Preschooler

Activity Calendar
Ideas for children from 3 to 5 years old
 References

Moving and Growing: Exercises and Activities for Twos, Threes, and Fours; Fitness Canada and the Canadian Institute of Child Health

Play Calendars: Weekly Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; Rachel B. Diamant M.S, OTR/L Therapy Skill Builders 1996

Amazing Good Ideas (for nothing); Alberta Health

Preschool Activity Calendar– Family activities for every day of the year; Rolling River School Division FEYAI project 2006/2007

Decreased language with TV; www.advanceweb.com; copyright 2009 Merion Publications

Children and Technology fact sheet; National Aboriginal Health Organization, December 2009

Eye See-Eye Learn; The Alberta Association of Optometrists handout

First Impressions; The Canadian Association of Optometrists pamphlet

Fight the Bite; News release Government of Alberta 2003

Children safety seats: www.parachutecanada.org or albertaseatbelts.ca

Healthy Eating and Active Living (for your 1-5 year old); Alberta Health and Wellness publication Feb. 2008

Sleep Problems and your Preschooler; Children’s Health and Developmental Services, Alberta Health Services, Medicine Hat

Will I Grow out of it (Milestones and warning signs for Speech and Language development); Alberta Health and Wellness SP00005 (2004/08)

Busy Bodies Reprinted/used with permission of the Nutrition Resource Centre, Toronto Ontario (2013)

Special thanks to the following people for their recommendations and edits: from Alberta Health Services, Nutrition Services: Vanessa Restivo, Danielle Wohglemuth, Emily Burt, Marissa Salon and
Martina Sung; and from Alberta Health Services Provincial injury Prevention Program: Valerie Cook

Copyright © (2011, revised 2013, 2014) Alberta Health Services. This material is protected by Canadian and other international copyright laws. All rights re-
served. This material may not be copied, published, distributed or reproduced in any way in whole or in part without the express written permission of Alberta
Health Services (please contact Kim Nowicki at Early Childhood Development program at 780-623-6227 or kim.nowicki@albertahealthservices.ca. This
material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accu-
racy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability,
completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health profes-
sional. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such

www.albertahealthservices.ca
Dear parents,

You are your child’s best teacher. They will learn the most about the world from you. This
calendar has been created to provide you with an activity to try with your child every day.

These activities do not require a lot of time, materials or preparation so you can fit them
into your daily routine.

Activities are designed to encourage development in the areas of

• communication-the language they understand and the language that they express
• gross motor skills– how they move their bodies in physical activities
• fine motor skills– how they use their hands
• self help skills and independence
• social skills
• problem solving skills with focus on their auditory attention, visual attention and
memory building skills

Recipes, rhymes and parenting tips are included also to inspire and encourage.
Please use caution and supervision with all the activities.

Take time to play and enjoy creating special moments with your little one. Your
impact on their overall development will be significant and will last a lifetime!
 JANUARY
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Parenting tip: Sleeping and your preschooler

Preschoolers need around 11-12 hours of sleep each night, and after three years
of age they do not need naps per say unless they are overtired and did not get
enough sleep previously. If your child can fall asleep easily, wake up easily and
is not tired, irritable and not too moody during the day, then they are getting
enough sleep.
Try to establish a good bedtime routine.
• Use their bed only for sleeping not for watching TV or playing or for
timeouts
• Set times for going to bed, waking up and taking naps, keep them at the
same time daily.
• Avoid giving your child food and/or beverages (especially those with
caffeine) after supper.
• Establish a wind down period 30 minutes before bedtime (i.e.: warm bath,
play soft music or nature sounds, read a book).

Rhymes: Hickory Dickory Dock

Recipes
Looby Loo Peanut Butter/Banana Coins
The mouse went up the clock
Here we go looby loo, Spread peanut butter or pea butter (if allergic to
The clock struck one
Here we go looby li, nuts) on a tortilla wraps. Place banana on one
The mouse ran down
Here we go looby loo, side and roll it up. Then slice the roll into 1/2inch
Hickory,Dickory Dock
All on a Saturday night coins to eat. Enjoy!
Repeat with: The clock, struck
Now put your right foot in
two...the mouse said boo!
Put right foot out Veggies and cottage cheese
The clock struck three….the mouse
And give your foot a shake, shake, Mix chopped green onions and celery, (grated
said “Whee!”
shake carrots would work also) with cottage cheese and
The clock struck four the mouse said
and turn your body about. pepper to taste. Serve.
“No more!”
Continue switching body parts.

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Look at a book Talk about feelings Play hide and seek From flyers, cut out Make snow angels in Make some small
together. Ask with your child. In with a favorite toy of your child’s favorite the snow together. balls of playdough
questions like “Can front of a mirror make your child’s. Take foods. When you go When you come back and with a fork, poke
you see the black “happy, sad, mad, turns hiding it and shopping hand them in make snow angels the balls to make
cat?” or “do you see surprised, scared” then looking for it. a picture and look for inside on the floor. holes. Supervise as
the red car with the faces together. Describe while the item in the aisle, Then stand up and forks can be sharp.
black stripe?” etc. searching. “Is it together. Talk about get them to try and
Point to them as you under the table? On the foods and give call them jumping
find them together the couch? Oh here it them hints as to jacks!
is by the lamp.” where it is.
Try playing “Go fish” Sing this month’s Play a bowling game Clip clothespins Doodle with your With some pipe Have your child get
with your child. If rhymes together: together. Stack around the rim of a child. Provide them cleaners, show your on all fours like a
they do not “Looby Loo” and some blocks or coffee can or bucket with lots of paper, child how to twist dog. Hold a foil
understand, have “Hickory Dickory containers. or put blocks in the thick pencils and them together to balloon out to the
them play with Dock” Then roll a ball and can. Count each one crayons to create and make shapes. Make side of your child
another adult partner knock them over. as you place. doodle away. a circle bracelet. within kicking dis-
or just practice Repeat! tance. Encourage
matching the cards them to kick the ball
that are the same. sideways...dog kicks!
With colored vegeta- Get your child to fold When bathing your String some “O” Play the “Hokey Have a “blue” day. When picking up
bles or fruits have themselves into a child add some food shaped multi grain Pokey” with your Wear something toys have your child
your child small ball on the floor coloring to color the cereal onto a string child. Place a sticker blue. Find things in sort the toys and put
separate the colors when kneeling. Then water or put some together, then hang or a mitten/sock on your home or outside them in separate
into different piles ask them to turn colored water in outside for the birds the right hand and that are blue. Have a containers...all the
and talk about the themselves into a some containers and to eat. foot. So they begin blue snack cars in one, the
colors. giant tree and reach allow them to pour to recognize the (blueberries, milk with blocks in another
for the sky. Say and mix in the tub. difference between blue food coloring, etc.
“small ball, giant tree” right and left. etc.)
Repeat actions.
With masking tape With some popsicle With some clothes Make a tea party or a Look through some Go ice skating with
make a road on the sticks and some yarn. play dress up with picnic for your child family pictures to- your child. Make sure
floor, under the table Show your child how your child, let them and their stuffed gether. Talk about they wear a proper
around a chair, over to make different wear your clothes (T- animals/dolls. Pre- what is happening in fitting CSA approved
hockey helmet with
a pillow, etc. Then shapes and even shirts scarves, shoes, tend to feed and talk the pictures. Ask face
take small cars and numbers or letters, socks) and wear to the animals/dolls, your child who the protection. Support
drive them on the label them as you some of theirs: pants ask them if they people are in the pic- your child under the
road. make them. on your head, socks would want more etc. tures also. arms and assist with a
on thumbs etc. gliding motion. Or let
them push a chair.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 FEBRUARY
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Parenting tip: The importance of reading and rhyming

“Sharing books is an ideal time for having conversations. It is a quiet, cozy time with something
to look at and talk about– an experience to share” (Ayala Manolson It Takes Two to Talk)

Make time in your schedule to read with your child. It is okay to read a favorite book over and
over again. Change how you read books by using different voices, or leaving out words and
see if they will fill them in, even try changing the words to include them and your family in the
story.

