Creative art is an important element in every child’s education. Through art, children can explore various materials and textures, using their senses to guide their exploration. This experience can bring an appreciation of the process of making art, the sights, smells, sounds, and tactile understanding that children gain from this process is far more beneficial to their development than the final product. Your child will love learning using these sensory activities.

Leo Loves Baby Time

On Wednesdays, Leo and his mom go to Baby Time. There he plays peek-a-boo; sings the rolly song, the happy song, and the name song; plays with animals; and meets new friends. Join Leo in these fun experiences.

The Dot

The story is about a young girl named Vashti who is sitting in art class. Vashti is supposed to draw something but tells the art teacher discouragingly she cannot draw. The teacher tells her, "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."

Materials:

• Tray or highchair

• Yogurt, applesauce or pudding
  

Directions:

• Messy play! While your infant is in their highchair, give them a scoop of yogurt or applesauce.
• Next, show your infant how to make lines, shapes, and circles in the substance.
• Allow time for your infant to respond to what they see, hear, smell, touch and feel.

Materials:

• Paper
  

• Crayons or Marker

• Tape
  

Directions:

• Display various types of large paper and writing tools.

• Remember to display excitement about the materials and their purpose. Example, “there are all kinds of fun paper, crayons and markers here! We can use the crayons and markers to draw on the paper."
  

• Next, Invite your child to scribble and draw.

• Talk to your child about what they are drawing: "I see that you are using the orange crayon to make lots of different marks.Tell me about your picture, what did you make?"

• Display your child's work in your house e.g. refrigerator, door, or wall. Talk about display later in the day or to another family member.

Materials:

• Leaves

• Crayons

• Paper

Directions:

• Invite your child to take a walk with you around your neighborhood to gather a variety of leaves.

• Encourage your child to make a leaf rubbing by placing a leaf under a piece of paper and using the flat side of a crayon to rub over the paper.

• Ask your child, "What part of the leaf do you see in your rubbing? How did it feel to rub the crayon over the leaf? Was it smooth or bumpy? Why?"
  

Sing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." Talk about the different facial expressions we show when we feel different emotions. Sing the song again and substitute feelings for "happy" such as sleepy, sad, frustrated, etc.

It is important for children to develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success. Being able to name the feelings and connect those feelings to behavior is key to developing these skills.

Sing this song with your child as you point to each body part. "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes. Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes. Eyes and ears and mouth and nose. Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes."

The repetitiveness of songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" is really helpful for young children because it gives them lots of opportunities to hear the same words over and over. The more your child hears words, especially more challenging words that are not used every day, the faster those words are learned.

Your child will be able to express their creativity while at the same time experiencing a calming effect as they see the variety of designs left in the paint by the tire marks of the toy car of their choice.

Materials:

• Paint
• Toy Car/Trucks
• Paper

• Encourage your child to roll the wheels of a toy car through the paint on the paper rather than using his fingers.
• If your child does not like touching slippery materials while taking part in an activity like finger car painting is a perfect activity.
• Your child can also make predictions about what will happen if the colors or tire patterns get mixed together.
  

Getting a child to wear a face mask and leave it on may feel like a challenge. Kids are active, tend to be fidgety, and wearing a mask can be an adjustment for anyone. Wearing a face mask may cause frustration, which may lead to meltdowns, or aggressive behavior. To prevent behaviors, give your child a chance to feel it, get used to it, place it on a doll, stuffed animal, or you. It is helpful for a parent, sibling, or caregiver to model wearing a face mask appropriately. Parents might be surprised to learn their child can wear a mask it may just take a little practice. To prevent challenging behaviors, make mask-wearing fun!

Time to test the sense of Hearing at home while playing a fun game.

Materials:

• Several Items that make sound (rice, pennies, screws, beads, etc.)
• Containers or small heart shaped containers as the example above.

Directions:

• Simply fill the containers with different materials and make sure that two containers have the same items.
• Without peeking into the containers, ask your child to shake them and find the match by only using their sense of hearing.
• Some items will sound the same so they will have to pay close attention and shake them several times.
• Without them even knowing their hearing will be put on a test.

Head Start Benefits

As part of the Head Start Program, Head Start staff will always make sure that every child has a hearing, vision, and blood pressure screening. If these screenings are not done, we have staff that are equipped with the latest technology to ensure we get the most accurate results when screening children.Did you know one of the first test’s when a child is born is a Hearing test? We have similar equipment for our screenings!

Sing along and ask your child whether they like that food. Have they tried all of these foods? Maybe you will be surprised with the one they want to try! If you have younger children, you can sing along with the song and have some food ready for your child; let them feel the different textures. Is it squishy? Cold?" Young children learn from what’s in their environment; this is a fun (and tasty) way to have them start learning about their food.

Cynthia Rodriguez Mentor Coach II, (Kern)

Nelly Mendoza Mentor Coach, (SJC)

Leah Green, Family Engagement

Susie Martinez, Inclusion

Andralette Wilson, Family Wellness

Angel Perez Arevalo, Health

Roxanne Harris, Nutrition

Website: www.capk.org
Location: 5005 Business Park North, Bakersfield, CA, USA
Phone: (661)336-5236