Our world looks a little different right now, and that may have you questioning whether what you are doing is enough in helping your son or daughter develop the skills they need. I find myself pondering these questions daily. That’s why I am glad to be able to utilize the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ®). It’s a great way to help me understand where my kids should be with their milestones and if they are meeting benchmarked skills for their age, and it provides activity ideas for building my kids’ skills.
Did you know that just playing with your kids helps them develop? If you want to incorporate a little extra fun this spring, here are some activities that help your kids grow and learn:
- Create Outdoor Art - We all need the sunshine, and being outdoors can help boost your mood. Take a walk and when you get back home, take turns drawing things you saw on your walk. You can use chalk and draw on the driveway or use crayons and paper to create your artwork. If your child is having some trouble thinking of something to draw, maybe offer to go first. Draw a tree or a flower, a mailbox, or a house. Maybe you saw a dog with a red leash. Talk about the drawings as the two of you create them.
- Act out a Book - Ask your child to choose a book and take it outside with a blanket. Read through the book twice. The first time, just cuddle up together or lay on the blanket and read the book. The second time, ask your child to act out parts of the book. If it’s a book about animals, ask them what sounds the different animals make. Talk about the different parts of the book, and ask questions like “What was your favorite part?” or “What part did you think was funny?”
- Relax in the Grass - Lay back in the grass and ask your child to close their eyes and listen. What do they hear? Then ask them to look up at the clouds and ask them what they see. Have them take off their shoes and wiggle their toes in the grass. Does it tickle? You’re helping your child learn to be more aware of what is around them by using different senses.
- Help with Chores - Kids love to help. It helps them to feel important and also helps them learn. Even young children can help you with things around the house. In the spring there are some outdoor chores they can help with like watering plants or helping you pull weeds in the garden. If you’re up for a new project, perhaps even growing a garden together is something you’d like to start. Kids are great helpers when it comes time to pick (and eat) vegetables and fruits from a garden.
- Talk about Your Day - We play a game we call “3 Things” at dinner each night. Each member of the family takes turns telling three things about their day. If you have younger children, you can help them by asking questions such as “Where did we go today?” or “What did we play with today?”
And, if you want to make sure your child is developing age-appropriate skills, fill out the quick and easy Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ). It is the fastest and easiest way to see what your child can do and to make sure they’re learning age-appropriate skills. After filling in your child’s birthdate, you’ll get a questionnaire that is tailored specifically to their age. Ten to fifteen minutes later, once you’ve finished, you’ll get a snapshot of your child’s current skills and milestones, along with skill-building activities that your kids will love doing to help them grow and learn. The best part is, upon completion you will receive information about recommended next steps and resources relevant to your child’s development.
Head over to take the FREE questionnaire where you can enter to win a $200 Amazon gift card.