Share rhymes and songs with your child everyday also. “If children know eight nursery rhymes
by the age of four years old, they are usually the best readers by the time they are eight. From
rhymes, children learn words, sentences, rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, all of which they’ll find
later in the books they read “(Mem Fox, Reading Magic, 2001)

Take regular trips to the library to get new books to explore! Most libraries offer free or very
cheap annual memberships for children. Inquire this week!

Recipes:
Baked Mozzarella Bites
Cut squares of mozzarella cheese and place between two round
crackers for 8 minutes in baking pan at 350 degrees. Take out
and cool a bit and serve with pasta sauce for dipping.
Smoothie
Mix a variety of fruit (strawberries, pineapple, watermelon,
banana) and place in a blender. Add yogurt, a couple of ice
cubes, and some milk if it is too thick. Blend and serve with a
straw. Mmmmm!
Rhymes:
I’m walking to the mailbox (Tune: The More we get together)
I’m walking to the mailbox, the mailbox, the mailbox
I’m walking to the mailbox, to mail my valentines
I’m skipping….I’m hopping…I’m tiptoeing...I’m running to the
mailbox…
To mail my valentines
I’ll love you forever (Make up your own tune!)
(From the Robert Munsch story “Love You Forever”
I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always
As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Read a favorite book Play “freeze”. Play With a child sized Allow your child to Fill a plastic spray Make a fort out of
together. Leave out some music and blanket, wrap around make breakfast with bottle with water and cushions, pillows
certain words as you dance together. your child and have you. Allow them to food coloring. Have and blankets. Take
tell the story and see Then turn off the them pretend to be a scoop their cereal them spray onto the a flashlight and read
if they will fill in the music and “freeze or superhero or a ghost from one bowl to snow to make a story inside the fort
blanks. stop”. Turn the music or a bird flying in the another, give them a designs. If it is too when it is all built.
back on and then say sky. Talk about what small cup of milk to cold bring snow
“go”. they see as they pour with. Let them indoors and color in a
pretend. spread with a butter container or sink.
knife etc. Supervise.

Sort a deck of cards Make valentine’s Play an action game Sing this month’s Give your child an Have a “red” day. Play with play dough
together, by numbers cards together for with counting in it. rhymes together: “I’m adult sweater with Wear something that and make a family of
or by colors or by your loved ones and Ask your child to walking to the large buttons to is “red”. Cut out red snowmen, use
shapes/suits. friends. Decorate jump three times, mailbox” and “I'll love practice fastening hearts and decorate. toothpicks for arms,
with cut out hearts, wiggle their fingers you forever” and unfastening but- Look for different little balls of play
stickers etc. Put them twice, turn six times, tons. things that are red in dough for facial
in envelopes and blink once, etc. your home. Eat features etc.
mail them! snacks that are “red”
apple, tomato, salsa
etc”

In the snow stomp Talk about the con- Suspend a foil Make different animal Arrange a play date Encourage your child
down a circle and a cepts “big and little” balloon from a ceiling sounds and see if with another child or to draw faces of
large “X” in the show them examples at shoulder height your child can guess children. Or attend a family members and
middle. Play tag, within the house or and encourage your which animal. Ask parent/tot group to of themselves.
sticking to the outside (shadows, child to bump it with “what animal makes meet other families. Encourage them to
pathways, the center hands, feet, shoes, their right hand, left this sound ____?” describe features
is the safe zone. gloves, shirts, hand or with a plastic and people as they
Pretend to be fox and animals, plates, bat or paddle. draw.
geese. bowls etc.)

Sing the “Wheels on Talk about rhyming Talk about feelings, Print your child’s Sit opposite of your Before bedtime, read Play “Simon says” in
the bus” and do the words or words that act out different name in large letters child with your legs your child a story and the tub. Say ”Simon
actions as you sing. sound the same. emotions and then on a piece of paper spread out and roll a then ask them “what says wash your
Explore what words like charades ask and help your child to ball back and forth to was the best part of toes”, “Simon Says
rhyme with “cat”. them to guess how trace around them. one another. Talk your day and what wash your belly
Write them down you are feeling, by about “fast/slow” con- was the worst part of button”, “ wash your
together, so they can looking at your face cepts and compli- your day?” Share ears “, “Oh I didn’t
see. and how it changes. ment with “good yours also! say Simon Says” etc.
catch, nice roll etc.”

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 MARCH
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Parenting tip: Exercise and your preschooler Rhymes:

Over half of Canadian children are not active enough to
ensure optimal growth and development. So….
exercise with your child everyday!
Each day encourage your preschooler to participate in at
least 60 minutes of structured physical activity. Such
activities could include: swimming, walking, running, riding
bikes, dancing, kicking, throwing, catching, jumping, skating,
climbing, etc. and other active sports.
If you cannot structure their day with activity such as these
make sure that they have at least 60 minutes or more of
unstructured physical activity, with free play involving
movement like running, jumping, dancing, building forts, etc.
5 little monkeys
5 little monkeys jumping on the bed (5 fingers jumping on a palm)
One fell off and bumped his head (Point to head)
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said (pretend to phone)
No more monkeys jumping on the bed. (Nod head; shake finger)
Continue:4,3,2,1
(Variation: 5 little snowmen riding in a sled...Frosty called the doctor)
Hi my name is Joe
Hi my name is Joe (Wave “hi”)
I work in a button factory
I’ve got a wife and two kids (show 2 fingers)
One day my boss came up to me and said “Joe are you busy?”
I said “No I’m not busy” (Shake head “no”)
He said “push this button like this” (push button with finger)
Repeat and keep adding buttons with both hands, feet and tongue!

Recipes:
Fruit kabobs
On wooden skewers, place an assortment of fruit (grapes, watermelon,
strawberries, oranges, pineapple) Serve for a snack or with lunch. Be careful
skewers are sharp! Supervise! Serve with plain yogurt for dip.

Veggies and dip

Combine 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup spinach,1/4 cucumber,1/2 tsp. pepper, 1
tsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. dill in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Use
vegetables like peppers, broccoli, carrots and cucumbers and dip!

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Place pillows, large During bath time, talk Talk about rhyming Hide a small toy in With a brag book or Give your child a
books or carpet about body parts and words –words that one hand. Ask your photo album, have sheet of stickers, let
squares all over the see how many sound the same. child to guess “which your child cover their them take them off
floor, then pretend different ones your See how many words hand it is in?”... “this eyes and cover part and decorate
that the floor is water child can name, try rhyme with “hop”. hand or that hand?” of the picture, then another piece of
and you have to step different ones like Write them down to or for the older child when they open them paper or a coloring
on the “rocks” or the “elbow, chin, ribs, show your child what “my right or left have them guess page.
“crocodiles” will get ankle, etc.” they look like. hand?” who or what it is.
you.

