Go on a Color Walk!

Choose a color and have your child find all the things that are that color while you are out on your walk. As they collect the items, put them in a baggie to take home. 

When you return home, talk about each item; how it feels, its shape, where they found it, etc. while you make a fun picture or collage using all the finds.  You can also put them on sticky contact paper so they can be moved around.

Another idea is to put a strip of contact paper on their wrists like a bracelet with the sticky side out and go on a flower walk. As they find a flower, they can stick it onto their bracelet.  How fun, original and pretty!

This is a great way to increase your child’s awareness with their surroundings and instill good communication skills.

If you are on a car trip, choose a color, and have your child count how many cars they see with that color.  It can make your trip to the store more fun and quicker too!

Chalk it up…

Have your child lie down outside on the sidewalk or driveway.  Using colored chalk, draw an outline of him/her and let your child follow your directions to complete the picture (“Draw two green eyes and one blue nose, make your mouth “happy”, draw 5 blue polka dots on your shirt,” etc.).

This is a fun way to teach your child how to follow 1, 2, and 3-step directions, talk about emotions, and learn colors and shapes.  It is also fun for body identification (“Point to your shoe, your eyes,” etc.).  Some children can point to the body parts on their selves, but not on another dimension.

You can also take turns by you giving a direction and then your child gives you a direction.  Or you can have your child trace around you and give directions for your person after he/she has finished theirs.  Have fun and don’t forget siblings and Dad of course!

Picture This…

Make your own picture books with your child.  It’s so convenient now, to take along a small camera or use the camera on your phone, when you are going on a trip or adventure with your child.  If your child is old enough, let him take his own pictures. 

Take pictures next time you go to the zoo or a park, the grocery store, hair salon, or even the dentist!  When you get the pictures developed or printed, have your child help you to put them in a photo album or a paper book format.

Have your child make a comment about each picture and the caption below each picture (“I see a lion, the lion is gray, I don’t like lions,” etc.).  This will help your child to remember the trip, learn names of simple objects or animals, and putting together simple sentences.  This is another good way to teach sequencing (“What did we do first, second,” etc.).

Do this activity when you are out on your “Color” walk. Take pictures of the chalk body in completion or after each direction.  Then the child can sequence the pictures and explain what he/she did in that picture (“I made 5 blue polka dots on my shirt).

Have your child “read” their books to friends and relatives.  What a great way to boost a child’s self esteem!