Early Child Development Kit: ATreasure Box of Activities Activity Guide Acknowledgements ThisdocumentwaspreparedbytheECDUnitwiththehelpofCassieLanders,UNICEF consultant. Illustration ThedocumentwasillustratedbyJoanAuclair. Disclaimer Opinionsandstatementswithinthisdocumentareentirelythoseoftheauthorandshouldnotbe attributedinanymannertotheUnitedNationsChildren’sFund(UNICEF),itsaffiliated organizations,orthemembersofitsExecutiveDirectorsorthecountriestheyrepresent. ThetexthasnotbeeneditedtoofficialpublicationstandardsandUNICEFacceptsno responsibilityforerrors. Thedesignationsinthispublicationdonotimplyanopiniononthelegalstatusofanycountryor territory,orofitsauthorities,orthedelimitationofborders. For more information, please contact: Early Childhood Development / Programme Director’s Office UNICEF House 3 UN Plaza NewYork, NY 10017 USA E-mail:Arnaud Conchon, [email protected] Tel: +1 212 824 6554 Introduction Early Child Development Kit: A Treasure Box of Activities Activity Guide tochildren.Theyplayduringdailyroutines.They playduringlearningexperiencesyouprovide. Thinkaboutababywhostartsapeekaboogame Welcome! withyouwhenyoupullhershirtoverherhead. Thetoddlerortwo-year-oldwhoimitatestheway Howmuchareyoungchildrenaffectedbyevents youreadtoherasshereadstoherdoll.Orthe thattakeplacearoundthem? three-or-fouryearoldwhoscribblesandmarkson alargesheetofpaperyouputoutonthetable, Alot.Youngchildrenareactiveplayersinthe thenannouncesproudly,“Iwrotemyname.” world.Eventhoughtheymaynotunderstand themeaningofwhattheyseeorhear,children Sometimesitmaylooklikenotmuchishappening. absorbtheimagesthatsurroundthemandare Fillinganddumpingsmallobjectsfromacanmay deeplyimpactedbytheemotionsofthepeople seemboringtoyou.Playingblocksseemslikejust theyrelyonforloveandsecurity. stackingthemandknockingthemdown. Parentsandcaregiversplayaveryimportantrole inhelpingyoungchildrencopewithandrecover fromtraumaticandstressfulexperiences. Providingyoungchildrenwithsensitiveand responsivecaretakesalotofemotionaland physicalenergy.Buttheeverydaymoments sharedbetweenachildandcaringadultscanbe mutuallyhealing.Duringdifficultanduncertain times,simplyfindingcomfortineachother’s presenceisthefirststeptohelpingyoungchildren copeandheal. The Power of Play Butplayisfilledwithopportunitiesforchildrento Childrenarecuriousfromthemomenttheyare learnanddevelopnewskills.Whenchildrenplay, born.Theywanttolearnaboutandunderstand theyusealltheirsenses–hearing,seeing,tasting, theirworld.Duringthefirstfiveyearsoflife touching,smellingandmoving–togather children’sbrainsaregrowingfasterthanatany informationabouttheirworld.Latertheywill othertimeoflife.Children’searlyexperiences gatherinformationthroughlanguage.They shapehowtheirbrainsdevelop.Children’searly organizeandreorganizethisinformationintotheir learningsetsthestageforschoolsuccess. firstpicturesofthemselves,others,andtheir world. Goodearlyexperienceshelpachild’sbrain developwell.Themoreworkthebraindoes,the ThroughthefungamesinthisTreasureBox, moreitiscapableofdoing.Whenchildrenplay, children–botholderandyounger–willdevelop theirbrainsworkhard. newskillsfortalkingandthinking,movingand doing,feelingandlearningaboutthemselves,and Playingishowchildrenlearn.Playcomesnaturally gettingalongwithothers. Early Child Development Kit:Activity Guide | i Learning through Play Lookathowmuchchildrenarelearningastheyplaytogetherwithblocks: Talking andThinking Theymaylearnto: Connectwordstoactionsastheytalktogetheraboutwhattheyaredoing. Participateinconversationsaboutwhattheyaredoing. Understandpositionwordsastheywalkonapathofblocksnexttothetable. Understandconceptssuchassoft,hard,big,small,heavy,light,roughandsmooth. Usetheirimaginationastheytellastoryaboutwhattheyhavecreated. Makeaplanastheydecidewhattobuildtogether. Completeataskastheymakeapathofblocks. Moving