Read a story together Have your child help Play and sing “Ring On a cookie sheet Recite the days of Place your child’s Have a “green” day.
that has some fun you wash some around the Rosie” sprinkle some flour or the week with your snack in a container Wear something
rhymes in it (like a vegetables for a meal together. cornstarch, with your child. Point to a with a twist off lid. green. Play “I spy
book of Dr. Seuss, or like potatoes, or child practice drawing calendar like this one Other good twisting something green”.
nursery rhymes). carrots. Count the numbers or letters in while saying the items are bolts and Eat green snacks
veggies also. Wash the powder. days. nuts that match, and (peas, cucumber,
lettuce and have your plastic bottles with celery, kiwi or
child help you rip to lids that twist on. honeydew melon,
make a salad. etc)

Give your child some Prepare some Poke toothpicks into Play catch with your Make silly sounds Make a bank for your
straws to practice raisins, cut up grapes play dough to make a child with a medium together. Name an child, by cutting a slit
cutting. Supervise or even cubes of porcupine. Then sized ball. Help them object and then make in a plastic container
and watch that they cheese. Before count how many learn how to catch its sound. (try a fire lid. Have them
do not cut eating, ask your child quills there are, with their hands truck, a lion, a cat practice sliding poker
themselves. to count their snack together. extended or in their fighting, a new chips or buttons in.
pieces with you as arms. puppy, a spaceship Repeat.
you place before etc.)
them or put into a
container.

Sing the “ABC” song Show your child how Practice going up Have your child With different colors With a jump rope or Have your child
while washing your to nest containers, and down stairs with practice using “yes of paper, place on string, tie to two practice using a
hands together. Talk into one another. your child. and no” in their com- the floor or table and chairs so that the zipper. Place a
about the importance Bowls or measuring Encourage them to munication. Ask then with toys (like rope is two inches off jacket on the floor
of using soap and cups or stacking cups hold on to a rail or them questions “Do blocks, cars that the floor. Hold your and show them how
warm water and to work well for this your hand for support you like bananas?” match the colors) child’s hand and to do it up and undo
scrub, scrub, scrub activity. at first. Eventually “Do you like onions?” classify and sort, as practice jumping over it.
until the song is they will be able to go Encourage them to well as label the col- the line, raise the
done! up with one foot per nod and say the ors. rope to make it
step. answers. harder.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 APRIL
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Rhymes: See the little funny bunnies
See the little funny bunnies sleeping until noon (children lay and
pretend to sleep)
Shall we wake them up with our funny tune
Oh so still...Are they ill?
Hop little bunnies (children hop)
Hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies
hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, stop!
I’m a little bunny (Tune: I’m a little teapot)
I’m a little bunny watch me hop (hop)
Here are my two ears see how they flop (hands become ears)
Here’s my cotton tail and here’s my nose (one hand to be a tail)
I’m all furry from my head to my toes (point from head to toes)
Recipes: Banana Breakfast Split
Ingredients: 1 banana, yogurt (frozen or not), granola or whole grain
cereal, berries (fresh, frozen or canned)!
Place yogurt in a bowl, cut banana in pieces. Sprinkle with berries
and granola/cereal. Enjoy this nutritious parfait for
breakfast!
Parenting tip: April is dental hygiene month!
• Show your child the importance of brushing their teeth.
Do an experiment together. Put an egg in Coke
overnight. Then use toothpaste to brush off the stain.
Talk about plaque and bacteria and the importance of
brushing!
• Help your child brush their teeth after every meal, and
help them floss once a day until they are eight years of
age.
• Only serve your child water to quench their thirst and
promote drinking milk with every meal. Choose to stop
the pop! Keep pop, energy or sports drinks drink,
caffeinated beverages, even fruit juices (high in sugar and
acid) out of sight.
• Visit your dental health professionals regularly! Check
with your Community Health services office to see if they
have a dental program.

Cheesy stacks
On a baking sheet, top whole grain crackers with grated cheddar,
mozzarella, or havarti cheese. Place in a 350 degree oven until
cheese is melted. Optional: after, top with finely chopped cucumber,
green onions or salsa. Cool for a bit and serve!

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Practice hand With long paper Record your child Fill a bag with differ- Have your child help Make a tape town,
washing with your strips, have your with just audio or ent items from the to set the table for a mark roads, drive-
child: before meals, child practice cutting video, and have them house and small meal. Show them ways and parking
after meals, after with single snips. answer questions like toys. Have them where everything lots with masking
coughing or sneezing Glue pieces on to a “What’s your name?” reach in and grab goes. Talk about the tape. Use boxes to
or wiping nose, after paper after. How old are you?” one item and then names of everything become stores,
using the toilet, or and have them sing have them guess by and who sits where. schools and houses.
coming in from rhymes, play back! feeling (not peeking) Add the toys and
outside. and ask “What is it?” people!

On an oval shaped Sing this month’s Allow your child to Make finger-paint Have a “purple” day Make a book with Color eggs with your
paper, have your featured rhymes “See practice jumping. (Mix 3 tbsp. sugar, Wear something your child. It is a child. Decorate with
child color with the little funny bun- Jump on a mattress, 1/2 cup cornstarch purple. Mix blue and story book, so have wax crayons then dip
crayons, make nies” and “I’m a little cushions, air mat- and 2 cups of water red food colored wa- your child tell you a the eggs into
circles, lines, bunny”. tress, or a trampoline. in a pot, cook over ter together to make story and write it in containers filled with
tornados, etc. Then Supervise! Great ex- low heat, divide into purple. Eat purple the book. Try to write vinegar, and food
paint over top with a ercise for strengthen- smaller portions and grapes, and drink in it daily and read at coloring. Let dry.
thin layer of paint. ing legs. add food coloring) grape juice. Find bedtime.
Pretty egg! Cool and paint! something purple.

Have an egg hunt. Try playing a board In an egg carton, Have your child help Have your child close Sing your child’s
Hide plastic eggs game likes “Snakes color the egg cups you sort coins. Place their eyes, then gen- favorite song with
throughout your and ladders” with with a color that cor- into piles of pennies, tly touch a body part. them. Use a musical
house or yard. Give your child, help them responds to a plastic dimes, quarters, Then ask them to instrument to jazz it
your child a basket to count the dots on Easter egg. Then loonies and twoonies. open their eyes and up also!
and then have them the dice and the have your child tell which part you
collect. After, count spaces to move. match the eggs to the touched. Try shoul-
the eggs to see how colors in the cups. der, elbow, chin, etc
many they found.

Target toss. With a In your conversations Ask your child “how Cut a cereal box pic- After your child’s Talk about rhyming With sticks or straws,
ball or a crumbled up or when looking at a old are you?” Help ture or greeting card bath, give your child words –words that make the letters of
paper or rolled up book use position them to respond by into four or five some lotion to rub sound the same. your child’s name
sock, toss at a target words like “in, out, showing how many pieces and then have onto different body See how many words together. See if they
or into a bucket or under, on, beside, in fingers, and saying “I your child put back parts. Talk about rhyme with “sock”. can copy the letters
container. front of” etc. am ___!” together. how it feels, and how Write them down to with the stick
to rub it in , and body show your child what patterns.
parts. they look like.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 MAY
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Rhymes: Five little fishies

Five little fishies swimming in the sea (swim hands)
Teasing Mr. Shark you can’t catch me (taunt with fingers on head, stick your tongue
out)
Along comes Mr. Shark as quiet as can be (put hands together and swim slowly)
And snap! (clap hands together)
Repeat 4,3,2,1 fishies The last fish gets away and says: you missed me!

