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dance center that small
child
ren can handle easy chores. ?give
child
ren little jobs to teach responsibility: pick up toys,
help
set the table, pick up dirty clothes and put in a hamper,
help
sort socks, or feed the dog. build self- esteem by praising your
child
when they are successful.? pro tip #4: build language
help
build your
child
?s language skills by speaking with him each day. ask him questions about his surroundings or favorite toys. one fun activity is to draw or color with your
child
and ask him to explain what is happening in the artwork. practice completing directions by playing follow-the-leader. play games like i spy and simon says to encourage language development. encourage your
child
to point out the first letter of his name whenever they see it. once the first letter is mastered, add the next letter to the game. rhyming games are also a fun way to build language. pro tip #5: cognitive skills
help
your
child
to become a thinker through play. time in the car can be very valuable for building cognitive skills. easy car activities include: practicing counting to 20; counting objects you see, such as school buses or houses on your street; talking about the letters on stop signs; and pointing out the different shapes and colors of signs. at home, channel your inner
child
and pull out the arts and cra?s supplies. practice writing letters and numbers in sand, use paint brushes and water to paint letters on the sidewalk, make huge letters with sidewalk chalk and use stickers to make patterns. pro tip #6: develop physical skills get your inner pinterest on to find limitless ideas for developing fine motor skills. art activities such as stringing beads to make a necklace or using
child
-safe scissors to cut scrap paper
help
to develop the tiny muscles of the hands and strengthens them to be ready to learn to write. encourage your
child
to write, scribble, draw, color, paint, and/or play with clay as o?en as you can. for gross motor skill development, hit your backyard or the park. play tag, hopscotch, catch, or leapfrog to improve coordination and stamina. pro tip #7: decrease anxiety decrease anxiety by making a couple of school visits before the big day. just as adults like to be familiar with their surroundings and expectations, so do little ones. call the school to set up a pre-visit. point out fun things like the playground, water fountain, and library. if possible, visit the classroom that will soon be your
child
?s. snap a few pictures to look at periodically before the first day. ask your
child
questions such as, ?what do you think you will do in the library?? and ?what part of the playground are you excited about?? finally, include your
child
in the preparation process. august can be a crazy time of year and the temptation to order all of the school supplies online can be strong. leave a few items out of your cart and allow your
child
to choose the pencil case or backpack that she wants. on the first day, she can strut her stuff with her new gear. and,
camps
can
help
with socialization, skill building, and emotional development, too! use your
child
?s interests as a guide. have a budding artist? there are several summer art
camps
. anxiety plaguing your little one? find a counseling service that offers
camps
for identifying and working through emotions and decreasing anxiety. does your
child
love the spotlight? theatre and drama
camps
will give your
child
the skills he needs to take the stage. a few music studios also offer
camps
that can
help
your
child
develop his inner rockstar. if you are looking for academic based
camps
, several schools in our area have educational
camps
. ? m a r c h 2 0 1 8 | b r p a r e n t s . c o m 7 5
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