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April is the time for a wildflower expedition. While your toddler collects wildflowers, parents can snap some great photos. At home, fill a vase with your beautiful flowers and read books like Song of the Flowers by Takayo Noda (Dial, 2006) or The Flower Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta (Charlesbridge Publishing, 1989).
May: Planting We Will Go
Kelli Estes of Snohomish, Wash., suggests a field trip to a local garden center or nursery to pick out flowers and plants. Talk about the different colors, shapes, sizes and textures. Come home and plant them together. Kids love getting their hands dirty! Make adventure last all summer long by keeping a photo scrapbook of the progress of their seeds or plants for family and friends show-and-tell!
June: Visit Old McDonald
Take a trip to a petting farm or zoo. Have your toddler identify the animals she recognizes and help her name the unfamiliar ones. Once home, read Why Do Cows Moo? by Catherine Ripley (Maple Tree Press, 1998). Make animal sock puppets using items such as construction paper, permanent marker, wiggly eyes, felt, yarn and pipe cleaners. Then put on a puppet show about your visit to the zoo.
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April: Find Your Inner Flower ChildApril is the time for a wildflower expedition. While your toddler collects wildflowers, parents can snap some great photos. At home, fill a vase with your beautiful flowers and read books like Song of the Flowers by Takayo Noda (Dial, 2006) or The Flower Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta (Charlesbridge Publishing, 1989). May: Planting We Will GoKelli Estes of Snohomish, Wash., suggests a field trip to a local garden center or nursery to pick out flowers and plants. Talk about the different colors, shapes, sizes and textures. Come home and plant them together. Kids love getting their hands dirty! Make adventure last all summer long by keeping a photo scrapbook of the progress of their seeds or plants for family and friends show-and-tell! June: Visit Old McDonaldTake a trip to a petting farm or zoo. Have your toddler identify the animals she recognizes and help her name the unfamiliar ones. Once home, read Why Do Cows Moo? by Catherine Ripley (Maple Tree Press, 1998). Make animal sock puppets using items such as construction paper, permanent marker, wiggly eyes, felt, yarn and pipe cleaners. Then put on a puppet show about your visit to the zoo. July: Bug HuntLots of little ones are fascinated with insects. Ty the activities in reverse this time. Read books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Philomel, 1994), The Grouchy Ladybug (HarperTrophy, 1996) and The Very Quiet Cricket
