Infant Play & Discovery Baskets in the Sitting Stage

The world of infant play is so full of wonder, curiosity and discovery. Sometimes, when we think of "playing" we instantly visualize older children and this incredible and important stage of play development can be kind of left in the dust. When S was an infant, we honestly had very few actual "toys." I was still teaching and away from home for half the day, I didn't yet drive, and we were a young family on a tight budget. Much of what he played with were household objects or toys I made and stashed in discovery baskets for him to explore.

When Y came along, the playroom had expanded in more ways than one. Interestingly, I was so focused in those early months on S and his play needs, that many times, I almost forgot about little Y and his play needs. Discovery baskets often came to the rescue again! Y, however, had the benefit of not only seeing what the adults around the house did all day, but also seeing what his older brother did all day. He was eager to explore every bit of it.

C is totally enthralled with her brothers. She has always been happiest when they are around and is still most pleased if she is playing alongside them. With multiple children of multiple ages, it can feel like a struggle to set up play spaces that meet everyone's interests and needs. In addition, safety is also something to consider with children who are in the early stages of mobility or mouthing toys or exploring the schema of trajectory... How do you make it work?

In those very early months, before infants are even sitting up, they spend a good amount of time on their backs and tummies, visually exploring objects and tracking them, perhaps entering the earlier stages of grasping things. Open spaces and opportunities are vital and really encourage those next steps of gross and fine motor development while also stimulating the brain for cognitive growth. The sitting stage for all three of my little ones has been later than their typically developing peers. Most infants begin to be able to support themselves in a seated position around the age of 6 months, give or take. With three children now who have low muscle tone, that has been the first point at which they display a delay and we are very grateful for the assistance of our favorite physical therapist through our county's Early Intervention program. And even though the road to mobility is a slightly longer and more challenging one for my kids, the point at which they can sit independently is always a point at which I let out a sigh of relief! They are so much happier and more engaged once they reach this milestone. C in particular is so very eager to join in with her brothers at play and being able to sit and explore has also brought on a plethora of other developmental milestones including language, passing toys from hand to hand, picking things up with a pincer grasp, clanking objects together or against a surface, crossing the mid-line and so much more.

One of her very favorite things is searching through her discovery baskets. I always keep at least one bowl or basket of items more specifically geared toward her. It's OK for the boys to play with these things as well (and they do). I also keep things for her to safely explore and play with along with their toys and play setups. In this sitting stage, play for babies is a full body experience. They are mouthing things, watching things, touching things, listening to things, smelling things... I like for the items I put in discovery baskets to appeal to as many of the senses as possible, including texture, color, sound, scent, different shapes and sizes, different materials and things that are both nature and man made. I am not a rigid person when it comes to what constitutes a "toy." I am more interested in what is done with it. So sometimes my children play with "traditional toys" and sometimes they play with authentic objects.

C is very interested these days in "cooking." She is learning to love eating different foods. She is thrilled if she is playing with pots, pans, spoons and bowls. She sees her brothers play in their kitchen set and her parents in the actual kitchen and she wants to join in! In this discovery basket, I set her up with some authentic silver toned bowls, metal spoons in different sizes, tea set dishes, wooden coasters, wooden bowls in different sizes, a honey dipper, a painted wooden tea cup and saucer, some wooden mixing utensils, a couple of spice jars with flower petals and cinnamon sticks for scent and sound when shaken*, and a cloth napkin for a softer texture.
*You may have noticed that the spice jars here are glass. They are a very hard and sturdy glass, however, if your little one is in the stage of exploring trajectory or banging objects together with great force, it may not be a good time to use these. You may prefer to use a plastic version instead! 

I think every baby needs a GIANT bowl. I
especially love the mirror quality of this
metal bowl C is using to explore flour and
kitchen tools and utensils.

When I am setting up discovery baskets, I keep in mind that sometimes the basket itself is just as interesting! I try to offer a variety of sizes and styles of container. Baskets that are wide, some that are tall and narrow, bowls made from wood, some made from metal, containers with and without handles, and so forth. I've found that so many adults have a tendency to take the "basket" away when children begin to play with it because "that's not the thing they're supposed to be playing with," but I actually really like to remember that this is a child-led experience and if they are playing with it, that is what they are supposed to be playing with.

There are some things I do keep in mind when setting up a discovery basket:

• Safety first: The mouthing stage often coincides with the sitting stage. To make sure that nothing within baby's reach is a choking hazard, you may want to purchase a choke-tube or test objects in question through a toilet paper tube. If the object fits through, it is too small.

  

  For those times we can join in and even for those
  times we cannot, pots and pans are always a big hit!

