Water Play at the Beach

Table Time Activity: Beach Tracing Sheets

Skill Check

The goal of this activity is to increase hand-eye coordination while following a concrete pattern.

Growing My Skills

The only item needed is a tabletop surface and a writing utensil. Provide support (by holding your child’s hand) if needed. Pay attention to posture! Kiddos increase focus and attention while seated in a stable chair, feet on the floor, back in an upright position.

Floortime Play Activity: Going to the Beach

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

This activity is open-ended and depends on the materials you have. Layout blanket or towel on the “beach” and gather beach play items (i.e. bucket, sunscreen, sunglasses, stuffed animals) and play at the beach.

Provide the child with suggestions (Is it hot outside and put on sunglasses; rub-on lotion to protect skin; take stuffed animals swimming).

For younger kiddos, simply have fun with sand play or water play; filling up buckets. This can be messy so take to a bathtub or kitchen tile floor, if needed.

Relaxation Time Activity: Pete the Cat, At the Beach

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 ask your child to label their favorite item or character within this video.

Creative Time Activity: Paper and Thumbprint Palm Trees

Skill Check

Children and caregivers will create a beach scene using their thumbprints! Children will engage in finger art. Take it one step further by talking about what makes up their identity!

Growing My Skills

Print out the template from the website.

Draw branches coming out of the palm tree branch however you’d like.

Have your child press their thumb on the green ink pad or paint and press down on the black branches numerous times.

Repeat this until you make “full” palm trees.

Take it one step further and talk to your child about their own characteristics (eye color, hair color, etc.)

Movement Time Activity: Crab Walks

Skill Check

The goal of this week is to challenge your core and overall coordination to move like a crab with your bottom off the ground.

Growing My Skills

Try crab walking sideways or with your eyes closed.

Have your crab try to walk over some pillows, making the floor as uneven as a beach.

For a BIG challenge, try to kick a balloon away while you stand like a crab.

Place a puzzle board and puzzle pieces about 5 feet away from each other.

Crab walk between the two places, balancing the puzzle piece on your belly while you walk to the board.

Mealtime Activity: Rainbow Popsicles!

Skill Check

The goal of this activity is to promote exploration of new & nonpreferred fruits or vegetables, encourage fruit/fluid/vegetable consumption, expand on knowledge of rainbow colors.

Growing My Skills

Wash fruits or vegetables with soap and water.

Plug in the blender – be ready with ear coverings for noise-sensitive friends.

Blend fruit, sweetener & fluid until smooth.

Place Dixie cups on the table, place one popsicle stick in the center of each one.

Pour blender mixture evenly in each cup.

Freeze overnight or for at least 8 hours.

Peel the Dixie cup from the frozen popsicle and wash the excess paper off.

Enjoy while discussing the flavor – give it a thumbs up or down.

Language Time Activity: Saying Hello!

Skill Check

The goal of this week is to help your child expand their social language skills through use of greetings in play.

Growing My Skills

Read “Hello, Sun” with your child (Depending on your child’s language skills, adjust the way in which you read the book – read the words, make up your own narrative, use simple words/phrases to describe what you see).

Talk about different weather patterns that your child may see. Ask them what the weather is like outside that day.

Ask your child simple “wh-” questions about the pictures in the book.

Discuss what clothing items are needed in different weather.

This book reading allows for expansion of receptive language skills answering “wh-” questions.

Build a fort with your child and have them practice popping out of the door and providing appropriate greetings.

This activity allows for social language skill practice.