Winter is here! Sadly at our house we are asking, “where is the snow?” Winter can mean snow balls and forts and hours of fun outside. Here in Kenai, Alaska it has meant hours inside watching the rain and wind outside. If you are looking for a fun activity that can last all day long than look no further. This fun and engaging activity requires things you probably already have!
Time together is the greatest gift you can give. "Study: Having Fewer Toys Enhances Toddler Imagination and Focus."
https://www.mothering.com/articles/study-fewer-toys-enhance-toddler-imagination/
Cooking together can be great for speech practice. This activity combines both a "cooking" recipe and increasing your child's imaginary play skills, emotional vocabulary, counting, fine motor skills and so much more! This recipe is almost "mess free" and kid approved!
Hot Cocoa a Recipe For Fun
Ingredients:
Servings for 2 people
1 Teapot
2 Cups
2 Spoons
4 Cotton Balls “Marshmallows”
20 Dry Beans
“Cocoa or Coffee Beans”
10 Small Pieces of Paper/Confetti “Sprinkles”
"Directions" Children under 3:
1. Read the ingredients aloud while pointing so your child can see.
2. For more than 2 "servings", talk about how many cups/cotton balls/etc you should get. Write a list if you can and write down the number you decided you will need.
3. Gather ingredients. One ingredient at a time go through your house and focus on the numbers needed help your child count each ingredient out.
4. Play and have fun this time together is the best gift of all! Follow your child’s lead by seeing what interests them. Expand on what they say and model turn taking, and pretend play skills. Pretend how “delicious” it is, or act surprised “be careful its too hot!” or see “how fast” you can drink it!
"Directions" Children over 3:
1. After reading the ingredients aloud, see how many ingredients they can find without needing to be reminded. This can help your child follow multiple step directions.
2. For more than 2 "servings" help your child decide how many cups/cotton balls/etc you should get. You can even practice writing, by tracing important letters and numbers.
3. Gather ingredients, by encouraging your child to count and see what numbers and letters they can “read” from the ingredient list you made.
4. Follow your child’s lead by seeing what interests them. Expand on what they say and model turn taking, and pretend play skills. Use words that your child is using but also add new words to what they are already saying, explain who a “barista” or “customer” is, and then decide who will play what “role”.
Early words: “mmm”, one, two, more, cocoa, in, out, off, me
Later words: hot, drink, sip, cup, spoon, stir
Early word combinations: I want, It is my turn, Ouch its too hot, all gone, too full, more cocoa please.
Action words: serve, balance, spout
Descriptive words: hard, soft, full, empty, numbers, colors
Location words: under, bottom, top, beside
This imaginary play activity uses what you already have in your house. You can get really creative and add to it, make a “coffee shop” box, get an outfit or a serving tray! Let your child enjoy "serving" you and "balancing". Most importantly have fun!
Author Carma Shay is a Speech Language Pathologist and owner of Take Home Speech LLC. Carma specializes in working with young children to teach them speech, language and feeding skills through every day routine activities.