• I also think it is important to join in when baby is first meeting the objects in a new discovery basket. You'll want to see how she plays, identify anything that may be a safety risk, and get to know what interests her and how. This will also help you to navigate what to add in, swap out and build dialogue around the experience for language development. I would suggest making sure you introduce a new discovery basket or play set up when you have the time to get down on the floor and play together. 

  

  On this afternoon, the boys and I were at the table
  making yarn bowls. C is a bit young for the glue end of
  the activity, but she is enjoying exploring the textures
  and colors of the yarn as we worked alongside her.

• On the other end of that spectrum, for those times you don't have an opportunity to join in, like when you're getting household tasks done, there are some go-to options that are quick, easy and safe to help you along. In the kitchen, pots and pans and metal spoons are great for baby play. In the laundry room, some clean rags or towels can be fun to explore. And even many times when you are doing activities with older children, there are parts of the activity that can be explored by the youngest set of hands.
• When possible, allow for play to happen in unenclosed open spaces. There are for sure times that baby needs to be in a high chair or a stroller or worn/carried, a car seat, etc. And these times do not have to be devoid of all play. Nonetheless, those opportunities for open space are so wonderful even before the mobile stage. Within open spaces, baby has room to move and roll and eventually begin getting himself from place to place. This is also possible outdoors! Remember--babies are also washable. They can go in the grass and in the dirt and in the sand. You can also bring out a blanket or mat. Mouthing things happens outside just as it does inside, so be prepared for baby to explore grass and dirt and sand and make sure you are there for support and supervision as needed.

Outdoor play with a modified "mud kitchen"

Exploring the sandbox at our botanical garden center...

• Sometimes we automatically go to a place in our heads that babies play with different things than older children, that they need separate spaces, separate toys and separate experiences. Sometimes that is true and other times, they can share the same spaces, some of the same toys and modified experiences. 

  

  C's brothers are playing at the sensory table with flour and kitchen tools. She is playing alongside them with a giant bowl of flour and some kitchen tools of her own. Later, her brothers each take turns joining her with the giant bowl!
  

C loves babies! Here she is washing one of
our baby dolls with soapy, warm water. She has
a little wash cloth to work with and a cozy blanket
to wrap baby in alongside for when bath time
is done and baby is ready to dry off.

• We know how important sensory and messy play is for children, however we often leave our littlest explorers out of this. It's true that messy play and sensory exploration is different with infants and very young toddlers. We need to consider the potential for mouthing and tasting materials. We also need to accommodate for the fact that at this stage they are not yet tall enough if they are standing to reach many sensory tables. We tend to compensate by offering sealed versions of the real deal--like sensory bottles and squish bags, and these are great as well. There are ways for the littlest players to still dig in and get messy for sensory play! Of course, you'll need adequate support and supervision. You can place a sensory bin or large bowl on the ground with sitters for them to explore water play, dried oats, pasta, beans, flour, and more. Again, know your little one and the play schemas being explored. That makes a huge difference when it comes to what is safe and practical to put in the bin!
• Besides space, consider pace. As a huge advocate for open-ended, child led play experiences, I often say that the most important thing you can provide in a play space is time. Resist the urge to rush baby's play and to direct it. Resist the urge (even if just for a short moment) to narrate the experience from your end:(i.e.: Let's wash the baby? This is a spoon, let's mix!") Perhaps try narrating it from their end: (That makes such an interesting sound when you tap it on the table, do you hear that?) If baby wants to spend ten minutes exploring one wooden peg doll, great! If baby wants to pick up and put down 20 different objects in ten minutes, also great! Adequate time and observation will also tell you how much and what to put in discovery baskets or play setups.
• Parallel play opportunities are the earliest forms of socialization for infants. I really struggled with this when Y was an infant and S was busy at play. It was so easy to just focus on my mobile player and just hold or carry or wear my yet-to-be-mobile player. In fact, the yet-to-be-mobile parallel play stage is honestly the easiest one you will have. Grasp it. Cling to it. Savor it. Soon, baby will be on the go, toppling towers, disturbing dinosaurs and causing chaos.

A beautiful playscape of parallel play! Same space,
same materials, three unique play experiences.