Hokey Pokey
Put your right foot in, you put your right foot out,
put your right foot in and you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around,
That’s what it’s all about

Parenting tip: Language development warning signs Recipe: Divide dough into 12 pieces
Easy Pizza Muffins: and place in muffin tins, en-
If your child is between the ages of three and five and you answer “no” to Mix together 1/2 cup water suring there is a small well
any of the following questions with respect to your child’s language 1 tsp. sugar in each.
development then please contact your local community health service 1 tbsp. yeast
office or a speech and language pathologist for further assessments. Let set for 5 minutes, then In each well, place 1 tsp of
• Can other people understand your child’s speech? add : tomato or pizza sauce,
• Can your child say the following sounds in their speech: p, b, m, n, 1/2 cup water, preferred toppings
t ,d, h, w, y,? 1/4 cup of oil, (pepperoni, ham, pineapple,
• Can your child repeat words and short sentences they hear? 2-3 cups of whole mushrooms, onions, etc.)
• Does your child use 3-4 word sentences? wheat flour as much as is
• Does your child understand 2 step directions? needed to make a soft (not Top with grated cheese.
• Does your child use questions (who, where, what)? sticky) dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 20
• Does your child use size and location words (big /little; in/out)? minutes. These freeze well
• Does your child use action words (run, jump, lie down)? also. Tasty!

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Fill a bag with In a basement or Have your child help Play hopscotch Sing “Old MacDonald Use a white candle
common household outside, give your you sort laundry by together. Make a had a farm”, together. or crayon to draw a
objects and then ask child a large rubber color (whites, reds, hopscotch with magic message on a
your child to tell you ball that they can kick blues and blacks numbers 1-10. white piece of paper.
“what do you do with against a wall, and etc.) Have them help Practice hopping with Then have your child
this?” Help them to retrieve. Repeat. you to put the laundry one foot, then on two paint a thin coat of
use descriptive words Place a colorful in and out of the ma- then back to one. paint and the
to explain. target on the wall to chines. message will appear!
aim at, also. Read!

With alphabet Give your child a Roll play dough into Show your child how to Have a “yellow” day. Stack blocks or small Give your child
shaped noodles or spray bottle with snakes or logs and cross the street safely. Wear something boxes. Count as you magazines, flyers or
cereal. Find a letter water mixed with have your child cut Teach them to look left, yellow. Find yellow stack and see how newspapers, and
then see if your child vinegar and paper into pieces with right and then left again. things in your home. high you can build show them pictures
Make sure it is safe,
can find one that towel to clean mirrors scissors. Put the and then proceed with
Eat yellow foods like before they topple! to try to cut out. The
looks like it. and windows. pieces into a your arm out. Children (banana, pineapple, Repeat! stiffer the paper the
container and (9 and under) should eggs, cereal etc.) better. Show them
pretend they are cross the street with an good positioning and
macaroni that needs adult. help if needed.
to be cooked.
Hide a small toy. Go swimming with Name a variety of Sing this month’s Talk about rhyming On a walk outside, Plant a seed in a cup
Then cue your child your child. Consider farm or zoo animals featured rhymes: words –words that have your child or outside in the
by saying to your enrolling in a “Parent and talk about “Five little fishies” and sound the same. gather rocks. Then ground and talk
child that they are and me“ swim class. whether they are big “Hokey Pokey” See how many words ask them to say a about what it needs
“getting warmer”, or Explore and play or small. rhyme with “bee”. letter. Then with the to grow and then
“hot” or “cold” together in the water. Write them down to rocks make that let- watch and check
depending on how Keep your child show your child what ter. Have your child daily. Help your
close they are to the within arms reach at they look like. copy! child to water.
item. all times.

Count with your child Take a walk with your “On your mark, get Imitate animals and Trace your child’s Send your child on a
as they walk up child and pick up set, GO! “ Ask your their movements and handprints or scavenger hunt to
stairs, as you pick up some dandelions or child to “run to touch see if your child can footprints on a piece look for items like a
toys, or different flowers together. the tree, then the guess what you are of paper. Then have black rock, a green
items like popsicle house, then the bike”. acting out. your child color in the leaf, a yellow flower,
sticks, spoons, cray- Limit or increase the print, with crayons. a worm etc.)
ons etc. touch targets de-
pending on how they
remember.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 JUNE
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old
Parenting tips: Recipes:
Sun safety: Always have your child wear a hat when going outside. Try to Apple cheese melt: Toast a slice of raisin
encourage them to wear sunglasses also. Apply children’s SPF 30(or higher) bread, arrange thin apple slices on top, and
sunscreen on all skin that is exposed to the sun, every time you go out and then place grated cheddar cheese on top.
especially when playing near or on water. Microwave for 30 seconds until cheese is
melted. (Or place bread and toppings on a
Water safety: Your child should be within arms length of an adult anytime they are cookie sheet and bake in the oven or toaster
in or around water. This includes pools, bathtubs, and beaches, and other water oven) Cool, cut and enjoy!
sources. Approved lifejackets should be worn by preschoolers when they are playing
in or around water and on a boat. Milkshake for monkeys!
Mosquito safety: Place 1 banana (fresh or frozen), 1/2 cup milk,
For children (2-12 years) of age, use a repellant (with 10% DEET or less) no more 1/2 cup chocolate milk, and 2 tbsp. peanut
than three times day. Have your child wear long pants and sleeves, at dawn and at butter (optional). Place all the ingredients in a
dusk when mosquitoes are at their worst. Avoid putting repellant on faces and blender, cover and process until smooth.
hands. Put repellant on after sunscreen for the best effectiveness. Serves 2 little monkeys!

Rhymes:
Me Teddy Bear
Two little eyes that open and close (blink eyes) Teddy bear, teddy bear
Two little ears, but just one nose (point to ears and nose) touch the ground
Two little shoulders one on each side (point to shoulders) Teddy bear, teddy bear
Two little arms to open wide (open arms to hug) turn around
Two little hands busy all day (shake hands) Teddy bear, teddy bear
Two elbows that bend, they’re made that way (bend el- touch the sky
bows) Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Two little feet so sturdy and strong (stomp feet) fall to the ground
And two little legs that run all day long (run) (Have child act out
actions) Go faster second
time!

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Milk jug golf: Write Mix a combination of With a sheet ask your Cut out pictures of Play beauty salon, let Draw circles with
numbers on three to crackers, cereals, child to hold the food from flyers. your child do your sidewalk chalk and
five milk jugs, then pretzels etc. Then corners of one end Talk about how you hair; spray your hair place a number in
place in your yard 5- ask your child to sort and then you hold the need to eat a rain- with water, comb, each one. With
10 feet apart. With a through the snack, others. Make the bow of foods every- brush, put in barrettes small rocks see if
small ball, have your matching them and sheet go up and day. Classify them etc. you and your child
child roll the ball to try eating them. down like a together into can take turns
to hit a jug, like golf, parachute. Give a groups: fruits/ tossing and landing
repeat! ball or animal a ride! vegetables/grains, on numbers.
milks, meat etc.
Talk about the feeling Have an “orange” Play a “sink or float” When outside on the With play dough, Go on a bug hunt Make paper air-
of being angry. What day. Wear game with your child. grass, have your child show your child outside and see how planes with your
is okay to do when something orange. In a container, sink or hold your hands, and how to roll and many different bugs child. Practice
you are angry (to talk Mix yellow and red wading pool, gather a walk up the front of make balls or eggs. you can find… spi- throwing them
about it) and what not food coloring and bunch of different your legs, then tuck Then make a nest ders, butterflies, lady- outside to see how
to do (hit, yell, throw water to make items, and toys and their knees to their and put the eggs in. bugs, beetles, ants far they will go!
things etc.) orange. Eat orange see which ones will chest, turn a somer- Then make a mama etc. Name them and
foods (e.g.: oranges, sink or float, together. sault, and land on bird together to sit watch them.
cheese, carrots) Play their feet. on the nest.
I spy.
Talk about rhyming Try some stretching Cutting practice: give Have a picnic outside Go for a walk and Have your child take Write your child’s
words –words that exercises together. your child some salad in your yard or at a see how many stickers off and place name on a paper in
sound the same. Touch your toes and tongs to pick up ob- park for when you different birds you them onto a paper. pencil or highlighter.
See how many words reach to the sky. Lie jects and place into a have a snack or even can see. Look up Then have them take And Then have
rhyme with “late”. flat on your tummy container or bowl or a meal. the birds in a bird a marker and trace a them trace over the
Write them down to and stretch your arms give your child a book for a close up circle or a square letters with a crayon
show your child what to arch your back and turkey baster to play look. around each one. or marker.
they look like. look up. Reach to with in the water to
your sides and squeeze and maneu-
stretch your legs ver.

