Each month, we offer a kit packed with tips and suggestions around an early literacy calendar (also available in Spanish). Here’s a guide inspired by our February Early Lit Kit that will help you read, play, talk, sing, and write at home with your little ones:
Read: Read a book about caring for others (here are a few to get you started). Who are some people with whom you would like to share happy and positive feelings? What are some ways you can share kindness and caring with others?
Sing: The song “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is a fun song, and it’s a good way to share happiness with others. Singing makes lots of people feel happy, and this song is about also having a happy face that can show your happy feelings to other people.
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 clearly show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
What other verses do you know, or can you make up? What other things do you do when you’re happy to share your feelings with others? Try to make as many new verses as you can.
Talk: Did you know that everybody has patterns on their fingertips that are totally unique? No two people have the same fingerprints. Talk about some other things that make people unique. Start with the people in your family—what are some things that make each member of your family different from each other? Talk about how those differences make us each special. Then talk about some things that are the same between all the members of your family. Talk about how you can share happiness, calm, and love with the people in your family by recognizing what makes them special and what makes them similar to other people.
Play: Use paper and crayons to make shapes. Make some shapes that are all the same and some that are different. Even the ones that are the same shape are probably a little bit unique from each other. Maybe one is wider than the other, or maybe one is a little bit bumpy on the side. What is the most unique kind of shape you can make?
Write: Did you ever notice that letters are all similar and also all different? All letters are made from circles and lines. But all letters are unique enough that we can tell them apart when we look at them. Practice drawing some circles and lines on paper. How many different letters can you make using circles and lines? Can you design a new letter?
