PARENT & CHILD ACTIVITIES, PART I

As parents of little ones, you have hundreds of interactions with your baby, toddler or preschooler every day.  To help you get the most out of your time together try incorporating these fun activities below into your daily or weekly routines.

Babies

• Groove and Move: Sing and move to a song
• Baby's First Bookshelf: Create a special place for books within babies' reach
• See and Say: Point out pictures in a book
• Monkey See, Monkey Do: Get silly with animal sounds
• Nature Walk: Go to the park and talk about the colors you see

Toddlers

• Follow the Reader: Read a book side by side ("my book" and "your book")
• I Spy: Find letters and other symbols
• My Favorite: Write a list of your toddlers favorite things
• Family Portrait: Draw simple figures and write the names of people in your family
• Tune Up: Learn a new nursery rhyme to share with your toddler
• Walk and Talk: Name and describe what you see along the way
• Rhyme and Ride: Sing a Storytime song in the car

Preschoolers

• Show and Retell: Read a new book and ask your preschooler to retell the story using the pictures on each page
• Once Upon a Time: Tell a family story
• I Spy: Look for symbols, letters and words on signs while driving
• Rhyme After Me: Play 'Follow the leader' rhymes: "I say hat; you say (cat)." Made up words are great!
• Who Made This?: Talk about the author and illustrator names for a favorite picture book
• Cups, Teaspoons, and Dishes: Follow a written recipe together
• Sincerely...: Draw and write a letter to someone
• Art Inspiration: Draw a picture with your preschooler. Listen to music while you draw.
• Tune Up: Memorize a new nursery rhyme or poem together 

Check back next time for more Parent & Child Activities!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TOY STORY

Teddy is a kid who likes to play with all kinds of toys--trucks and hula hoops and puzzles and action figures and rockets--but his favorite toy of all is his doll, Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of Pacifica. After all she has the best manners, is the most versatile to style, and even has some pretty impressive fighting skills. But one day, during a really tough battle, Bren-Da breaks her leg. Teddy tries in vain to tend to her wounds using the latest surgical technology, bubble gum and lots of tape, but when he goes off to school the Warrior Queen of Pacifica gets mistaken for trash and hauled away. Will Teddy ever be able to see his favorite toy again? Only if his intrepid mom--with some pretty impressive style and warrior moves of her own--has anything to say about it. 

Teddy's Favorite Toy, by Christian Trimmer and illustrated by Madeline Valentine, makes for a delightful and lively read-aloud, and is sure to be embraced by preschoolers through second graders who understand the strong bond between a kid and their favorite toy--and their valiant parents alike. 

LET'S BUILD A FORT TOGETHER

A group of school-aged children have a couple of things in common: they enjoy spending time with one another, and they love to build forts. Why? Because Fort-Building Time is a great way for put their imaginations to work during any time of the year. From building igloos to setting up a tent to building a life-size castle and tree house, creating and building with different materials can be so much fun. What kind of fort would you build with your friends?

Megan Wagner Lloyd and Abigail Halpin are an extraordinary team. They’ve created a picture book that shows how cooperation results in something bigger than expected. The imagination can lead to many adventures throughout the year. The beautifully drawn illustrations of each diverse character add a great amount of warmth, and invite readers to build a fort right alongside them. A sheer delight!

For 2-7.

WHAT A TODDLER NEEDS A TODDLER GETS

A little girl tells her daddy how mommy is needed by her more than he needs her because he already has his own mommy who can help him sleep.  She goes through a list of things that she thinks may help him have a good night's rest like a cot or a big boy bassinet because she and mommy need the big bed to themselves.  

The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan and illustrated by Tom Knight  is a very funny take on how sleeping arrangements can be overtaken by a little one.  Parents who have had to curl up in a corner of the bed or have been kicked by a child mid-slumber will get a good chuckle while reading this book. 

For preschoolers and up.

WALT IS SMALL AND MIGHTY!

Walt is small, but does he have what it takes to overcome life’s obstacles, like a snowstorm? When the snowplow drivers and their snow plows are called to action to help care for the roadways and bridges, Walt is disregarded. Fortunately, one snowplow driver is more than happy to drive Walt, looking past his size. He’s simply determined to get the job done, and he believes that Walt is more than capable. With feelings of uncertainty, Walt really isn’t sure that he can do the job. Will Small Walt disappoint or will he show that size truly doesn’t matter?

Elizabeth Verdick’s story of how small things do matter and can make a difference is a wonderful addition to the genre. Marc Rosenthal’s illustrations adds the perfect classic touch, which is reminiscent of Virginia Lee Burton’s beautiful illustrations in Katy and the Big Snow. Both are great to share, especially during the winter season. 

For 3-7