Table Time Activity: Picnic Counting Activity
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
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 Activity: Freda Plans a Picnic
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
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
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
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
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.
Growing My 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.
