Tip 71 – Add as many dimensions as you can to any one activity.

Play “Following Directions” just for the fun of it!

Start with three words–Hop, Jump, and Clap. Write each word on a 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” index card and place the cards face down in a pile. Then take turns with your child picking a card and acting out the word. After your child masters reading those three words, add another. Each time you play, start with the ones already made. Every time you get to a point where your child knows all the words well, add another one like Walk, Run, Talk, Dance, and Sing. 

Parenting Insight…

If you just called out a word, that would be good; but adding in the dimension of the visual at the same time adds to the impact of the activity. Then “following the direction” makes the brain stimulation even stronger. In addition, the element of surprise by picking each word adds to the fun.

Remember the phrase “play-and-learn?” Here it is at its best! Enjoy.

A Bouquet of Positive Feelings!

The Five Senses

See, hear, taste, touch, and smell!

That is it! That is how we learn… all of us. The more of the five senses we use at any one time, the greater is the impact of our lesson.

Once again we turn to the beautiful words of Nancy Tillman in Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You.

In the green of the grass . . . in the smell of

the sea . . . in the clouds floating by . . .

at the top of a tree . . . in the sound

crickets make at the end of the day . . .

“You are loved. You are loved. You are

loved,” they all say.