Table Time
Skill Check
This activity uses a child’s numeracy skills (number recognition, one to one sequencing), scissors skills, and fine motor abilities.
Growing My Skills
Print out the template, laminate items if possible
Cut out items
Attach velcro or tape to the back of “ant squares” to adhere to the paper
Floortime Play
Activity: Ants Go Marching Outdoor Exploration
Materials:
Backyard or safe outside area
Binoculars or magnifying glass
Plastic ants/bugs if available
This is an outdoor activity that is completely reliant on a child’s imagination
Explore outside with binoculars and explore where ants live and where they “march to”
Ask where ants look for food, live, and play
For smaller children, create a “bug or ant” hunt where they can look for the items in the backyard or park
Skill Check
The goal of this activity is to spending time together in a playful, imaginative way. There should be limited structure and a lot of pretending.
Growing My Skills
Venture outdoors with your children (within a safe environment with supervision) and explore where you can find “ants marching”; neighborhood garden or urban surroundings
Where does your child think the ants live or where are they going on their “march.”
This activity is great for listening to directions, fine motor skills, increasing vocabulary, turn-taking, and visual/motor skills
Have fun!
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 his favorite character doing these activities.
Creative Time
Activity: Weaving Picnic Blanket Craft
Materials:
Scissors
Construction Paper (red and white; plus additional colors
Glue
Skill Check
This activity is great for older preschool and kindergarten children. It improves fine motor skills, hand/eye coordination, and spatial abilities.
Growing My Skills
Gather your materials
Cut the paper into long strips
Cut slits into main white paper or cardstock (grown-up job)
Create food from magazine cutouts or construction paper
Weave construction paper strips to create a “blanket”
Add food to the top of the list
Movement Time
Activity: Food Scavenger Hunt
Materials:
Pretend food and/or pantry items
Basket or shopping bag or shopping cart
Skill Check
The goal of this week focuses on moving your body around the house to climb high and crawl low, while using your looking eyes to find all the items for your picnic.
Growing My Skills
Scatter pretend food items or pantry items around the home: some at eye-level, some on elevated surfaces, some on the floor underneath furniture or low obstacles
Guide your child to look around the home to try and find all the items you need for your picnic
Help them climb up and over furniture, reach above head, or go on tip-toes if the item is high
Help them crawl under if the item is low
Have them carry around all the items in a basket, bag, or cart for strengthening and heavy work
Mealtime
Activity: Going On a Picnic Social Story
Materials:
Read the social story posted to the BBD website about going on a picnic
Find a blanket you can practice eating on
Use a folding chair if your child doesn’t like eating on the ground
Practice either inside or outside
Find a preferred snack your child enjoys eating and encourage sitting and eating
Skill Check
The goal of this activity is to practice sitting on a blanket eating food, pre-pack your picnic if possible!
Growing My Skills
After reading the social story, pick a spot in your home or outside to practice eating and playing
Encourage the child to help pack snacks or ingredients, check them off the social story list
Pick a spot for a picnic and talk about having a picnic safely
Language Time
Activity: Pretend Picnic
Materials:
Blanket
Basket
Pretend or real food
Plates
Watermelon craft
Paper plate
Red and green markers
Black paint
Book: Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks Read Aloud
Skill Check
The goal of this week is to work on pretend play skills and target receptive and expressive language skills. Roleplay picnic with real or fake food. Target receptive language by following directions, answering yes/no questions, and sorting food into categories. Expressive language can be targeted by requesting food items with the increasing length of utterances and describing food items/naming attributes of foods.
Expanding Skills
Identify food items by placing them into the basket (e.g. “Put the apple in the basket”)
Match food items to pictures or sort into categories
Follow directions to make a peanut-butter/sun-butter and jelly sandwich together
Target receptive language while making a watermelon craft out of a paper plate and markers
Role-play a picnic, working on requesting items and expanding utterances
Work on commenting, such as “I like the sandwich”, “I don’t like these blueberries” or have your child answer
