Supporting Christian Science families and their young children
Materials
Patterned paint rollers
Construction paper
Tempera paint
Paint tray or paper plates
Directions
Pour tempera paint in paint trays or on paper plates. Tape a piece of construction paper onto the table. Invite your child to roll the foam paint rollers in the paint and then onto the construction paper. Allow the paint to dry. Display.
Materials
One type of object in two different colors—for example, yellow and blue buttons, small table blocks of two different colors (We used yellow and blue unifix cubes.)
Strip of white paper (approximately 3″X12″)
Markers that are the same color as the objects
Directions
Draw a simple pattern on the white strip of paper using the two colors of markers. Invite your child to copy the pattern by building right on top of the pattern on the paper. Say the color as she copies the pattern—blue, yellow, blue, yellow. Continue learning about patterns as your child copies various simple patterns. Let your child know it is a pattern by saying out loud the colors and pointing out how they repeat—blue, blue, yellow, yellow.
Materials
Pipe cleaners
Straws (cut into 1-inch pieces)
Pony beads
Directions
Place pony beads and small cut straws in small bowls or containers. Invite your child to string straws and pony beads onto a pipe cleaner, make a repeating pattern. Fit pipe cleaner onto wrist and twist ends together. Adjust sizing as needed by cutting down the pipe cleaner to the appropriate size. Great fine motor work and a wonderful way to reinforce patterns.
Materials
Two different colors of objects (we used blue and yellow unifix cubes)
Directions
After introducing simple patterns to your child and having him copy the simple repeating pattern, he may be ready to create his own patterns. We supplied a container of yellow and blue Unifix Cubes and encouraged the children to create repeating patterns. Simple patterns might be yellow, blue, yellow, blue (ABAB), blue, blue, yellow, yellow (AABB), yellow, yellow, blue, yellow, yellow, blue (AAB).
Once your child is generating his own simple patters with two objects or two different colors, you can increase the level of difficulty by adding three or four objects. Children will begin to see patterns in their environment! Being able to recognize patterns is an important skill for reading and math.
Materials
Duplo blocks in two different colors
Strips of white construction with patterns drawn to represent the same color of Duplos
Directions
Place two different colors of Duplos in a small basket or container. Invite your child to copy the pattern drawn on the paper strip. Once your child understands that patterns repeat, invite your child to extend a pattern that you have drawn. Encourage your child to create her own pattern once she is confident in recognizing patterns.
Ingredients
Small wooden skewers
Fruit, cheese, marshmallows to make patterns
Directions
Cut up 2–3 kinds of fruit or use cheese cubes or mini marshmallows. Invite your child to make a simple pattern using the fruit, cheese, or mini marshmallows. Say the pattern out loud as you make the kebabs together. Enjoy the pattern kebab for a tasty snack.
Materials
3-4 cookie cutters
Tempera paint
Paper plate with paper towel
Strip of paper approx. 4×18 inches
Directions
Lay a double layer of paper towel on a paper plate. Pour tempera paint onto the paper towel. Invite your child to choose two cookie cutters and dip them one at a time into the paint. Make a repeating pattern with the cookie cutters. Encourage your child to say the pattern out loud as he creates it.
For younger children, generate a pattern for your child to copy. Say the pattern out loud together. Find the two cookie cutters used to make the pattern. Help you child copy the pattern. Once your child understands that patterns repeat, encourage him create a pattern and see if you can copy his pattern!
by Dorothy Halverson, Principia’s Director of Acorn Programs
A question frequently asked by parents is, “Is it possible to expect my baby to lie still for a diaper change?” Diaper changes can seem like a wrestling match once your little one has learned to turn over from back to front, or crawl or walk. Practicing those skills are much more interesting for your baby than lying still for a routine diaper change. Rather than making a struggle of it, the parent should foster baby’s willingness. Look at this as a period for happy one-on-one time with your baby. Use diaper changing as a time to talk and sing songs to your baby. Put aside a few special toys for your baby to hold while being changed. Rather than just focusing on the task to be done, routine diaper changes can turn into fun for both the parent and the child.
Cooperation can also be gained while dressing your baby by playing games. Babies love to play peek-a-boo games, so play peek-a-boo with your child’s hands and feet as they go into sleeves and pant legs. As you get ready to zip the zipper, you can say “ZZZZZZZZip!” When snapping, say “snnnnnnnap!” Your baby will giggle with delight.
The introduction of solid foods may begin as early as 3 months. Introducing new foods helps expand your child’s palate. Start with just one teaspoon of smooth cereal, fruits, or vegetables. This will help your baby get used to other tastes, though he main food will still be milk. Never force your baby to eat foods he doesn’t want to eat.
Some babies and toddlers have a difficult time leaving their mothers, and some mothers never leave their children in someone else’s care. The parent should look for a right balance of togetherness with each child. If a mother is staying at home with her child, she should find some times to leave the child with a competent sitter when the child is awake, even if she just goes into another room of the home to have some time for herself. This will also help the child learn that after mommy leaves, she will return.
As you work with your baby, respecting his tastes and wishes, keeping a regular routine while allowing some exceptions, your baby can learn to be flexible and cooperative.
The following are some guidelines from the book, Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know. Remember that each child’s readiness depends on his own rate of development.
• Can he hold his head up? Your baby should be able to sit in a high chair, feeding seat, or infant seat with good head control.
• Does he open his mouth when food comes his way? Babies may be ready if they watch you eating, reach for your food, and seem eager to be fed.
• Can he move food from a spoon into his throat? If you offer a spoon of rice cereal and he pushes it out of his mouth and it dribbles onto his chin, he may not have the ability to move it to the back of his mouth to swallow it. It’s normal. Remember, he’s never had anything thicker than breast milk or formula before, and this may take some getting used to. Try diluting it the first few times, then gradually thicken the texture. You may also want to wait a week or two and try again.
• Is he big enough? Generally, when infants double their birth weight (typically at about 4 months) and weigh about 13 pounds or more, they may be ready for solid foods.
NOTE: Breastfeeding is recommended as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about 6 months. When you add solid foods to your baby’s diet, continue breastfeeding until 12 months or as long as possible.