• Shared space and shared materials can pose a challenge for multi-aged players, particularly if siblings are involved. One thing I have navigated with both of the younger two is how to respond when an older sibling wants the exact object the baby is holding. So here's the deal: there's no right answer. Early on, there's rarely a reaction from the baby when a toy is taken away and in that sense, it can be easier to allow for it and avoid the reaction from the very vocal toddler at hand. I am, however, going to remind you that at some point, the baby will develop an opinion and vocalize it in one way or another. To help everyone prepare for this next social stage, I often provide the language around the exchange for both parties involved and to the toddler, I often ask to pick something that can be given to the baby to play with. Know that this is normal. Know that it is an assertion of control and ownership and a desire for connection on the older child's part as much as it is a desire for a particular toy and sometimes even more than a desire for a particular toy (like when C has only one magnatile in her hand out of 978 of them and Y just neeeds to have it).
• Equity versus equality is always something I keep in mind. Play looks different at every age and stage and for every child within that age and stage. Equality means that everyone gets the same thing regardless of what he/she needs. Equity occurs when everyone gets the same opportunity to have their individualized needs met. Be on the lookout for play! See it when it is happening, even if it looks different than what you imagine it should. Play serves a purpose. I try to find a way to get to yes when I can--the day is already so full of "no's." In these early stages of infant play, I feel that I learn as much about play from C as she does from engaging in it! Play is different for her than it is for Y or S, but infancy does not need to be a stage of only watching the rest of the world at play. She can--and does--join in the fun!

Happy Playing!

Beyond the Book: red sled by Lita Judge

There are some great children's books about winter out there and in many places across the country, the perfect weather conditions to go with it! We are very happy to see the return of above-subzero temperatures here and although most of our little snowfall has melted outside, S was eager to have another story stretcher this week about snow. I have a lot of favorite children's literature about winter, and we will likely have more than one winter themed story stretcher this season. Lita Judge's red sled seemed like a perfect selection for this afternoon.

This book is a fabulous read for young children (and older ones as well) as it contains very little text, amazing illustrations and a lot of great sound effects. (I dare you to teach your little ones the word onomatopoeia!) It is about a bear who takes a little boys' sled out for a joy ride, along with some of his forest friends, each and every night. Curious about the tracks and clues he observes in the morning, the little boy decides to stay awake and peek through the window to see what happens to his red sled each night. I love how this story naturally lends itself to further story telling for young readers and early writers alike. It also encourages careful observation of the natural world around us. And indeed, the winter months are a curious and wondrous time. Just yesterday, we observed a beautiful heron gracefully walking across the iced over creek on our way to the library. Today, the ice has nearly melted, the sun is out and there is barely anything left to sled on--perfect indoor conditions for a snowy story stretcher, nonetheless...




I like for our story stretchers to contain activities that both boys can do on their own level as well as a few that are more suited to S's level.
S and Y can both try their hands at this red sled craft. I created a basic template of a sled with a black and white clip art I found online. The boys can try a variety of red crayons, markers, slick stix, glue, tissue paper and even red tape (a favorite art supply of S's). At the end, I have a photo of each boy playing in the snow to glue on!


S and Y can also both enjoy some story drama and dramatic play in our baby safe Red Sled Snow Sensory Bin. I used potato flakes for snow and a collection of toy animals pictured in the book. I also painted a couple of wooden sleds red and tied on some red yarn ropes so the animals can go for the ride of a lifetime! Even with baby-safe sensory materials, I recommend supporting and supervising very little ones with sensory play. There are cute ways to make a wooden sled as well out of craft sticks and wood glue if you don't happen to have a wooden sled on hand and your little ones would probably love to help with it!

S is very young still when it comes to independently reading. He has a grasp of several letter sounds and letter recognition as well as rhyme awareness and I thought he might have fun with a little rhyming/word ending game based off the title of our target book, red sled.

In my DIY "red sled rhyme time game" I created a template with a picture of a red sled and the text ____ed. I affixed the page to a metal cookie sheet (from the dollar store) and created a set of "little books" with a word ending in -ed that rhymes with "sled" on the "front cover" and a corresponding picture inside. Using a set of magnetic letters, we will build a collection of rhyming words including "red," "sled," "bed," "wed," "shed," "led," and "fed." Children gain phonemic awareness at different ages and I definitely do not advocate for pushing preschool aged children further than they are ready for. If, however, a child is interested in activities like this or finds them to be enjoyable, I include it in a multi-sensory approach for introducing literacy and a lifelong love of learning.

S will surely be a fan of this letter Ss craft, being that it is both the first letter of his name and a snowman! It's a simple add-on activity should we have the time with this story stretcher or later in the week. He may also enjoy using the snowman shaped book in the photo at the top to dictate/draw his own winter story. He has been very into telling stories lately and while he is not writing letters or words at this stage, he is beginning to make the connection that stories have a lot to do with the marks he sees in his favorite books. Writers at this stage can greatly benefit from opportunities at their own level to become publishes authors, and what better way to inspire and support them than to provide them with a book!

This is such a great, albeit, simple read for a wintry afternoon. Whether you're knee deep in snow or enjoying a little thaw, happy reading and, as always, happy playing!

