Family Routines
Encourage families to bond through playful, everyday interactions.
Families: everyone’s in them together! Parents and caregivers may think that “together time” needs to be planned, which can be challenging with unpredictable schedules. In this workshop, you’ll show families ways to create special bonding moments and learning opportunities during everyday routines, especially through playful interactions.
- Show families the Spending Time Together video. Afterward, ask parents about special ways they playfully interact with kids during everyday routines, such as grocery shopping, laundry time, or mealtime. Encourage families to share ideas aloud (you might record them on chart paper). Ideas might include talking to baby about what she’s looking at (while grocery shopping, a parent might say, “Look at those round, red apples”), putting older kids in the position of teacher or helper (while sorting laundry, a parent might say, “Can you help your sister put these socks in a pile?”), or singing a song together after mealtime.
- Hang up five sheets of chart paper labeled taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound, then watch the Learning Through the Senses video. Encourage families to write suggestions for games and activities they’ve tried (or want to try) that use the different senses. As a group, read through the ideas on each sheet.
Parenting Moment: Describing
The way you talk with children matters! Your words have power.
Parenting Moment: Imitating
Playing is learning! The way you play with children matters… your actions and words have power.
Parenting Moment: Reflecting
The way you talk with children matters… your words have power!
Parenting Moment: Enjoying!
Showing you enjoy your time together with your child builds your special bond. And when you’re being positive, your little one is more likely to do the same.
The Power of Following Children’s Lead
Joining children in their play offers so many opportunities to encourage, communicate, bond, spark and share joy, teach, show warmth and kindness, and help them thrive.
Milestones: Your Baby’s First Year
All children grow and develop at their own pace; use this chart to guide your expectations and observations so you can talk to your child’s pediatrician about questions or concerns.
Milestones: Your 18-Month Old
All children grow and develop at their own pace; use this chart to guide your expectations and observations so you can talk to your child’s pediatrician about questions or concerns.
