glue the raisins on the plate. Count the raisons with your child before displaying the plate for other family members to see.

Understanding color concepts can be learned through play. Locate 4 colored blocks: red, yellow, green, blue. Put the red block in your child's hand. Say, "Red." Put the yellow block in your child's hand. Say, "Yellow." Put the two blocks together in front of your child. "May I have red?" Put out your hand and say, "Thank You." "May I have yellow?" Do the same with the remaining 2 blocks. Put the blocks in a basket and put it on your child's toy shelf. This activity is fun to repeat.

Your child is observing various vehicles as you walk and drive around. This activity will help your child understand how these vehicles move. Download pictures of different vehicles, (train, plane, truck, boat, etc.) Describe where each vehicle moves. "The plane flies in the sky." "The truck drives on the road." "Children ride bicycles on the sidewalk." "Trains travel on railroad tracks."

Language concepts are learned through play. This matching activity will help your child understand animals and their homes. Download/print pictures of fish/ water, frog/pond, lion/jungle, bear/cave. Play a matching game with your child. Scatter the pictures on the floor and match the 2 showing, "Fish live in water," "Frogs live in ponds," etc.

Young children enjoy replicas of the things they see in the real world. If your child watches the school bus every morning, your child will enjoy playing with a play school bus. Your child may like toy cars and trucks. Begin to observe what your child is doing with these toys. Play is how your child makes sense of the world. It is an important part of brain development. You may notice that your child makes a sound when the bus door opens. This shows your child is absorbing audio clues in the environment. Encourage your child to imitate what they see, "What sound did the truck make?" "How did the garbage truck empty the can?"

Play Doh helps develop hand muscles, an important pre writing skill. Put some play doh on the your child's table or high chair tray. Show your child how hands are used to push down the play doh. Try making a birthday cake with your child out of play doh. Form the cake and add small plastic letters, pike cleaners, birthday candles or golf tees. Sing Happy Birthday and pretend to blow out the candles!

This activity will help your child develop hand muscles that promote fine motor skills. Exercising hand muscles prepares your child for writing. Show your child the baster and demonstrate how to squeeze the bulb to fill it. Lift the baster out of the water and squeeze it again to empty it.

Have fun with your child with this fun activity that will challenge your child's balance. Gather a variety of shoes from the closets: boots, slippers, work shoes, etc. Watch your child walk around wearing the family shoes. Make sure your child has a clear space to walk and soft area in the event of a fall.

Children's sense of hearing helps them differentiate sounds. Sit across from your child when you do this activity. Take photos of 3 instrument you have, (xylophone, drum, keyboard, etc.) Place the photos in front of your child. Demonstrate the sound of each instrument before placing it in the tote bag. Place your hand inside the tote bag and make the sound of one of the instruments. Ask your child to find the photo of the object that made the sound. Continue with the other instruments.

Scrubbing will help develop your child's upper body strength and eye/hand coordination. Some children scrub for long periods of time. Show your child how to put the scrub brush in the soapy water and scrub a muddy rock. How long did your child spend scrubbing the rock?

Children this age enjoy experiencing the results of their actions. Place a large light weight rubber or plastic wiffle ball on a baseball tee. Show your child how to swing a wiffle bat and hit the ball off the tee. Enjoy watching your child learn a new skill today!

This fun activity will help develop eye/hand coordination for your child. Select a ball that fits in your child's hand and have your child throw it into a laundry basket. Have your child stand in front of the basket at first. See how far away you can move the basket.

This activity will help your child develop small muscles in the hands needed for writing. Place the baster and containers in front of your child. Show your child how to transfer the colored water from one container to the other using the baster. Observe what your child does with this fun activity.

Children's sense of hearing helps them learn. This activity will help your child hear different sounds that come from instruments. Make a sound with each instrument: bell, rhythm sticks, drum. Put the other set of instruments under the blanket. Play one of the instruments. Have your child feel for the instrument that you just played.

Your child will love watching balls roll down tubes! Place the tubes against a cushion. Put the cushion on a slant up against the sofa. Take the basket of small balls and show your child how to put them one by one inside the tube. It should be interesting to see which ball travels the fastest.

Pretend it has snowed inside and you are taking your child for an inside sled ride. Tie a rope on your laundry basket. Pull your child from room to room. Did your child enjoy the sled ride?

This activity may take some time for your child to do. Ask your child to bring you the basket of diapers when your child needs a clean diaper. (This could give you a clue as to when to begin potty training.)