A Peek Inside Our Playroom: Thanksgiving Theme

Y's first induction into our Thanksgiving Wall of Fame

Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday that we don't actually celebrate! Well, we kind of do...both my husband and I love the traditional Thanksgiving foods, but neither of us wants to have a huge meal on a Thursday and then again for Shabbos. My husband's birthday is also around Thanksgiving, so we usually have a Thanksgiving themed Shabbos somewhere in there. Last year while I was homeschooling S, we had a lot of themed fun and learning and enough paper plate crafts by the end of it to serve an entire Thanksgiving meal! This year, he is learning about Thanksgiving in his preschool and at home, I've added in some themed fun to our play area for the boys to explore. After a morning of more structured activity, I like our afternoons to be more child-led when it comes to S--and this truly seems to be the ideal pace for him as well. Y has been making leaps and bounds in development lately and is especially eager to play, engage in songs and action rhymes and even try his hand (and, um mouth) at arts and crafts!

Our Thanksgiving Wall of Fame--with a couple of favorites from last year and a lot of restraint on my part to leave space for new creations and not hang up EVERY single paper plate Thanksgiving craft known to man...

Both boys really love the fingerplay "Five Little Turkeys" from DLTK's Crafts for Kids. Last year I made a set of turkey stick puppets to use along with it:

Five Little Turkeys

Five little turkeys standing at the door,

One waddled off, and then there were four.

Four little turkeys sitting near a tree,

One waddled off, and then there were three.

Three little turkeys with nothing to do,

One waddled off, and then there were two.

Two little turkeys in the morning sun,

One waddled off, and then there was one.

One little turkey better run away,

For soon it will be Thanksgiving Day.

Our Art Center has had a major revamp:

Ta da!

This time around, I included a combination of more "project" inspired art and more "process" inspired art along with a variety of materials to use in combination or on their own. This set up is aimed to be child-led in that S can choose what activity he'd like to try and independently access, bring it to his table, carry out the activity and bring it back when he is done. Our "U-pick a Project" basket is stocked in the middle cube with Thanksgiving craft kits leftover from last year. Other cubes are more open-ended...

With our playdough tray and cutting practice turkey collage tray, I included laminated photos of suggested creations on velcro. I showed S how to remove and replace the pictures if he wants to bring to the table with him when he uses the trays. I also made sure to tell him that this is one way to use the materials, but there are many ways to use them and he can use them in his own way when he's working with them.

Our invitation to create a playdough turkey is a favorite worth repeating from year to year. And if you've even found yourself with a collection of unused brown playdough from party packs (or a toddler-inspired color mixing project), here's your chance to put it to good use! That along with some orange card-stock beaks, googly eyes, pipe cleaner legs and feathers are all the materials you'll need to build an adorable little Thanksgiving turkey! Sub in some Model Magic clay for a project you can allow to dry and decorate your table, or just remove the parts and put it back on the shelf for your next play session.

S loves anything that involves scissors and cutting practice. He's early in his cutting skill development so cutting the edges of these feather shapes is the perfect way to combine his love of the activity with some actual function and intention. You really can't go wrong with feathers...even if you cut all the way across! I included some pre-cut brown bodies, orange beaks, a red waddle, a glue stick and some eye stickers.

Our invitation to create a turkey collage is a the perfect combination of recycling and craftiness. I had some pre-cut turkeys from last year and I have several ziplock sandwich bags full of loose craft parts and interesting papers and ribbons. Throw in some glue and a stash of colorful feathers and you're ready to go.

The materials on our shelves can be used in a variety of combinations as well. In addition to the specific trays and activities, I also included some of our favorite writing and drawing materials. Slick stix and do-a-dot markers are always popular, and also friendly to the smaller set of hands in the family as they are thick enough for fist-gripping and easily mark on paper. A couple of pencil cups filled with markers and crayons are visually inviting to S whereas keeping them in tubs or bins often leaves them out of sight and out of mind. 

I included a tray of do-a-dot activity sheets that can be used with these stickers, with bingo dabbers, or even with magnets or mini erasers if you prefer a re-usable version. The "T is for Turkey" page is available for print from Making Learning Fun, where you can find a variety of great Thanksgiving themed activities.

• You may also like these Thanksgiving Dot Painting Free Printables from The Resourceful Mama.
• I also love the free printable Autumn Matching Cards available at Montessori For Everyone. S has particularly enjoyed playing games together especially on Shabbos and once you print and laminate these, they are perfect for playing Memory, Match-it, or What's Missing?

