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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!

Materials

• Clean blanket

Directions

Playing from the tummy position allows for a different view of the world. Although it is recommended that babies sleep on their backs, your baby can still benefit from exercise in the tummy position while awake. Lay your baby on his tummy and get down on that level, making faces and noises to encourage raising his head.  Tummy time strengthens the neck and builds upper body strength.

Extensions

• Lay out some brightly colored toys so your baby can see them from this position.
• Get your baby’s attention with any object and move it back and forth slowly so it is tracked with the eyes.
• Roll your baby to his side and then gently back to the tummy, saying, “Wheeeeeeee.”
• Stand directly over your baby at your full height, and then move slowly down to a squatting position so you are very close.

Materials
Tempera paint in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple 
White construction paper (9×12 or 12×18)

Directions
Fold the construction paper in half (either direction). With your assistance, invite your child to place drops of paint in all the colors onto the construction paper.  It’s best if you have small squeeze bottles for the paint, but you can even use spoons to drop small globs of paint.  Once all the paint colors have been placed on the paper, invite your child to fold the paper in half and rub over the paper.  Open the  paper again and see the new colorful, symmetrical paint design that has been created.  

Materials
Colored tape or construction paper in rainbow colors
Magnetic Letters

Directions
Create a rainbow using colored tape or construction paper on a magnetic surface like a refrigerator or magnetic white board. Place the magnetic letters in a basket or container and invite your child to match and place the color of the letter to the same color of the rainbow. For a toddler, this is a color matching activity and you can say the names of the letters as your child places them on the rainbow. Toddlers can quickly learn the first letter in their name.

For preschool age children, encourage them to say all the names of the letters.  Include upper and lower case letters. Invite your preschooler to place the letters in alphabetical order – even though letters may be missing in the sequence. Encourage them to make words with the magnetic letters.