Reduce, reuse, recycle. Our children know it. We are familiar with it. Reusing and repurposing household items is something many families find necessary and enjoy. So, how about looking at alternative ways to use toys that sit on a shelf or are forever stuck in the bottom of the toy chest?
Patterns, Creativity, Engineering
Many of us have fond memories of constructing houses, motor vehicles, and more with LEGOS®. While we were building, algebra or engineering concepts were right at our fingertips! Pattern work introduces young children to concepts used in algebra. Use LEGOS® to build a tower with red and blue blocks. When you reach the top, look at the pattern. You might ask, “If we continued building, what color would come next?”
Foundations, stability, and general construction concepts can be discovered when using creativity and critical thinking skills to plan your next LEGOS® masterpiece! Introduce architecture by making your own blueprints.
Footwear & Non-Standard Units of Measure
Do you have some masking tape or anything that would indicate a starting and ending spot? Grab your child and some shoes of differing sizes and create a game that introduces measurement! Before children begin to understand inches, centimeters, feet, and yards, they can understand concepts using non-standard units of measure. Use your child’s favorite slippers to count your way to fun! You might ask, “How many of your slippers does it take to get from the chair to the wall?” Not only is this an exercise in measurement, but it also helps to solidify confidence in counting!
This is just the beginning. Think of what you might do with stuffed animals, paper towel tubes, markers, and glue!