S really loves using our felt wall to play about school when he's at home. I've caught him over there more than once doing "calendar time." It does a teacher-mommy proud! He actually told me recently he wants to be a teacher when he grows up. He thinks that means he will get to go inside a school bus... In the mean time, I pulled out this old Thanksgiving poem fill in the blank activity from my teaching days and set it up by his felt wall along with one of our favorite DIY Thanksgiving games from last year, "Yes, Please and No, Thank You!" S is definitely not reading all of this yet, but I love a print rich environment. We can use it together and he can also enjoy a chance to play at being The Teacher.

To make your own version of "Yes, Please and No, Thank You," you will need to glue (or draw) some pictures of common Thanksgiving foods onto paper plates. You will also need a couple of sentence strips with the phrases "Yes, please!" and "No, thank you!"  written on them. When playing with one "player," he or she can sort all the plates into foods he /she likes/wants to try and those he/she does not like or wish to try.  It's a great way to practice good table manners before the actual meal! With multiple players, children can take turns choosing a food to say "yes, please" to or "no, thank you." You can also practice common table manners like having a child ask "can you please pass the___?" or "would you like to try some____?" 

Even our deep freezer got a Thanksgiving-themed makeover! Indeed, it makes a perfect child-accessible vertical work surface. I brought out an old pin-the-feather-on-the-turkey poster I made a couple of years ago and added in an envelope for spare feathers. I also found this fun magnetic turkey set at the Dollar Tree. 

While Thanksgiving crafts and cooking are two of my favorite things about this season, my very favorite is the opportunity to slow down and enjoy time playing and connecting as a family. I love having a few days together to move at a slower pace, to let the little ones take more of a lead and to admire their sense of wonder, joy and creativity. Whether you "officially" celebrate Thanksgiving or not, hope these days inspire a sense of gratitude and joy and plenty of time for happy playing!

Yom Kippur Play & Learning Activities for the Young (and Very Young)

We've dipped our apples in honey (maybe even double dipped, but shh, don't tell!) and that means Yom Kippur is just around the corner. This seemingly somber occasion does not immediately give way to images of playfulness as we imagine a day of feeding and entertaining little ones while simultaneously trying to fast and atone for a year's worth of bad behavior when we were hangry. Yom Kippur is, nonetheless, an important and even joyful holiday. It is a beautiful opportunity to connect with Hashem on a very deep level as we prepare for the year ahead. As with all holidays, I like to teach about Yom Kippur through play and introduce children to the important symbols and customs of the holiday. Here's a peek at some of my favorite play and learning activities for Yom Kippur for the young (and very young):




 For starters, with young children, we focus the teaching of Yom Kippur on acting with chesed, being a good friend and, when we make a mistake, saying we are sorry. Since I am not a parent (or teacher) who forces apologies "in the moment," but rather teaches empathy through modeling and assisted problem solving, I like that Yom Kippur introduces a time to talk about apologies in a general sense. I love books like Sammy the Spider's First Yom Kippur by Sylvia Rouss and The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story byJacqueline Jules for preschool aged children. Additionally, books that teach about managing strong emotions are another good choice for this time of year. I particularly like When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry and When Sophie's Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt by Molly Bang. Incorporating discussions about friendships and kindness are appropriate at this time of year.

Giving extra tzedakah (charity) is also a common practice before Yom Kippur. For the very young, this DIY toy tzedakah box is a fun activity to introduce fine motor skills to teeny tiny hands:

A recycled cocoa powder container and plastic coins make a fun toy tzedakah box. Be mindful of small pieces with very young children. Older children can also decorate a tzedakah box to actually use and fill with money.

 Speaking of the very young, I love using discovery baskets with infants and young toddlers for play. In corresponding to a Yom Kippur theme, I might fill a discovery basket with household objects and toys that are white to introduce the idea that we wear white on Yom Kippur. Older babies and children might like to use a sensory bin with white filling (such as cotton balls, shredded paper, plain rice or shaving cream).

I also introduce the story of Jonah and the Big Fish during the Yom Kippur season as it is read during the holiday services each year. I water down the story for young children (pun intended) and I particularly like the free printable version and activity pack available at A Jewish Homeschool Blog.

We had a lot of fun last year with this balloon big fish/whale craft. S colored a paper plate blue and I blew up a balloon with a Lego man Jonah inside! I drew on a face and cut/attached the fins for a playful version of the big fish with Jonah in its belly! Do supervise young children with balloons as they can be a choking hazard if they pop.

The very young can also enjoy a balloon big fish! Y loved kicking and swatting the balloon from his back and later on his tummy. I made a new set of balloon big fish this year just for that purpose!

Our sensory bin is set up with a simple invitation to play about Jonah and the big fish, complete with a ship, a toy "Jonah" and a whale (big fish). Just add water and you're ready to play! 

