| To help your child develop needed lifetime skills and | | | | responses. And, you'll all be able to talk about the |
| abilities, you, as a parent, have to be fully committed to | | | | movie that night at dinner. |
| your child's overall development. Yet, nearly everything | | | | (4) And speaking about talking, it's great to encourage |
| you do with your child can also be fun (and should be). | | | | your child be part of the conversation. Let them finish |
| Here's a list of 7 must-do things you and your three to | | | | their thoughts and feel proud of what they said. Your |
| eight year old can share: | | | | three-year old may not be a great spokesperson yet, |
| (1) Perhaps the easiest activity is to take a few | | | | but with practice, he/she will soon become one. |
| moments every night to read to your child. It's okay | | | | (5) Being a master chef can also be fun. Perhaps it is |
| (even desirable) to re-read the same story again and | | | | the cookie dough you are mixing up or maybe you are |
| again. Always show the words and pictures to your | | | | making an Italian dinner. Let your child be part of the |
| child as you read the story to them. In fact, through | | | | action. Obviously keep sharp objects at bay. But, your |
| repetition, your child will soon learn key words and be | | | | child can help stir some things or bring you a box or |
| able to read them back to you (first by repetition and | | | | can from the pantry. If you have an apron let your child |
| then by sight). As your child gets older and develops | | | | (son or daughter) dress the part. You can even buy |
| his/her vocabulary, have them read to you (and | | | | chef's hats that you can both wear. |
| maybe even a younger sibling). This fosters | | | | (6) Coloring, drawing, and painting together fosters |
| responsibility, as well. | | | | creativity. Plain paper and crayons or colored pencils |
| (2) Motor skill development is very important for young | | | | are all it takes. But with proper protection on your floor |
| bodies. You can do this at home by tossing a soft ball | | | | or table, working with Tempera paint or modeling clay |
| to your child and having them throw it back to you. | | | | can result in creations worthy of documenting via |
| Even rolling a large blow-up beach ball back and forth | | | | photographs or home videos. Replaying the activity or |
| is beneficial. Carrying things (obviously not fragile) and | | | | looking back at the pictures can showcase the good |
| building things (blocks) that have to balance upon each | | | | times everyone had. One important consideration, |
| other can be great fun. Simple lettered blocks can | | | | please - be sure dad gets into some of the pictures! |
| create some interesting patterns and structures. And | | | | (7) Finally, bond with the natural world. It can be as |
| nothing beats their eventual crashing down! Using | | | | simple as taking a close-up look of a flower to see the |
| building blocks that lock together (e.g., LEGO TM) can | | | | different parts, watching the sky for shapes in the |
| also help develop the creative side of your side (e.g., | | | | clouds or counting the waves that advance onto a |
| "Look mom/dad, I've built an airplane"). Then watch | | | | beach. This can foster the development of keen |
| them fly their creation around your home. | | | | observational skills as well an appreciation of what |
| (3) Watching a kid's movie and really getting into it is an | | | | exists right outside our door. |
| excellent way to share experiences and bond with | | | | These are but 7 of a much larger suite of things you |
| your child. When you laugh or cry, your child will | | | | can and should do with your child. So have fun with |
| connect the scene they see with appropriate | | | | your child as you experience "growing up" together. |