SUMMER+ACTIVITIES


 * HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTIVITIES**

Lotto games of all types. Chutes and ladders Card games: Go Fish, War (in preschool we call this game flip or bigger card) Start with lower number cards (2-6) then add a number at a time. Bingo games: Make your own---use letters or numbers Tic Tac Toe for older children
 * Play game**s: Here's a few to try

Playing games with dice and cards are very important in developing math skills. Playing games can help to develop "automaticity" with number skills which is very important as children advance with their math and number skills. Mehesh Sharma has been a guest speaker in our school district. He has many suggestions for games which help develop math skills in preschool children. Check out his web site. Do a lot of counting and number grouping. If your child is entering kindergarten in the fall practice writing the numbers.
 * Math/number**

Get a large calendar and talk about the month and day of the week. Cross off each day before bed. Put child or family activities on the calendar...can use a sticker or picture to indicate the activity or the initial letter for the activity, such as using the letter "L" for library or "B" for beach or "V" for family vacation. Count the number of days remaining until special activities. Calendar is great for becoming more familiar with what each number looks like and for practicing counting.
 * Do calendar**---daily if possible (The children don't get exposed to the months of July and August at school!)

Pick a letter every few days---Start with "straight line" letters: L, F, E, H, T, I Use the handwriting without tears information and use language suggested when forming letters. STICK TO UPPER CASE LETTERS PLEASE! Move to Curved letters then diagonals.
 * Literacy**

As each letter is being practiced, look for the letter and work on letter soundFind the letter in newspapers and magazines....cut them out. Find pictures that start with the letter sound. Make a page for each letter which includes the letter cut out from newspapers and magazines, then look for pictures that start with the letter. Hang the pictures up and practice the letter sound, talk about how the letter is formed or add them to a book which you can read or review or add to regularly.

Try acting out some of the stories you read.....Preschoolers love doing this. Every day items found in many homes make great props. If your child is new to writing their name pick the easy straight line letters to start as suggested above. Doing this will give your child more immediate success and builds confidence that they can write! If your child is going to kindergarten practice writing first and last name.
 * READ, READ, READ!!!!!!!**
 * Name writing**

Practice letter sounds, think of words that start with letter. Look for the letter in signs and on license plates. Play "I'm thinking of something ........"
 * Car Games**

Check out this website, free and full of preschool games. If you find others let me know and I will add! []
 * Computer Games**

Go to __library__ story hours---check newspapers for times. Get your child a library card and take out some books. Borrowing library books is a good way to teach and talk about responsibility, taking care of something you borrow and returning it when done. Check out the __Parent Resource Center__ in downtown Laconia. Lots of great child and parent activities all through the summer. __Walk around town__ and talk about the different businesses and what each business does or offers and who might work there. Hit the __grocery stores__ and review fruits and veggies....no need to buy just look and talk about each one...color, texture, smell....try a new fruit or veggie whenever possible. Children's taste buds change frequently. Also don't forget to talk about meats, dairy, cereal/bread and other items in the store.
 * Community Activities**