and Doing Theymaylearnto: Developawarenessofwheretheyaregoingastheywalkonapathofblocks. Developbalancewhenmovingastheycarryblocksacrosstheroom. Usehandandwristmusclestododelicatetasksastheymakeastackofsmallblocks. Feelings and learning about self: Theymaylearnto: Expresstheirfeelingswhentheydiscover:“Iliketobuild.” Feel“Icandoit!”astheycompleteatowerofblocks–orknock ablocktowerover. GettingAlong with others Theymaylearnto: Playwithotherchildren. Cooperatewithothersasonechildhands anotherablock. Followasimplerulethatkeepseveryone safe,suchas“nothrowingblocks.” ii | Early Child Development Kit:Activity Guide Why an ECD Kit? What is inside the ECD Kit? Givingtimeforandhelpingchildrenplayduring ThisECDTreasureBoxisfilledwithmaterials timesofstressisoneofthemostimportantthings andideasforlearningandfun.Eachitemwas youcando.ThisECDKitofactivitieswascreated carefullychosentosupporttheimportantwork tohelpyouhelpyoungchildrencontinueto youdoeachday.Eachonecanbeusedin developtheirskillsforthinking,speaking,and differentwaysdependingontheageand interactingwithpeopleandthingsevenwhen interestofthechild.Belowisalistofthe timesareverydifficult.Wehopethesefunlearning children’streasuresyouwillfind.Thechart activitieswillhelptostimulatechildren’seager onthefollowingpagelistsadditional minds,quiettheirhearts,andgivethemhope. activitiesthatdonotrequireanymaterials Whenyouhelpyoungchildrenfeelsafeandsecure fromtheKit. theycanbefreetolearnnowandinthefuture. ActivitiesWith Materials Babies 1–3Years 4–6Years 1. Board Puzzle * * 2. Chain Puzzle * * 3. Board Book * * * 4. Sponge Balls * * * 5. Shape Sorter * * * 6. Paper and Crayons * * * 7. Stringing Beads * * * 8. Puppets * * * 9. Stacking and Sorting Kit * * * 10. Dominoes * * * 11. Construction Blocks * * * 12. Modelling Clay * * 13. Puzzle Blocks * * 14. Memory Game * * 15. Counting Circle * 16. Jigsaw Puzzle * Early Child Development Kit:Activity Guide | iii ActivitiesWithout Materials Babies 1–3Years 4–6Years 1. WeAre Going to... * * 2. We Can Move * * 3. Familiar Sounds * * 4. CanYou Copy Me? * * 5. We Can Make Music * * 6. IAm Here.Who Is Here? * * 7. I See Something * * 8. QuietTalkingTime * * 9. We Can Move/Hide and Seek * 10. Follow the Leader * 11. FriendsTogether * 12. OneToy,Two Children * 13. Helping Partners * iv | Early Child Development Kit:Activity Guide Treasures for Caregivers youtheirs;makingupsillyrhymes;andtalking abouttheirfeelings. TheECDkitalsocontainsmaterialstohelpyou createasafelearningspaceforyoungchildren. Therearetwodifferenttypesofactivities:those Lookfortape,pen,pencils,paper,exercisebook usingthekit’scontentsandthosethatdonotneed markers,andflipcharts.Awatercontainerand anymaterials.Lookfortheactivitysheetsthatgive soapwillhelpyoutokeepthematerialsand yousomemoreideasonwhattodoevenwithout childrenclean. anymaterials.Seeboxbelowforadetailedguide toActivityCardsymbols. Activity Cards Thisisjustabeginning.Weknowyouhavemany Theseactivitycardshavebeendevelopedtohelp ideasofmaterialsandfungamestoadd.Use youusethematerialsintheECDkit.Thereisone thesematerialswithchildren.Adaptthem.Get activitysheetforeachitem.Theactivitiesare ideasfornewtoysandgamestomakeandplay. arrangedfromeasiertoharder.Eachitemcanbe Sometimesitcanbetemptingtoputnew usedindifferentwaysforbabies,forchildren materialsawayfromchildrentokeepthemsafe fromonetothreeyears;andchildrenfromfour andclean.Pleasedon’t.Thesematerialsaremade tosixyears. forchildrentotouch,shake,stack,toss,pretend