Children learn through the sense of touch. Today they will feel and better understand 'sticky.' Cut a piece of clear contact paper at least 2' long. Remove the backing and tape the contact paper, sticky side up, to the floor or carpeting, (after testing it on the floor). You may want to do place the paper on a cement floor. Your child may just stand on the paper. Your child may run, jump, and dance on it. What does your child do?

The song, "The Farmer in the Dell" has been enjoyed by children for generations. Try 'tweaking' the words and sing when you want to encourage your child to put toys away.

"The Farmer in the Dell, The Farmer in the Dell,
Hi Ho a Derry-O
The Farmer in the Dell.
The books go on the shelf, the books go on the shelf
Hi Ho a Derry-O, the books go on the shelf.
The blocks go in the bin," etc. in the Dell

Children love to help around the house! Show your child how to use a small dustpan and broom for cleaning off crumbs on the small table. Have a waste can close by to dispose of the crumbs. Keep these handy for your child to use. The earlier house chores are introduced to your child, the more likely they will be accepted and become a habit.

Enjoy being creative with your child today. Pour some washable paint in a bowl. Take a fruit or vegetable, cut it in a half, and dip it in the bowl. "Stamp" the fruit or vegetable on a large sheet of paper to create a fun craft. Print the name of the fruit or vegetable under each painting.

There are times that toys are strewn throughout the house and it's time to 'Clean Up.' Try the lyrics to the tune:

"Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Clean Up.
Clean Up, Clean Up, Put Your Things Away."

Set a hand held timer in the room and see if the room is cleaned up before the timer sounds.

Language concepts are learned through play. Weather permitting, take your child outside to your garden to find some insects. Name each insect as you search under the soil, rocks, etc. When you come in, download pictures of the insects you observed in the garden and talk about the ones you saw today. You may want to make an "Insect Book" placing a photo on the left page and the name of the insect on the right page.

Children love to play with "family figures." Put the play family members in a basket. Sit with your child and take out one member at a time. Example: "This is Daddy. He is going to work. Good-bye Daddy". Pretend with the other figures that are in the basket. You and your child may want to build a 'house' out of blocks for the 'family.' Sit back and enjoy watching your child play with the people!

Listening skills are learned through play. Locate 3 noise items, (whistle, cymbals, tambourine, etc.) and cover them with a blanket on the floor. As your child watches, remove the blanket and make a noise with one of the items. Repeat with the other ones. Cover the items again, then lift the edge of the blanket facing you and make a noise using one of the items. See if your child can locate which item made the noise.

This simple science experiment is easy to do and needs only a straw and some water. Place some drops of water on your child's high chair tray. Blow through a straw and watch with your child as the water moves around the tray. Does your child want to try doing this?

Your child may enjoy creating some designs on the driveway, garage or basement. Put a few inches of water in a bucket. Hand your child a thick paint brush and demonstrate how to dip the brush then 'paint'. Watch your child enjoy being creative and delighting in the work of art.

Children love to hear you sing silly songs! Make up a song about animal sounds. Enjoy singing this fun song, "Clap your hands and sing like a bird. Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, Tweet, Tweet. Touch your head and moo like a cow", etc. It may have you both laughing!

You can have fun with this activity at a low easel, on the floor, or on the driveway. Begin with two colors. (You can offer more colors in the future.) Let your child create with these markers. Your child may need some assistance at first with this activity.

Introduce the words 'Stop' and 'Go' to your child while driving your car. When you come to a red light, say "Red light Stop". When you come to a green light, say "Green light Go." When your child is older and verbal, don't be surprised if your child tells you when to Stop and Go!

Children love to draw with chalk! Let you child draw on the sidewalk or driveway, (weather permitting), or inside on your basement or garage floors. Encourage circular motions when drawing with chalk. This is a pre writing skill that will be needed when older.

This activity will encourage your child's creativity through the use of crayons. At this age, it is fine for your child to grip the crayon with their entire hand using a 'fist' position. Your child will progress to learn to hold a crayon using the pincer grasp between the ages ages of 2-4. For now, focus on encouraging creativity. Put 6 regular sized (small) crayons in a container. Let your child sit at a small table and color with the crayons.

Squeezing a baster may be a new experience for your child! Show your child how to squeeze the baster while it is submerged in the container filled with water. Slowly let the bulb out. Next, pick up the baster, (with water in it), and transfer it to an empty container. Watch your child's expression when the bulb is squeezed! (Your child may need assistance with this activity.

Create a path of pillows and cushions in a trail that zig zags on the floor of your child's playroom. Encourage your child to follow the course by crawling or walking, (with your help), along the path.

