When kids start to participate in associative and cooperative play (stages 5–6), they may be ready to start playing some simple games. At this point, children are beginning to engage more with others, share ideas, and participate in back-and-forth interactions. Simple games can support this by giving them a structure for turn-taking, shared attention, and […]
If you’re looking for simple, meaningful ways to support play, I’ve gathered all of my favorite toy ideas in one place. Instead of searching through multiple posts, you can now click on the category that fits what you’re looking for and find my go-to recommendations for that type of play. Whether you’re thinking about sensory […]
When a child pretends to cook a meal, care for a baby, or become a doctor or firefighter, they’re stepping into roles they’ve seen and experienced. This kind of play helps them process real-life situations, build understanding, and try things out in a safe and flexible way. It’s where ideas, emotions, and experiences come together. […]
Have you ever found yourself wondering “Is my child developing at the right pace?” or “How can I help this child who seems stuck in one area?” -You’re not alone. As parents, teachers, therapists, or caregivers, we all want to give the kids in our lives the very best start. The early years are when […]
Music is a powerful tool that helps many of us teach young kids all kinds of skills. You can teach colors, shapes, numbers, ABCs, social skills, language, motor skills, etc. all through music. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, therapist, or early childhood educator, incorporating simple songs, rhythms and movement can boost skills across multiple areas […]
An exercise ball is one of my must-haves when working in Early Intervention or Preschool Classes. This is a great activity IF your child enjoys vestibular or proprioceptive input. If your child avoids these types of activities, you can still try it, but you’ll need to be sensitive to your child’s preferences and go at […]
First off, what is a gross motor skill? Gross motor skills are activities that involve the large muscles of the body. In child development, it’s so important to be exposed to activities that help develop all the muscles in their bodies. As adults we try implementing exercise regimens, but even as adults we have a […]
The great thing about early intervention activities are that kids learn best through play and a lot of kids love sensory activities. This is a simple activity, but it can get messy. You’ve been warned. You can adapt this activity to target specific developmental skills including receptive language, expressive language, pre-literacy skills, math skills, social […]
Rainbow Stew is a fun, no-pressure way to work on so many different skills like motor skills, social skills, sensory play and more! Here are the things I like about this activity You can make the book come alive (pre-literacy) It’s a way to expose kids to different kinds of foods without putting pressure on […]
How to Increase Expressive Language With a Simple Balloon I always love activities that can target multiple developmental skills at the same time—and balloon play is one of those. This simple, play-based activity can support engagement, attention, communication skills, and both fine and gross motor development. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist, playing with […]
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