This paper plate fish craft is a fun one for toddlers. Little ones can color two paper plates (we chose blue) and an adult can help with cutting/assembly and any additional details (like eyes and a mouth). Cut a circle out of the "body" plate and cover with clear contact paper or packing tape, sticky side up. Little hands can scrunch and stick on tissue paper to the center.

The story of Jonah and the Big Fish also lends itself to some great science experiments and explorations. You may wish to take the opportunity to study whales like we did in this post. You might also explore the mechanics of boats as we did in this post. Sink and float experiments are a great addition to your play and learning this time of year. You might even have your own boat building/testing contest!

A blast from the past!

And while we're on the topic of water, if you haven't had a chance yet to do tashlich and teach/play about it, it's best to do so before Yom Kippur. I love this paper plate craft, done in a similar fashion to the whale craft above. Hollow the center of a white paper plate and cover with clear contact paper or packing tape, sticky side up. The outer plate can be decorated to look like the outside of a pond and the inside can be filled with blue tissue paper "water" and fish cut from paper in the colors of your choice. This helps teach the concept that we do tashlich in an area with water and fish.

If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you might even take a trip to your pet shop and buy a goldfish of your very own. S loved that part last year. It's a great way to teach young children about the responsibilities of caring for a pet (that luckily doesn't cost more than 33 cents since in spite of the price, they are rather challenging to take care of sometimes!).

With preschool aged children, there are a variety of sorting games and activities that can help teach some of the practices and customs of Yom Kippur. I like to use pictures or photos of Yom Kippur symbols to play:

On Yom Kippur We Do and We Do Not:

Using pictures or photos (with or without written text), and a large piece of chart paper or a large space on the floor, have your child(ren) help you sort things we do on Yom Kippur from things we do not do on Yom Kippur. You can tailor your selection to meet the customs Byour own family. You might include:

We Do:

• daven to Hashem
• go to synagogue
• wear white/wear a kittel
• give extra tzedakah
• act with kindness/ahavat yisrael
• say we are sorry

We Do Not:

• eat or drink (adults only)
• wear leather
• wash our hands or bodies
• drive cars, use electronics, etc.

I also like to introduce the concepts of "before," "during" and "after" to older preschoolers in this activity:

Before, During and After Yom Kippur:

Using pictures or photos and a large sheet of chart paper or space on the floor, have children help sort activities that are done before, during and after the holiday. You might include:

Before Yom Kippur, we:

• give extra tzedakah
• do kapparos
• light Yom Tov candles
• eat a seudah (special meal)

During Yom Kippur, we:

• fast (adults only)
• wear white
• wear non-leather shoes
• go to synagogue
• daven to Hashem

After Yom Kippur, we:

• hear the shofar one last time
• make havdalah
• celebrate the new year ahead and break our fast with a festive meal
• begin to build our sukkah for Sukkot

Younger children can also get in on the sorting fun. Just grab your families selection of non-leather shoes (if you're like us, you have crocs in all colors and sizes!) and play a game of shoe/slipper match-it!

Lastly, teaching young children about kapparos can be a great opportunity for a cute little craft, like this chicken stick puppet S and I made last year. We do not happen to use actual chickens where we live for kapparos, but S had a great time swinging this feathered friend around his head last year! I prepped a cut the shape of a chicken and S got to glue on the feathers. Attach a craft stick handle and you're in business!

Yom Kippur is one of the most special and sacred holidays of the year. It is not always an easy one for adults, but through the lens of our children's wonder and curiosity, we can learn again how to approach this time of year with joy, and, as always, through play!

Happy Playing!

Playing About Rosh Hashanah: The Baby Edition

Just because infants are too young to taste the honey this time of year doesn't mean they're too young to get in on the fun and sweetness of the Rosh Hashanah holiday! Here's a peek at some of the ways Y is exploring the symbols and songs of the season (and a throwback to S's baby days as well)!

Playing in the baby stage is definitely more interactive than in the toddler/preschooler stage. Play sessions are short and sweet, especially as Y gets used to his new glasses. As he is able to experience and do so much more, he gets tuckered out quickly! Our play sessions usually involve some lap-sit songs/rhymes (check out a few of our favorites at the bottom), some tummy time or seated play and some sort of toy/prop to explore (and mouth!). S also enjoys playing with Y and showing him the ropes of big boy play!

The boys' Safta and Saba sent us these great Rosh Hashanah play sets by KidCraft and Rite Lite. They are available from Amazon or in many Judaica shops. The plush set is perfect for the baby stage and the sturdier, wooden set is great for older ones. Here's a candid peek (or preview) of both boys simultaneously spilling their grape juice! With Y individually, I like to let him practice picking toys out of a basket and singing songs or rhymes using them as props. There's certainly no need to purchase a toy for the holiday as you can DIY it pretty easily (and inexpensively) as well!