Motor development is important at this age. Provide a riding toy your child can push with his/her feet. Be sure the toy is sturdy and safe for your child to ride. Your child is developing gross motor skills as well as balance and coordination.

Your child will be challenged, when walking between the rungs of a ladder. Lay a wooden ladder across the floor. Demonstrate how to walk from one end of the ladder to the other. Encourage your child to do the same. If this is too frustrating for your child, try it later.

Children love to explore and experiment with paints! Put the paper on a table or easel. Choose two colors such as yellow and red. Enjoy watching your child paint and create the color orange. "You made orange!"

Your child will delight in watching you blow bubbles! Encourage your child to pop them as they are blown. Create a space where you can make many bubbles. Enjoy watching your child visually track the bubbles and delight when the bubbles pop! Sing: "Here we go around the bubbles today, the bubbles today, the bubbles today. Here we go around the bubbles today. Pop go the bubbles!"

Children learn to problem solve through play. Place a few cheerios inside a plastic bottle without a lid, (water bottle, etc.). See if your child can solve the problem of getting the cheerios out of the bottle and into the mouth!

Children can learn about their bodies with this fun activity. Once your child can point to body parts, try adding others that may be unfamiliar: neck, shoulder, elbow, back, wrist, bottom, leg, calf, ankle, heel, toe, foot, shin, knee, thigh, fingernail, hip, navel, waist, stomach, chest, etc. Sing the song "Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes" as you touch each body part.

Challenge your child with this fun activity! Put cheerios in one container on your child's left side with a scoop. Show your child how to transfer the cheerios to the container on the right side with the scoop. It's fine if some cheerios drop in the process. This fun activity promotes eye/hand coordination, an important developmental skill. Repeat the activity if your child continues to be interested.

Children love to hear your voice! Try making up a song for your child today. Remember, your child doesn't care about the quality of your voice or what you sing. Your child simply loves to hear you sing! Sing this simple tune with your child, using his/her name: "Timmy claps with two hands, two hands, two hands. Timmy claps with two hands all day long. Timmy moves just one foot one foot, one foot", etc.

Children may enjoy hearing their voice and seeing themselves when they are much older. Make a video of your child on your iPad. Begin in the morning when your child awakes and continue throughout the day. The video/ DVD will be a priceless keepsake for all of you.

Your child loves copying you. Seat your child facing you on the floor. Clap your hands 3 times, then repeat. Now sing to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus," saying your child's name.

Marie's little hands go clap, clap clap,
clap, clap, clap
clap, clap, clap
You move your little hands
and go clap, clap, clap,
clap your little hands.

Repeat for waving: Marie's little hand waves bye, bye, bye.
Your child will soon clap and wave along with you.

Have your child assist you with feeding any pets you have in the house. Including scooping the food from the bag, pouring the food into the dish and putting the clip back on the bag. Your child will learn fine motor skills and begin to learn responsibility.

Making healthy food choices is an important habit to form. Before you take your child to the grocery store, download 2 pictures of fruits and 2 pictures of vegetables from your computer. Let your child pick out two of the same fruits and two vegetables while grocery shopping. This is just the beginning of helping your child make wise choices about food.

Have some fun today playing the 'Sticker Game!' Put a red sticker on each of your child's hands. Identify the color. Put a yellow one on each leg and do the same thing. Repeat with a blue one on each foot. Take them off and put them on you (same colors, same places). Ask your child to point to red... blue.... and yellow. (If you think your child isn't ready for this activity, try it at a later time.)

Today's activity will help your child understand size discrimination. Locate objects in your home that stack easily, (unbreakable measuring cups, mixing bowls, etc.). If you purchase a nesting toy from a store, it usually comes with 10 objects. To begin the activity, take the largest, medium sized, and smallest objects and place them in front of your child. Show your child how to put one container at a time inside the largest container.

Children love to role play whatever you are doing. Collect small boxes that food comes in and stuff them with wadded up paper to help keep their shapes. Tape each box closed. You may want to give your child a low cabinet to keep the boxes. Begin by stacking the boxes on the floor, then see if your child is interested in imitating you in the kitchen. Your child may want to build a tower with the boxes or simply place them in and out of the cabinet.

Your child may enjoy a snack after this activity. Place cheerios in a plastic baby bottle. Put the lid on lightly. Encourage your child to unscrew the lid, empty the cheerios, and enjoy the snack!

Introduce counting concepts to your child with this fun activity! Put two containers in front of your child. Put one object in the first container. Say "One". Put two objects in the second container. Count, "One, Two". Repeat this activity.