Read a book with Sing this month’s fea- Have your child walk Place old crayons in Build a house to- Mix different
your child outside on tured rhymes: “Me” “over” you when lying a bag and place gether out of containers of food
a blanket in the and “Teddy Bear, on floor. Make a outside to see how containers, a box, coloring with water.
shade. Use different teddy bear” bridge with your the sun will melt blocks etc. Use Then with other
voices for the hands and feet on them. When soft people or Barbie's to containers mix differ-
different characters in floor and have your combine them into a play in the house. ent colors of water
the book. child go “under”. ball. Cool, then color with others and talk
Reverse roles! with the ball. about what colors
they make.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 JULY
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Parenting tip: When conflicts happen Rhymes:

Five Little Ducks
Your child learns to how to react to problems by watching how you respond. Five little ducks went out to play (show five fingers)
If you react with anger– yelling or hitting your child might do the same. Take Over the hill and far away (place hand over brow as to look
time yourself to calm down before trying to solve problems. Here are some far away)
other ideas to try with your preschooler.
When the mama duck called quack, quack, quack
Four little ducks came waddling back
• Describe the problem without blaming or judging anyone. (“You are
mad, because she has the toy you wanted”) Repeat 4,3,2,1,0
• Ask for help solving this problem. “what should we do about this?” No little ducks went out to play, over the hills and far away
• Decide on the best solution together and try it out. (Take turns and set When the daddy duck called QUACK,QUACK, QUACK
a timer, remove item, etc.) 5 little ducks came waddling back
• Later, talk about how well it worked, and if it didn’t work well, try another
solution from the list. Clean up song
• If a similar problem arises later and your child comes up with their own Jump down turn around, pick up all the toys
solution… praise them for their good choices! Jump down, turn around put them all away
I see (child’s name) cleaning up the toys
I see (child’s name) putting them away
(works great when cleaning up for use with more than one child also)

Recipe:
Homemade macaroni and cheese
Cook and drain macaroni noodles.
In another saucepan, prepare the sauce. Melt 3 tsp. of butter or margarine
with 3 tbsp. of flour. Then whisk 1 cup of milk with the butter mixture until
smooth.
Next add 1 3/4 cup of light old cheddar cheese-grated.
Whisk until cheese is melted...may have to add more milk if it is too thick.
Add to noodles and serve! They may ask for seconds...creamy delicious!

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

With a ride-on toy or Make “smoothicles” Have your child trace With color squares of If there are clouds in Sing this month’s Talk about loud and
when they are on together. Make around stencils, or paper, hide all over a the sky, lay with your featured rhymes: quiet sounds. Have
their tricycle or bike smoothies with 1 cup around objects like a room or your yard child on a blanket “Five Little Ducks,” your child try
play “Red light, green of milk, banana and jar lid, cookie cutter, and then have your outside and look at and “Clean up song” whispering for quiet
light “ or “Stop and berries. Then place key, ruler, or paper child find all the them and try to see sounds and yelling
Go”. Be sure your into moulds or you shapes. papers and line them shapes and talk for loud sounds.
child is wearing a can use paper cups up and label all the about what you see. Then talk about
CSA approved bicy- with a spoon for a colors of the rainbow Play “I spy” also. inside and outside
cle helmet. handle. Freeze and together. voices and practice!
enjoy on a hot day!
Put some music on. On a tray arrange 6-8 Have a “rectangle” Cut a picture from a Practice your families With the front of an
Take turns running items, toys or small day. Draw a rectan- magazine in three names with your old greeting card,
through the sprinkler. household items. gle together, cut it out pieces. Have your child. Ask “what is punch holes around
Dancing in the rain! Ask them to study, and then look for child put the pieces your first name?, last the edge of the card,
Can you see a then cover with a different shapes that back in place “top, name?, mom’s and thread a
rainbow? towel and remove are the same. Have middle, bottom” to name? dad’s name? shoelace or string
one item. Ask them a rectangular snack, make a picture. siblings names? etc” through the holes.
to guess “What’s a sandwich, cracker, Sewing “in and out”.
missing?” cheese, etc.

Draw on a paper with Show your child how Roll a hula hoop or Teach your child how Cutting practice: to Clap a rhythm for Talk about rhyming
a highlighter and see to roll out play dough throw a Frisbee or to swing, how to strengthen muscles your child and then words – that sound
if they will copy over with a rolling pin. plastic lid to your pump their legs to for cutting have your ask them to copy it. the same. See how
the lines (roads). Then with cookie child and see if they keep going. Show child squeeze Add slapping thighs, many words rhyme
Draw shapes, letters, cutters or cups cut can catch. them how to put their clothespins onto snap fingers or with “fun”. Write
people, etc. shapes out and place feet “out” to touch metal washers. Then clicking your tongue. them down to show
on a large lid. Then your hands and then have them take apart Change the your child what they
pretend to bake the “back” or” bend” and sort into piles or sequences and see if look like.
cookies. when they go back. containers. they will copy.

On 10 frozen juice Draw pictures of Visit the library and Bounce a ball on a Cook some alphabet Hide a kitchen timer
lids draw on 5 “X”’s bugs together. Try check out some sidewalk and catch. shaped noodles and or music box turned
and 5 “O”’s. Then on coloring your child’s books together. Show your child and mix with tomato on in a room and see
a paper make a “tic thumb or finger and Take time to read a practice with them. sauce and cheese. if your child can find
tack toe” game (#). have them make story or play a child’s Also try throwing a Point out the letters it by listening.
Show them how to prints and then turn game on a computer ball in the air to you recognize and
play tic tack toe! them into bugs together while you catch. talk about the ones
adding eyes, anten- visit. you eat.
nae etc.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 A UGUST
Parenting tip: Car Seat safety Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

• Keep your child in a forward facing car seat Recipes: Egg breakfast pizza
correct for his height and weight until he is at On a toasted whole grain English muffin or piece of whole grain toast, place a slice
least 18 kg (40 lbs). or until he is at least 6 years of tomato and a slice of lean ham. Top with a cooked egg and grated cheese.
old. Some forward-facing seats may be used with Warm in a microwave or oven until melted. Cut, serve and enjoy!
the 5 point harness up to 30 kg (65 lbs).
Apple grape salad
• All child safety seats must be held in place Mix together 1 chopped apple, 3/4 cup of halved seedless grapes and 1/2 cup of
with a seat belt or with the Universal Anchorage chopped celery with a cup of plain yogurt and 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
System (UAS). Every vehicle is different so you (optional). Stir until coated. Serve as a delicious snack or in a whole grain pita for
need to check your owner's manual for how to a delicious quick and easy lunch. Enjoy!
use the UAS in your vehicle. All forward-facing
child safety seats must also be secured wit a top Rhymes:
tether strap. Follow all installation instructions I have a little bicycle
that come with the seat. Once you have attached I have a little bicycle
the child safety seat to the vehicle seat, pull the I bought it at the shop
straps tight enough so that the seat moves less And when I see the big red light
than 2.5 cm or 1 inch. I know it’s time to stop!
• For installation instruction refer to the safety I have a little bicycle
seat instruction manual and your vehicle manual. I ride it to the gate
Take the child safety seat “yes test” on line at And when I see the yellow light
www.myhealth.alberta.ca or I know it’s time to wait!
www.healthyparentshealthychildren.ca or in your
Health Parents Healthy Children Book: Early I have a little bicycle
Years book I ride it to and fro
And when I see the big green light I know it’s
• For more information contact Health Link time to go!
Alberta at 1-800-408-5485 or Alberta
Transportation at 310-0000.