with,jumpinandoutof,puttogether,takeapart. Childrenarelearningfromyouandeachotherall Theonlywaychildrencanbenefitfromthe thetime.Therearemanywaysyoucanhelpchil- treasuresinthisbox–andothersyouadd–isif drendevelopwithoutanymaterials.Forexample, theyhavethechancetoplaywiththem. childrenlovelisteningtoyourstoriesandtelling Thesesymbolswillhelpyoufindtherightactivityfortherightage. Babies 1–3 years 4–6 years Eachactivitysheetalsoincludes: Caution WhatYouCanDo Tipstohelpyoukeepchildren Ideasforhowtousethematerial safewhileplaying tohelpchildren’sdevelopskills fortalkingandthinking,moving Bluebandsatthetopand anddoing,learningaboutself bottomindicateactivitiesthat andgettingalongwithothers. usematerialsfromthekit What To Look For Pinkbandsatthetopandbottom Thingstoobserveinchildrenas indicateactivitiesthatdonot theyplay requireanymaterials Possible Extensions Suggestionsforotherthingsyou mightdo Early Child Development Kit:Activity Guide | v How can you use the ECD Kit? • Becreative.Thematerialsinthekitwillhelp yougetstarted.Makeupyourowngamesand GatherchildrenaroundthetreasuresintheECD activities.Singfamiliarsongs,tellstories,play Kitinasafeandwelcomingspace.Asmanyas traditionalgames,danceandsing. 50childrencanparticipateatanyonetime.That’s alotofchildren.Trycreatingsmallgroupsand • Listen.Yourcareandattentionisthemost assigndifferentactivities.Sometimes,achild importantgiftyoucangivetoyoungchildren. mightneedalittleextraattentionandsome Helpthemfindwordstoexpresstheirfeelings. specialtimejustwithyou.Makesureyouhave Encouragedrawing,tellingstories,and help.Inviteolderchildren,parents,andother pretendplay. adultstohelpyouplanandorganizethe activities. • Prepareandplan.Alittleplanninghelpsto makeyourtimewithchildrenmore Herearesomehelpfultipstothinkabout. meaningful.Trycreatingasimpleschedule. Hereisanexample. • Createsmallgroupsofchildren.Youmighttry groupingchildrenbyage—babies,onetothree yearolds,andfourtosixyearolds.Other Treasure Box Fun: activitiesworkbestwhenallthechildrenare DailyActivity Plan learningtogether.Theactivitycardswillhelp youplanyourprogramme. 10:00 Welcomechildrenandfamilies • Inviteolderchildrenandsiblingstohelpyou. Encouragethemtoorganizeandplan 10:15 CircleTime:Selectafuntopic.Ask activities.Theycanalsobepairedwithachild childrentotalkaboutwhatthey whoneedsextracareandattention.Thisisa know wonderfulwayforbotholderandyounger childrentolearntogether. 10:45 Smallgroups:Dividechildreninto agegroups.Letchildrenexploreand • Provideopportunitiesforparentstosupport playwithactivitiesontheirown. theirchild’splay,learnfromeachotherand fromyou.Invitegroupsofparentstojoinyou 10:30 Pairs:Olderchildrenspendtime inthefun.Thepossibilitiesareendless.Think workingwithsmallerchildrenona togetheraboutsomeactivitieschildrencando specificactivity andwhatchildrenmaylearn.Asyouwork, encouragefamiliestosharetheirstoriesand 11:30 CircleTime:storytelling.Tryletting questionswitheachotherandyou. childrenmakeupanewending! • Makesafetyapriority.Makesurethespaceis 12:00 ClosingSong safefromthingsthatmighthurtsmallchildren. Keepallmaterialsclean.Storethemcarefully. • Routinesareimportant.Childrenneedlotsof Thematerialsinthisboxbecometruetreasuresin consistentattentionespeciallyduringtimesof yourhandsasyousharethemwithchildrenand stress.Trytoorganizeyouractivitiesatthe families.Thankyouforyourtime,energy,and sametimeeachday.Childrenfeelsafe commitmenttohelpingyoungchildrengrow, knowingtheywillspendsometimeeachday develop,andheal. withyouandtheTreasureBox. vi | Early Child Development Kit:Activity Guide
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