Children learn through their sense of touch. If it is a pleasant day, take your child outside and use one of the wonderful bubble toys! Watch your child's expression as you create bubbles for your child to crawl or run through, to touch, and to pop! Blowing bubbles can happen inside as well. Try blowing bubbles above your child's head. See if your child can burst the bubbles with a cardboard tube, (from a roll of toilet tissue).

Children love to pretend! Remove the top and bottom of the box, leaving the 4 sides. Decorate the box with your child. Cut holes in the sides of the box large enough for your child's hands. Have your child step in the box, put the hands in the holes, and pretend to drive the car!

Letting your child draw on the sidewalk, driveway, or basement floor is fun and helps develop gross motor skills. Help your child hold the chalk properly. Have your child hold the chalk with the pointer finger and chalk resting on the thumb and middle fingers. After drawing with the sidewalk chalk, show your child how to scrub the sidewalk with a scrub brush.

Children learn through their sense of touch. This activity will help your child understand different shapes by the feel. Hide the shapes in the container of dried beans. Encourage your child to put two hands in and find the shape. Name the shape when your child pulls it out. The second time around, ask your child to put two hands in and find the cone, cube, etc.

Tired of cleaning up your child's tray after mealtime? Let your child try assisting you! Hand your child a cloth like yours and begin to scrub the tray together. (This activity will most probably be a messy but hopefully a fun one.)

Stair climbing is an important first step for other kinds of climbing your child will do. (Gates are essential for when you aren't able to be present.) It is important that you are directly behind your child when practicing the skill of climbing stairs. When it is time for your child to go back down the stairs, try to have your child go down on the tummy feet first. If your child is able to reach and use the hand rail, frequently practice walking down with your child.

This may be one of your child's favorite activities! Be near your child when doing this activity. Let your child play in a sink full of bubbles with containers for pouring. (You may want to place a chair on a bath rug to prevent slipping.) Children tend to spend a long time with this activity.

A sand box is a wonderful place for children to play. Provide scoops, buckets, dump trucks, and other safe toys. Your child will enjoy feeling and touching sand! Let your child mix sand and water. (Sand boxes need to be covered when not in use.) A nice wooden cover with a heavy rock will take care of the sand box when it is not in use.

Having your child be safe on the stairs is important! Spend time going up and down stairs with your child. It is important to be with your child. You could practice counting numbers or saying an alphabet letter as you climb each step.

As your child tries new solid foods, give your child the opportunity to play with food textures. Put frozen peas on the high chair tray. Put plain yogurt on the tray. Let your child play with the food. Add cut up cooked carrots and mashed potatoes. The food will probably end up in the mouth! This is a friendly way to introduce solid foods.

Play this fun 'Hide and Seek' game with your child. Take a favorite toy and hide it behind an object. Clap your hands when your child gets closer.

Language concepts are fun to learn through play. Today's activity will help your child understand the concept of 'empty' and 'full.' Fill one clear container with pom-poms or other objects. Secure the lid. Leave the other one empty. Secure the lid. Show the two containers to your child, naming them 'empty' and 'full.' Play the "Empty and Full game" with your child to reinforce the concept. Hide the full container. Ask your child to find it. Do the same with the empty one. Use these words often during the day. Reinforcing language concepts is important for your child.

Sock balls are ideal for young children because they're soft and easy to grip. Collect clean pairs of socks and roll them into tight balls. Set a laundry basket in the middle of the room and fill it with the socks. Roll the sock balls to your child then demonstrate how to throw the balls back into the laundry basket. If this seems too difficult, simply have your child stand by the basket and drop the balls.

Children learn by using their sense of touch. Your child will love this activity! Unroll a piece of bubble wrap on the floor and tape to the floor. Play some lively music. Let your child run back and forth and dance on the bubble wrap. Your child will delight in the sounds! (Remember to remove the wrap after enjoying the activity.)

Your child will love to look through this keepsake album of the family. Take pictures of each family member doing something special. Look through and 'read' the book to your child. Example: "This is Jack. He is in school." Remember to put the photo on the left and the text on the right. (This is how your child will read.)

Clear the floor and flip on the music. Hold your child close as you move to the rhythm of the music. Surprise your child by clicking the 'mute' button on the remote to stop the music and "freeze" in place. You may find you and your child giggling with this fun activity.

Children love to help you around the house! Let your child know how pleased you are when your child cleans the table. Show your child how to scrub a small table. Use a small bush with a handle. Use baby bath soap and a small container of water. Show your child how to make circular motions on the table. Show your child how to dry the table. Let your child spend a long time with this activity. Making circular motions is preparing your child to write. Tell your child how proud you are after the table has been cleaned!