Table Time Play
Skill Check
This activity uses a child’s spatial skills, object recognition and fine motor skills.
Growing My Skills
1. Print out template and gather writing material.
2. Help child read out each “circus themed” item.
3. Locate item on iSpy worksheet.
Floortime Play
Activity: Circus Show
Materials:
Stuffed animals
Hula hoop
Stool as a stage
Costumes, if needed
Jump rope
Skill Check
The goal of this activity is to spend time together in a playful, imaginative way. There should be limited structure and a lot of pretending.
Growing My Skills
Create different “acts or features” within the circus. Your child can “tame” wild stuffed animals, walk on a jump rope as a tight rope walker, perform hula hoop tricks, etc. The goal is to have fun and put on a performance!
Relaxation Time
Skill Check
The goal of this activity is to slow down and engage quiet time and listening skills during read aloud activity.
Growing My Skills
Can your child point out the theme of the book or label a favorite part?
Is your child familiar with the character within this video?
If not, ask if he/she can see a favorite character doing these activities.
Creative Time
Activity: Ring Toss
Materials:
Paper towel Roll
Paper plates
Markers, crayons or paint
Scissors (supervision needed)
A friend or grownup playmate
Skill Check
Complete this creative activity that also encourages turn taking and hand/eye coordination!
Allow children to color rings whatever color they would like (feel free to add stickers or dots, as well).
Have your children take turns throwing the “rings” onto the stick.
Growing My Skills
Gather your materials.
Cut the paper plate to create a hole.
Using coloring materials, let your kids decorate the plates.
Stick paper roll in play-doh or another material to stand towel roll up.
Play!
Movement Time
Activity: Parachute Play
Materials:
Bed sheet or blanket
Stuffed animals or small balls to bounce in sheet
Skill Check
The goal of this week focuses on using your hands and arms to shake your blanket in order to make animals or balls bounce.
Growing My Skills
Place favorite animals or balls on top of blanket or bedsheet
Hold the blanket on one side while your child holds the opposite side
Shake and lift the blanket up and down to make the animals or balls bounce
Can try in different positions: criss-cross sitting, kneeling, tall kneeling, standing
Have a sibling or other adult hold other side while your child army crawls underneath the blanket for another “circus act”
Can add an element of tug-of-war between you and your child with the blanket for more strengthening of hand grasp, shoulders, and core
Mealtime
Activity: Animal cracker crunch
Ingredients, 1 cup each:
Animal crackers
M&M’s
Raisins
Pretzels
Materials:
Measuring cups
Bowl
Mixing spoon
Dixie cups
Optional: Marshmallows
Skill Check
The goal of this activity is to practice pouring and mixing skills.
Growing My Skills
To Do: Adult or child may separate each ingredient by one cup measurements, getting ready to pour.
Pour each ingredient into the large mixing bowl. A little mess is okay, you can easily clean these up again!
When all the ingredients are in the bowl, have each child stir the mixture at least three times.
Scoop up one serving in either a Dixie cup or child’s favorite cup.
Language Time
Activity: Circus Snacks
Books:
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss Pretend Cookie
Materials:
Paper
Markers
Stickers
Scissors
Popcorn
Craft Materials:
Construction paper cut into popcorn box
Cotton balls
Glue
Skill Check
The goal of this week is to work on the receptive language skill of following directions during craft activities, as well as the expressive language skill of asking for assistance. Also, target the pragmatic skill of turn-taking if completing activities with peer or sibling.
Expanding Skills
Read “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and ask your child “wh-” questions about the story and pictures.
Prompt your child to make inferences while reading the story asking them “what do you think will happen?”
Target following directions while making and decorating pretend cookies out of paper. Take turns placing these cookies in a “cookie jar”
Make pretend box of popcorn by gluing cotton balls onto a piece of construction paper. Have your child request additional cotton balls. Discuss locations you may eat popcorn.