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Give your child a With some blocks, Gesture or sign “I Have sponges and Just for fun try color- Count out some ce-
bucket, container or make simple towers love you” or learn to buckets of water and ing or drawing with real pieces together
watering can and ask and then break and say the phrase in have fun tossing your opposite hand. as high as the child
them to water the ask your child to another language, them to one another Talk about right and can count and then
flowers, trees or stack the same way with your child. on a hot summer left hands, and how it add new numbers
grass. Supply them start with four to five day. feels different. and see if they will
with a larger bucket blocks and then add. remember. Try
of water or a hose to counting backwards
get the water from. also as you eat!
Supervise.
Talk about rhyming With some magnetic Have your child stay Blow bubbles outside Take your child to the On paper plates, Flatten play dough
words –words that letters on the fridge, up after dark to see together. Chase and beach, and keep draw different faces with your hands and
sound the same. help your child spell the stars and the pop! Practice them within arm’s with different make a pizza, put
See how many words out their name. If moon. Talk about blowing or use the length near water. emotions (happy, other toppings on top
rhyme with “bug”. you don’t have mag- the night and what wind and move your Take some sand toys silly, sad, mad, and show your child
Write them down to nets, write their let- creatures like the arm. to make sandcastles sleepy, etc) Draw how to cut it with a
show your child what ters on sticky notes night. Listen and talk or sculptures with. mustaches, eye- knife into triangles.
they look like. or paper squares. about the sounds Take buckets, brows, eyeglasses,
also! containers, shovels freckles etc.)
etc.
Encourage your child Catch a bug and With beads thread Have a “circle” day. Sing this month’s If it is a sunny day go
to read a book to you place it in a onto a lace or string. Draw a circle featured rhymes: out and look at your
-choose a book with container. Count Make a pattern like together, cut it out “Hop, hop, stop” and shadows together.
mostly pictures and how many legs, “two green, one yel- and then look for dif- “I have a little bicycle” Move your arms and
have them tell you wings it has. Ask low, one red, repeat ferent shaped objects legs, stretch and
what is your child “What color etc. Supervise. If you that are the same. make silly poses.
happening on each is it?” “Where does it do not have beads Have a circular Look at other objects
page. live?” “What does it make a pattern with snack, cracker, and and their shadows.
eat?” etc. blocks or even cray- cheese cut in a circle,
ons. banana etc.

With an inflatable Cut out shapes of Sing a counting song Place some colored Play follow the leader Ask your child func- Draw with chalk on a
beach ball fill it with fish out of paper. together like “Five ice cubes in a with your child. Try tion questions like? sidewalk and then
water partially and Tape a metal paper little monkeys”, “This resealable bag or walking backwards, “What do you hear squirt with a water
with air partially. clip to the fish. Then old man” or “One two container. Place in hopping, spinning, with?” “What do you gun, or spray bottle
Shake, rattle and roll tape a fridge magnet buckle my shoe.” the sun and watch take small steps and taste with?” “What and watch it
the ball together. to a piece of string them melt, and the then large steps, do you see with?” Or transform.
and attach to a ruler. colors swirl together swing your arms etc. “What do you write
With your fishing rod as you play with it. Take turns being the with?” “Eat with?”
catch the fish...fun! leader. “Play with?” etc.

www.albertahealthservices.ca

Parenting tip: Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old
School Readiness
Educators and administrators in every school
will tell you the most important skills to have
your child learn prior to entering the school
system, are:
• understanding of social rules (sharing, turn
taking, using their manners)
• self-control of emotions (not using
aggression, patience in waiting, etc)
• empathy, and caring for others
• independence– taking responsibility for
their own things and how to take off and
put on their clothes and shoes/boots
• understanding of safety rules and
boundaries
• responsibility in daily tasks like cleaning
up, and putting things away
Other activities to try to promote further school
readiness:
• read with your child everyday
• listen to music and sing songs and rhymes
• give your child an opportunity every day to
do creative art: to cut and paste, to draw,
to paint or model with play dough and clay;
• exercise everyday together (swim, walk,
dance, skate, run jump etc.)
• teach them their name, your names, their
phone number and where they live
• teach them about their world with
everyday concepts
If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
SEPTEMBER
Rhymes: Brown squirrel
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel
Shake your bushy tail (wiggle hips)
Repeat
Wrinkle up your little nose (wrinkle nose)
Put a nut between your toes (touch toes)
Brown squirrel, brown squirrel
Shake your bushy tail
Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town
The children ... go up and down
The horn ... goes beep, beep, beep
The wipers...go swish, swish, swish
The doors... goopen and shut
The babies... go “wah,wah,wah”
The parents...go sh,sh,sh
Recipe:
French toast
Whisk together 2 eggs, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla
Dip 4 pieces of whole grain bread one at a time into the egg mixture. Cook over
medium heat in a non-stick frying pan until the egg mixture is cooked.
Serve with fruit (bananas, berries) and maple syrup
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

While outside, With play dough, roll Talk about “big and Try saying tongue Make a puppet out of Take a walk around
practice kicking a ball out a bunch of little” concepts. See twisters with your an old sock or mitten town and look for
to one another. Be snakes together. if your child can find child like “big blue and pretend play with numbers on
careful not to kick too Then use them to five things that are balloon”; “fine fat your child. Have vehicles, houses,
hard and aim for make shapes like bigger than their fish”; “cans of candy your child feed, give signs, store windows
their feet. triangles, rectangles, hand. kisses” or “mama drinks, put to bed, etc. Point to and say
circles etc. or num- makes muddy wake up, and even the numbers to-
bers and letters. Ask messes Monday” dance with the pup- gether.
them to label! pet!

Make a cup toss Give your child Talk about the rules Have a “square” day. Help your child to Go for a bike/tricycle Trace a letter on
game by taping a ball “butterfly” kisses by you have in your Draw a square to- learn their phone ride together. Re- your child’s back and
of aluminum foil to a leaning in close so house, with your gether, cut it out and number. Write it out member to wear your see if they can guess
string and then with that your eyelashes child. Talk about the then look for different on a card and then helmets. which letter it is. If
the other end tape brush their cheeks. reasons, and what shaped objects that help them to they have trouble,
the string to a cup. happens if they for- are the same. Have memorize it with a tell them which letter
Try to catch the foil get. a square snack, (a tune. Recite every- first and then draw it.
ball in the cup. Take sandwich, cracker, day till they know it.
turns. cheese, etc.)

Have your child run Try marble painting. Encourage your child Play “I spy” when See what shapes When making a
around your house Place a marble in to draw a picture of a reading or looking at (square, triangle, cir- salad or something
outside. Make sure it paint in a container. person or a face. a book or a maga- cle) your child can that requires green
is safe, and count Place a paper in a Talk about the zine. Say things like make with six onion tops. Have
how many times they box. Then take the features that they “I spy some shoes”, popsicle sticks. your child cut the
can do it, before they marble out of the add as they draw, or etc. tops with scissors for
are tired. Give them paint and roll in the if they forget the dish. Supervise.
a cool drink after. box over the something encourage
paper...neat designs! them to draw.