This honey sensory bag is a squishy and fun way to explore honey without any of the sticky mess or risk of botulism. Because it is in a plastic bag, adult supervision is a must! Simply add some honey to a ziplock bag and seal with a layer of duct tape or masking tape to prevent leaks. 

 Y loved exploring it on his tummy and squishing it with his hands. I often place a mirror in front of him during tummy time play sessions so he can see what he's playing with from another perspective. It also helps to get right down there with your baby at this stage and interact. From an assisted seated position (or independent sitting position if your baby is already sitting on his own), Y can squish that honey with his feet as well.

So much is learned through colors and textures at this stage. This felt board Rosh Hashanah sensory wall is made from a selection of felt apple shapes and felt/burlap shofar shapes for Y to touch and experience. The burlap shofar is glued to a piece of recycled corrugated cardboard with velcro on the back. If your baby is already pulling up/propping up on surfaces, you can place these on a flat surface to lure her over to grab and explore them.

 S loved these photo blocks as a baby (and still does). I've found a variety of wooden blocks at secondhand stores and by printing photos and pictures of holiday symbols and ritual items, we were able to inspire some holiday themed block building and dramatic play. Even tiny hands can enjoy these!

A lot of S's "toys" as a baby were collected secondhand store finds and household items mixed with his small "actual" toy collection. With the baby stage I love to present themed items in a discovery basket. This basket a much younger version of S was exploring contained items in the theme of Rosh Hashanah--some items from his plush Shabbat set, a toy challah, toy apples (and even a real apple or two), a "sensory bottle" (jar) of honey and even a honey wand. He loved it! 


Discovery baskets can be presented for seated play or items can be hung from an activity mat for babies to kick and swat while on their backs. We had fun decorating and laminating this printable Rosh Hashanah Mobile from A Jewish Homeschool Blog.

 S gets a real kick out of "helping" Y to color and paint at this stage. Y sometimes needs some extra help not eating or scrunching our artwork, but S is very patient and enjoys the leadership role. Y loves being involved and especially enjoys playing right along with S.

It's a busy time of year, so sometimes those few hours that S is in school and I am home with Y are filled with a mad rush to get cooking and household tasks done in preparation for the holidays. Sometimes Y's play sessions involve a bumbo seat or activity mat in the kitchen on which to explore some pots and pans while I cook and bake. By filling his world with opportunities to play and explore, I am confident he is learning so much even at this very young age. Conversation is also hugely important. Talking about what I'm doing, singing songs and engaging in fingerplays are great ways to build vocabulary at this pre-verbal stage. Here are a few of his (and my) favorites for the season:

Dip the Apple in the Honey
(t.t.t.o. Oh My Darlin' Clementine)

Dip the apple in the honey
Make a bracha loud and clear
L'shana tova u'metukah
Have a happy and sweet new year!

The Shofar in the Shul
(t.t.t.o. The Wheels on the Bus)

The shofar in the shul goes toot, toot, toot
Toot, toot, toot
Toot, toot, toot!
The shofar in the shul goes toot, toot, toot
On Rosh Hashanah morning!

Here is a Beehive
Here is a beehive
(close fists together)
But where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Here they come, creeping out of the hive
One, two, three, four, five!
(Pop all five fingers out, one at a time)
Bzzzzzzzz!
(Tickle your baby or wiggle your fingers)

Happy and Sweet Rosh Hashanah Playing!

Beyond the Book: Eric Carle's "The Tiny Seed"

What is Shavuot without flowers? And one of my very favorite children's books about flowers is The Tiny Seed, written and illustrated by Eric Carle. This beautiful story chronicles a group of sunflower seeds through the seasons. As they make their journey through the pages and through different terrains and trials, one question remains--what will happen to the tiny seed? Will it succumb to its humble stature or triumph over the obstacles placed along its way? In addition to sequencing the four seasons of the year and the physical journey of the tiny seeds and its larger counterparts, this book also demonstrates the life cycle of a plant.

We have explored the themes of flowers, plants, and gardening before here through a variety of play activities and wonderful children's books on the topic. We have even read The Tiny Seed before and done extension activities with it. When it comes to Story Stretchers, repetition is OK! After all, how many times does your child request to read and reread a favorite book? I have even talked before about the benefits of using Story Stretcher activities to expand upon themes and concepts presented in a favorite book. This can encourage your young reader to engage in fabulous pretend play, sensory exploration and expand upon language development and other pre-reading skills. It can also eliminate some of the monotony of reading that same book again and again and again...

