• Play some classic games like "Simon Says" or "Mother, May I?" Give one-step commands at first and then progress to two or three-step commands. "Simon says turn around, clap your hands and touch your toes."
• Read a favorite story together, and ask your child to give a signal each time he hears a particular word. For example, "Clap your hands when you hear me say the word bear."
• Go outside and identify sounds you hear.
• Teach your child some hand clapping chants or jump rope rhymes you remember from childhood.
• Talk to your child while you are engaged in household activities like cooking, gardening, or fix-it chores. Explain what you are doing, and tell them the names of the tools you are using. Spatula, spade, or wrench will soon become part of your child's growing vocabulary.
• Discuss the day's events after your return from an outing or special event.
• Give your child lots of opportunities to engage in conversation with adults.
• Let them order for themselves in a restaurant or answer the telephone using phrases you have rehearsed ahead of time.
• Create silly stories together while riding in the car or waiting at a restaurant.
• Practice reading environmental print - street signs, store names, favorite foods.
• Cut out logos from the ad section of the newspaper or the grocery store circular. Paste them on paper, or put them in a photo album to make a book that your child will love to read often.
• Discuss books with your child after reading them together. Ask "How " and "Why" questions to extend their learning.
• Use newspaper and magazines for letter find activities. Children love to find and circle the letters in their names.
• Invite your child to "write when you write."
• Let your child write on old calendars, order forms, check registers, or grocery lists.
• Provide a "grown-up" pen or pencil.
• Encourage all forms of writing, from scribbling to forming letters.

Thanks to our teachers everywhere

Who teach our children with love and care.

You make the world a better place

And leave us all touched by your grace.

Children may forget the things you say,

Or skills and facts you taught them today.

But they'll remember how you made them feel

Smiles and encouragement are very real.

The difference you make, you may never know.

You plant the seeds that continue to grow.

A simple story, a little song

Will stay with them, their whole lives long.

When you love teaching and things you do,

You'll help your children love learning, too.

Life is short. Let's have more fun!

Thanks for happy memories you give little ones!