Good morning! It’s the middle of another week and the middle of July already! Here are three invitations for preschoolers today including an idea for staying cool this afternoon.
Dramatic Play Invitation: Library
Dramatic play offers children an opportunity to try out adult roles, to become something or someone new, and to process events that are happening or have happened. Today we wonder how much children remember about going to the library. We hope you have access to books and magazines and can work with your child to set up an imaginary library somewhere in your home. Your child can be the library patron or the librarian helping to put the books away when they are turned in, helping their dolls or stuffed animals (or trucks) pick out books they will like, and scanning the books to check them out. If you and your child are feeling excited about this invitation, you could also offer materials to help recreate some of the wonderful library programming like a book character photo scavenger hunt or battle of the books voting bracket. There are also library storytimes hosted by real Durham County Library librarians available on the DCL Youtube channel.
Language/Literacy Invitation: Storyteller’s workshop
Today we are wondering again what stories your child has to tell. Are they telling stories from books? Are they processing and narrating events from their own life? You can record the stories as audio files, invite your child to create a book, or write down their words as they tell the story. You can also extend the library dramatic play idea and invite your child to have a library storytime for their stuffed animals.
Sensory Invitation: Melting ice explorations
This invitation involves ice, if you don’t have any at the moment, put some small containers (or an ice cube tray) full of water in the freezer now so it will be ready when it is really hot this afternoon.
When you have ice ready and your child is telling you how hot it is outside, put the ice on a rimmed baking sheet with a small container of salt and a spoon. Invite your child to see what happens to the ice when they sprinkle it with salt.