I find it helpful when engaging in a story stretcher to set out certain activities ahead of time and to have others prepared in advance to introduce throughout the day. I did a slight remodel of our toy/materials shelf to include some of the day's themed activities.

In the morning, I had set out this simple Flower Garden sensory bin for Table Time:

I included plastic flower pots, artificial flowers, scoops and tongs and a fluffy bed of paper grass. S LOVED planting flowers. He even went to our STEAM cart to add more flowers to the scene from another activity!

I introduced our target book at our Morning Meeting. S loves this book so much he wanted to read it twice in a row! It is a rather lengthy story so young readers may prefer a paraphrased version to reading it word for word. I also like resources like YouTube or audio books/Scholastic videos from the library for introducing children's literature. We did indeed listen to The Tiny Seed from the YouTube video posted above as we ate our lunch!

S genuinely wants to play with Y now that he is growing into more up and alert periods of the day and quite smiley and playful to boot. I have been eagerly brainstorming ways beyond our "brothers' basket" of toys to include Y in our play and learning activities. Creating a Tiny Seed Sensory Bottle seemed like a great activity to do with S that he could then share with his baby brother. I set out two plastic bottles (I bought these at a craft supply store, but you can use a recycled bottle if you have), some dry black bean "seeds" in a tall cup with a small scoop, a funnel with an opening large enough for the beans to fit through, and a collection of colorful silk flowers. I had a roll of thin duct tape with a fun floral print on hand for tightly sealing the bottles when we were done. You could use any type of duct tape or even hot glue your lid on if you wish.

S was so proud to be making sensory bottles himself and especially eager to share it with his brother...

...so eager, in fact, that delivering his gift could wait for nothing, not even a nap to be done!

The materials are quite simple, but the burst of color and the sound of the black beans as the bottles are shaken are wonderful elements to intrigue the sensory development of infants (and older siblings!).

While Y finished his nap, S and I took a Seeds We Eat Scavenger Hunt in our fridge and pantry. We looked for foods that

• have seeds on the inside (we found apples and pears, cucumbers and peppers, oranges and grapes, even frozen blueberries)
• have seeds on the outside (strawberries were a perfect candidate for this category--we had some in our freezer as well for use in smoothies)
• are seeds! (We had a snack of trail mix made from mixed nuts and seeds. We also talked about foods like beans and peas that are seeds we eat!)

Speaking of beans, transfer activities have been a longtime fine motor favorite for S--I set out this simple transfer tray and he played with it for quite a while! 

Next, it was time for a game! We played "Whose Seed Is That Anyway?"--a simple matching game I devised from recycled and laminated seed packet photos and ziplock bags of leftover seeds (ones we had from our planting earlier this season).

To play the game, I set out the pictures and held the bags of seeds. Each bag is labeled (so I know what's inside!) and one at a time, I presented a bag of seeds. Certain seeds, S recognizes quite well--like beans and peas. These are seeds that look like foods he is familiar with. I still present a series of clues with each bag, although as he familiarized with the game (and asked to play again and again!) I simplified my clues and eventually eliminated them altogether.

We had a lot of fun with The Tiny Seed story stretcher activities we did at home. Perhaps you'll try some of them in your own home or classroom. Want to do more? Here are some other play and learning activities related to The Tiny Seed:

• Plant some seeds of your own! Whether indoors or outdoors, planting seeds is a great way to take the journey in this book into your own hands and garden! You can chronicle your own seed's journey as it grows into a sprout, a plant, a flower or vegetable... Visit your seedlings often to observe and discuss their progress.

Observe a variety of seeds and photos of their mature plants. How are seeds different and how are they alike? Do big fruits and vegetables always have big seeds? What other things do you notice or wonder about seeds?

• Get crafty!

This was a cute handprint/footprint painting our local playgroup instructor did with everyone to create a sunflower painting. S loved getting his hands all painty and Y tolerated his foot being dipped in. We glued on poppy seeds and voila! 

Painting/printing with flowers is another great activity to try. We had some flowers on the wilt last year around this time and used red and yellow paint to create our own sunflower like the one on the cover of The Tiny Seed.

Aww, look at little S! He had such a great time dipping and dabbing those flowers on the paper plate that had been prepared with slits around the edge to resemble petals of a flower.

Once the paint was dry, we glued on some dry beans in the center to resemble sunflower seeds. You could certainly use actual sunflower seeds if you have them on hand!

• Get moving! Create motions or choose from Yoga poses to act out the story of The Tiny Seed!

What fun even the most familiar stories can be when we stretch our imagination and expand into a world of play and hands-on learning! Instilling a love of literacy in young readers is as simple as planting a tiny seed. Hope you enjoyed reading and playing along with us...

Happy Playing!