Make a leaf rubbing Sing this month’s Go to your local li- Rake some leaves Cut greeting cards or Have your child help Give your child a
picture. Collect featured rhymes: brary and check out together and jump old playing cards in you to infused water. measuring tape to
different leaves and “Brown squirrel” and books that they into the piles. Roll half. Mix them all up Place sliced lemons measure things with.
place under a piece “The Wheels on the choose together. and throw and scoop. and have your child or cucumber slices or Show them how to
of paper. Show your Bus” Take some home to match the halves to- berries in to a pitcher use it, and then
child how to rub the read for the week. gether. full of water. Let sit in show them how to
crayons (hold flat and fridge and taste. read the numbers.
go back and forth).

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 OCTOBER
Parenting tip: Eye health Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

• At age three, your child should return to the optometrist for an

eye exam. By this age, your child’s vision skills are reasonably
developed, and serious eye conditions can be reversible or even
preventable if detected early! Before your child goes to
kindergarten they should have another eye exam and then every
year after that also! Most vision problems go undetected.
Remember 80% of learning in the first 12 years is visual.

• Alberta Health Care covers the cost for all eye exams for children
under the age of 19!
• Active play activities with eye-hand exploration are very important
to strengthen your child’s vision.
• For more information contact your local Community Health
Services office or The Alberta Association of Optometrists at Rhymes:
1-800-272-8843 or check out www.optometrists .ca Five saucy owls
Down on the corner in a great big tree (reach arms up)
There were 5 saucy owls staring at me (show five fingers)
Recipes: Along came a kitty cat as quiet as can be (use hands like
Sweet potato wedges paws)
Cut and peel sweet potato into wedges or sticks, toss in 1 tbsp of And she scared one owl right out of the tree (flap arms to fly)
olive or canola oil and 1/4 tsp. salt and pepper . Place on a bak- Repeat….4,3,2,1,0
ing sheet. Bake for 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven, turning half
way. Makes 3-4 servings Twinkle, Twinkle Little star (a variation)
(Child’s name, child’s name) you’re my star
Banana Berry Blast smoothie How I wonder who you are
In a blender place 1/2 cup frozen unsweetened berries, 1 medium How I wonder how you’ll grow
banana, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Blend until smooth What you’ll be and who you will know
Delicious! Cheers! (Child’s name, child’s name) you’re my star
Oh my girl/boy you’ll go far!

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Give your child Give your child a Spell out your child’s Go for a walk and With small sticker Talk about your Read a short story
berries or orange scoop of hummus or name in a cheer- talk about the leaves stars or dots. Place child’s fears or your with your child.
segments and put in peanut butter and leader’s chant. Give and their color the stickers in a own fears and what Then ask them to
a pile then help them encourage them to me a “s” give me a “t” changes. See how straight line, curves you are scared of. re-tell it back to you,
count out ten pieces spread on to crackers etc. and encourage many different ones or diagonal lines. See if you can find by looking at the
to eat. Enjoy and or bread. them to repeat the you can find. Then have your child ways to help each pictures and using
count when eating letters until the end connect the dots with other not to be afraid. their own words.
also. and then ask “What a pencil or a crayon.
does that spell?”

Make some magic Help your child learn Tie a string to a foil At night use a flash- With two puppets, Talk about what you
mud with your child. their name and the balloon or give your light in a dark room to (even just socks are thankful for, and
Mix about 1 cup of letters in it. Set it to a child a streamer, and make funny shadows work), one for you ask your child what
cornstarch with 1/2 tune if it helps and encourage them to on the wall. You can and one for your they are thankful for.
cup of water. Place draw it out often and run with it and let it fly also try holding up child, make the Encourage your child
in a tray or on the help them practice behind them. funny objects, and puppets talk to one also to use their
table. Have your drawing the letters Supervise. Remove making objects another and interact. manners, using
child try to pick it up, (always start at the balloon promptly if it dance. Make up a They could even roll “please, thank you,
hold it, etc. Easy top of the page!) pops. story also. a ball to each other. and excuse me.”
clean up!

Cut pictures from a Cut out a pumpkin Have a “triangle” day. Dance, skip and jump Have a pumpkin Apply a thin layer of Let your child dress
magazine, flyer or shape and some face Draw a triangle to your child with hunt. Cut out 6-7 cold cream to your up in different
newspaper (animals, shapes with your together, cut it out music playing but pumpkin shapes and child’s face (to make clothes and
people, toys, cars child. Then have and then look for when the music stops hide around a room. clean up easier!) then costumes. Talk
etc.) Then glue on to your child glue the different shaped ob- or when you say When found talk with face paint or about Halloween
a piece of paper and eyes, nose and jects that are the “Statue!” they must about where they makeup, turn you night and what they
make up a funny mouth on to the same. Have a trian- freeze into that were using position child into an animal are going to be and
story about them as pumpkin. Hang as a gle snack, pizza, position. words: under, on, on like a cat or dog. how to be safe.
you place. decoration. cracker, cheese, etc. top of etc.

Decorate a small With play dough Carve a pumpkin to- Sing this month’s After trick or treating When putting your
pumpkin with paint or make pancakes by gether. Have your featured rhymes with your child, sort child to bed talk
markers just for flattening or rolling. child help scoop the “Five saucy Owls and and classify their about all the things
display. Then make faces in pulp and the seeds “Twinkle, Twinkle (a Halloween treats you did that day and
them by poking out. Count the seeds variation)” together. Sort what you liked best
fingers in for eyes, after. Use descriptive according to color about your day and
nose and use a knife words when carving. shape, variety etc. what you and your
to make a smile. child didn’t like also.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 NOVEMBER
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Recipes: Sunflower snack Rhymes: Zoom, zoom

Spread peanut butter or hummus on a round whole grain Zoom, zoom, zoom Alice the Camel
cracker, place bananas (petals) or orange segments around the We’re going to the moon
outside of the cracker on a plate. Sprinkle raisins, craisins, or Zoom, zoom, zoom Alice the Camel has 5 humps,
sunflower seeds in the center of the cracker. Enjoy! A fun We’re going to the moon Alice the Camel has 5 humps,
flower snack you can eat. Alice the Camel has 5 humps,
If you want to take a trip So go Alice go...Boom, boom,
Fruit toast: Climb aboard my rocket ship boom (shake hips side to side)
Toast a piece of whole grain bread, spread with a peanut butter Zoom, zoom, zoom Repeat 4,3,2,1,0 humps
or almond butter or pea butter. Arrange fruit, like raspberries, We’re going to the moon in… Last line: Cause Alice is a horse
strawberries or bananas on top. Mmmm! Goodness! 5,4,3,2,1 BLAST OFF!

Parenting tip: T.V. and its affects

• The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends limiting TV watching to less than one
hour per day for all ages, that is including time spent on the computer and using
video and educational games on any screen.

• Develop a family agreement for computer/TV use, give choices on what they are
going to watch and play and for how long each day. Use a timer to signify when the
visual medium will be turned off. Do not allow your child to watch TV when they are
eating or when they are resting (in a bedroom).

• Excessive use of TV and video/computer games has been linked to attention prob-
lems, physical inactivity and obesity, decreased use of language, aggression, anxiety
and depression.

• Try to balance technology use in your home with other activities such as reading,
physical activities, and taking time to play with your child.

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

On recipe cards right Try whispering a Sing this month’s With small stickers Look at your child’s Make trail mix Fill an aluminum pie
out the letters of your secret to your child featured rhymes: (stars or dots) outline baby pictures together. Have your plate with water and
child’s name. Then and have them pass “Zoom, zoom, zoom” shapes (circle, together. Talk about child scoop and mix freeze it. Check on it
hide throughout a it on to someone else and “Alice the Camel” square etc). Then how they have 1/2 cup of dried fruits, periodically together.
room. Have your or say it back to you have your child changed. Measure like raisins, apricots When frozen let your
child look for them, and see if they can connect the dots to how tall your child is etc, with 1/2 cup child play with it in a
then lay them out to hear and repeat. make the shape and and show them how sliced nuts, and 1/2 sink, run water over
spell their name! color the inside. big they were when cup whole grain ce- it, watch how it
Name the shapes. they were born. real pieces together. melts.

