Author: becky liesman

Lincoln Parents’ Center

305 N. Kickapoo

January 2018

PH: (217) 735-4192

January Play Time Theme: COLD

YOU are your child’s favorite toy. There is nothing in the world your child would rather do than play with you!
Talk Together
For your baby: Use the word “cold” when the two of you touch cold water, snow or ice, open the fridge, or when you go outside in cold weather. Babies learn to speak when others speak to them. Repetition helps, as does changing your tone of voice for the word you are emphasizing (i.e., using a higher tone): “Feel the cold water. Oh, that’s cold, isn’t it? Cold, cold water.” Listen for your baby’s response. Starting at about one year, you may hear your baby start to imitate your sounds: “Co co”
For your toddler: Talk about what “cold” feels like. Use other words for “cold”—like “freezing,” “icy” or “chilly.” You can start to discuss seasons, how in winter we have cold weather, like snow and ice.
Read Together
Try some “freezing" winter books like The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats or Snowballs by Lois Ehlert.
Play Together
For your baby: Let your baby (6 months and up) do ice play. Put a few wet ice cubes on her high chair try to touch and play with. How does she respond to this cold, wet stuff?
For your toddler: Talk about how water turns into ice when it freezes. Then play "freeze" with your toddler. When you say "freeze", everyone has to stops moving. When you say "go", everyone can start moving again. Try letting your toddler have a turn calling “freeze” and “go.” You can start/stop music to enhance this game as well. Let your toddler (18 mos. and up) experiment with ice. Shave some ice in a blender. Put it in a shallow pan, along with some ice cubes for fun, but cold, play. Throw in some spoons, cups, and bowls for him to scoop and dump with. For clean-up, let your child help you melt the ice with warm water and pour it down the drain. Talk about how the warm water melts the ice and turns it back into water. (Information gathered from “Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families”)

REMINDER:
The Lincoln Parents’ Center would like to invite you to Play & Learn, a free playgroup that is offered twice a month from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on the 1st & 3rd Friday of each month.
It is held at the Lincoln Parents’ Center, 305 N. Kickapoo St, Lincoln. Age appropriate parent-child activities, a snack, and group time are offered during each Play & Learn.
Please come and join us!!