Early Skills Playground Box

Use the raccoon and tiger pieces to create a pattern, saying aloud, “Let’s make a row: raccoon, tiger, raccoon.” Encourage the child to place the pieces in the correct order while repeating the names of the animals. Ask, “What comes next?” or “Can you say the pattern?” Once they master this, switch to a new pattern, like “Tiger, tiger, raccoon.” This activity helps with sequencing, reinforces animal names, and encourages verbal participation.

Hold up an animal piece and say, “This is a lion. Can you say lion? Where does the lion go?” As the child places the animal in the correct bracket, describe it further, like “The lion is yellow and has a big mane.” This activity builds vocabulary, reinforces categorization, and enhances listening and comprehension.

Set the clock to a specific time and say, “It’s 3 o’clock! Can you say three?” Then describe an activity, like “At 3 o’clock, we play.” Encourage the child to match times and activities, prompting them to answer, “What do we do at 6 o’clock?” This introduces numbers, routines, and time-related language.

Roll a cube and count the dots together, saying, “One, two, three – there are three dots!” Encourage the child to count aloud with you or independently. After counting, ask questions like, “Which number is bigger: two or four?” or “Can you find a cube with five dots?” This activity enhances number recognition, counting skills, and comparative language development.