Place some paper Call out three ani- Have a “number” day Give your child a With playdough, hide Play the memory
clips into a small box, mals, colors, or body Draw numbers, make blanket ride on a little plastic toy game: “I went to
then with a magnet parts and if they all play dough numbers, smooth floor. Have figurines inside, and grandma’s and I
under the box, show are the same (red, make numbers with them sit on one end then have them took____”. Get your
how you can move red, red) then they yarn, count items and and then pull the “rescue” from the child to repeat what
them with magic! can hop or skip to a match to numbers, other and give them dough, by digging you said and then
Show them how so certain point, if they have a number hunt, a ride. Ask them to them out. add another item.
your child can try with don’t match then they etc. tell you fast or slow. Continue and see
someone else! stand still. Good workout! who can remember!

Turn on some dance Musical beans: Have Practice deep Practice cutting out Pretend to be Sing “Twinkle,
music. Join your your child create their breathing with your letters out of flyers. different animals with twinkle little star”, or
child and dance and own musical instru- child especially at Then glue them to your child. Slither recite “Star light, star
make some stuffed ment by adding dried night or when angry make a “letter like a snake, swing bright, first star I see
animals/dolls dance beans to an empty to help them to calm collage” Put letters like a monkey, walk tonight I wish I may, I
with you too! “So you bottle or container themselves and together and make like an elephant, wish I might have the
think you can and then close! settle. sounds like “s” and duck, bear, wish I wish tonight.”
dance?!” Shake to the beat of ”h” that makes “sh”. etc. Then make a wish
your favorite song. together.

Play hide and seek Teach your child Show your child how Attend story time or Color in a coloring Make a lacing card Teach your child
with your child. what to do if there is to dial 9-1-1 and rhyme time at your book together while out of cardboard, cut how to do jumping
Encourage them to a fire in your home discuss when this local library. listening to music. a mitten shape and jacks. Ask them to
count to ten or more! and where to meet. should be used and Color according to then punch holes show you how high
Teach them also to what happens when the rhythm of the mu- around the outside. they can jump, ask
“stop, drop and roll” if you phone this sic (fast or slow). Use a shoelace or them to jump over
ever their clothes number. yard and thread different items.
catch on fire. through the holes
with your child.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
 DECEMBER
Ideas for preschoolers from 3 to 5 years old

Parenting tip: Rhymes:

Recommended toys for 3-5 year olds
Interactive toys: Dress up clothes and props for pretend play, story
books, simple cooperatives games, music CD’s, musical instruments,
rhyming games, magnetic letters and numbers, puppets, dolls, train sets,
farm sets, car sets, kitchen sets, animals
Gross motor toys: climbing, jumping and swinging equipment, tricycles,
bikes, balls of all sizes, cardboard boxes
Creative mediums for hand play; crafts, play dough, markers, crayons,
pencils, chalk, glue, scissors, paper, beads with laces and/or yarn
Problem solving toys: Interlocking jigsaw puzzles, memory card
games, counting and matching games, beads
A round little snowman
A round little snowman had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny (with 2 fingers hopping)
And what do you suppose (shrug shoulders)
That funny little bunny looking for his lunch (rub tummy)
Ate that little snowman’s nose (pretend to eat)
Nibble, nibble, crunch!
Five little snowmen
Five little snowmen all made of snow (show five fingers)
Five little snowmen all in a row
When out came the sun and it shone all day (place arms in
a circle over head)
and one little snowman melted away (pretend to melt)
Repeat 4,3,2,1,0 Ask at the end what is left...a puddle!

Recipe: Peppermint sparkle play dough

“Your children need your presence more than your presents!”
Jesse Jackson
If you have any concerns with your child’s development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tbsp. of cream of tartar (found in spice section at the grocery store)
1 tbsp. oil
1 cup hot boiling water
Food coloring, peppermint extract and glitter sparkles
Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl, while boiling the water. Then
mix the hot water with the other remaining ingredients and mix alto-
gether with the flour mixture in the bowl. Knead. until soft and then
cool! Store in a plastic container or re-sealable bag. Great gift!
 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

On a December cal- Have your child cut Make holiday cookies Thread beads onto a With an empty wrap- Talk about “big” and On recipe cards,
endar use stickers or out a shape all by together, use cookie pipe cleaner with ping paper tube, “little” concepts. write 5 letters, then
a marker to count them selves then cutters to cut out your child. pretend with your Have your child find look through your
down until Christmas have them put on shapes. Watch them Encourage your child child that it is a five things that are house to find items
or your winter holiday white glue in designs bake. When cool to make a pattern tunnel, place small smaller than their that start with the
starts. with a stick. Show spread on icing and red, green, white, balls or cars in and hand. letter on the cards.
them how to sprinkle put on sprinkles. repeat. Bend into the have fun rolling them “t” for table, “p” pil-
glitter, shake off ex- shape of a candy through the tubes low, “b” for “bed”,
cess and wow! cane and hang! and catching them. etc.

Through a paper Make the peppermint Have your child walk Have an “ABC” day. Put all the kitchen Make footprints in the Have your child write
towel or wrapping sparkle playdough to with a bean bag or Draw letters, make chairs in rows like a snow and see if your their name in a card
paper tube, have fun give as a gift for small stuffed animal playdough letters, bus. Pretend to drop child can follow in or on a gift tag for
talking to your child someone. Make on their head, can make numbers with off and pick up dolls/ your steps. Follow the gift of a loved
through the tube, and enough to keep some they bend down to yarn, sing ABC’s and animals and sing the the leader! Make one
see what they say to play with also! pick something up? match letters as you “wheels on the bus”. zigzags, circles,
back. See recipe section. Can they walk bal- sing, match lower jump, etc.
ancing a small ball on case to uppercase
a spoon also? letters printed on rec-
ipe cards, etc.
Sing Christmas car- Show your child how Sing this month’s Help your child to Read Christmas sto- Play “What’s
ols with your child, to make snowflakes featured rhymes: “A wrap small gifts. Let ries like “The Night missing?“ with holi-
like “Jingle Bells”; by folding paper and chubby little them cut paper put before Christmas” or day ornaments.
“Rudolph the red cutting corners and snowman” and “Five on tape, put on other holiday favor- Place five or more
nosed reindeer”; edges. little snowmen”. ribbons etc. ites to your child. ornaments on a tray
“Santa Claus is and cover. Take one
coming to town”. away and then ask
your child “what’s
missing?”

Have your child try If your child behaved When you say “go” Bring some snow in Make a birdfeeder With masking tape
tossing (plastic milk all day reward them run, hop, walk, jump and place in a out of a milk jug, a make the first letter
jug lids, lids from fro- with a pajama picnic. in a circle, with your container or in a sink hollowed out of your child’s name
zen juice containers Have a picnic in the child until you say for your child to play grapefruit or orange on the floor. Walk
or rolled up socks living room on a “stop”. with. Use water to half, and hang with along or drive along
into a laundry basket. blanket with a special melt and different twine or string near a the shape with a toy
Which one was the snack and read a containers to scoop window. Then fill with car.
easiest? story or sing rhymes and mold. Always seeds and watch for
together. supervise your child the birds!
around water.

www.albertahealthservices.ca
Created by:
Kim Nowicki
Early Childhood Development Program Coordinator
Lac La Biche Community Health Services
P.O Box 869, 9503 Beaverhill Road
Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0
tel:780-623-4471
Email: kim.nowicki@albertahealthservices.ca

Alberta Health Services

www.albertahealthservices.ca