Vol 1 zazerific Toddlers Ages 1-3 PLAY | SING | READ | WRITE | TALK Creative ideas & engaging hands-on activities to support children ages 0-5 early literacy skill development. PAGE 1 | ZAZERIFIC zazerific fun! PLAY SING READ WRITE & TALK “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” Dr. Seuss ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 PAGE 2 | ZAZERIFIC EDITOR'S LETTER Giggles and silly banter fill the air as two little kiddos playfully eat lunch. “Hey mom come check this out,” my 4 year old shouts as I walk over to the table. Then, he proudly yells out, “look I made the letter H”, pointing eagerly to his carrot sticks. Immediately his 3 year old sister points to her plate and calls out, “Mommy, Mommy look look it’s an M”, pointing while beaming ear to ear. From that point on the next 15 minutes of lunch was magically transformed into a game of how many letter shapes they could make out of carrot sticks. Zazerific fun, right! That is what my kids and I call moments like this. I also like to think of times like this as special moments of internal triumph within a child. Moments when experiences in their world come together and make sense. Recognition and connections across patterns, shapes and sounds happen. A budding of early literacy skills right before your eyes. Playful every day interactions like this make such a profoundly positive impact on our children's future. Parents and caregivers are so fortunate to be their child’s first teacher. I hope that you enjoy this compilation of ideas and activities as you share in creating playful moments with the Littles you love! Tanya Paine Founder, Chisago Lakes Early Literacy Project ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 PAGE 3 | ZAZERIFIC BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS Learning is a result of multi- dimensional experiences starting at birth. By age three, a child’s brain has reached 80% of its adult volume.* The richer a child's interactive experiences with a caregiver through Early Literacy is key when building a playing, reading, singing, writing and foundation to become an effective talking the more they learn to connect communicator. the meaning of spoken language. Words on a page begin to mean Effective communicators are more something. The larger a child's adept at interpersonal skills which vocabulary the better the child will do leads to building relationships with when they enter school. others. Caregivers play such a vital role in Ultimately, life is about relationships nurturing a child's self confidence in and those that can read, write, listen the ability to learn to read. Interacting and speak well are great at together build's a child's overall relationships. It all starts with positive development. Enjoy all of surrounding children with written and these wonderful experiences! spoken word at an early age. Carmen Woeltge Dean Jennissen Family Services & Education Director Superintendent Chisago Lakes Area Schools ISD 2144 Chisago Lakes Area Schools ISD 2144 ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 *RAKIC, P. (2006). NEUROSCIENCE. NO MORE CORTICAL NEURONS FOR YOU. SCIENCE, 313(5789), 928-929. PAGE 4 | ZAZERIFIC THE IMPORTANCE OF "Reading aloud with young READING children is one of the most effective ways to expose them to enriched language and to encourage specific early literacy skills needed to promote school readiness." — American Academy of Pediatrics ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 PAGE 5 | ZAZERIFIC LOOK it's all zazerific fun! 07 11 17 23 early childhood storytime ideas Books + craft learning through development with props activities play milestones 25 29 32 40 the magic of music Loose parts play fun with shapes book lists ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 PAGE 6 | ZAZERIFIC THE IMPORTANCE OF "Reading is one of the best ways to READING promote a child’s brain development. Even before he/she can recognize letters or words, reading kick starts language and communication skills. Hearing words and seeing pictures connects the two in a child’s mind. Repeating the same books further builds recognition between the words you speak and the images on the page." — Help Me Grow MN ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 PAGE 7 | ZAZERIFIC EXPLORING THE WORLD AROND THEM Social & Emotional Comforts self by seeking out special object or person Responds to changes in an adult’s tone of voice and expression Accepts redirection from adults Seeks to do things for self Uses trusted adult as a secure base from which to explore the world Plays near other children; uses similar materials or actions Seeks a preferred playmate; shows pleasure when seeing a friend Expresses feelings during a conflict Approches to Learning Pays attention to sights and sounds Repeats actions to obtain DEVELPMENTAL similar results Practices an activity many times until successful Reacts to a problem; seeks to MILESTONES achieve a specific goal Uses senses to explore the immediate environment By Carmen Woeltge Imitates others in using objects and in new and/or unanticipated ways Recognizes familiar people, places, and objects; All learning is based on the foundation of children’s looks for hidden object where is was last seen healthy social and emotional development. Matches similar objects LOOK FORS and FOCUS AREAS in toddler development Language Literacy & Attempting new challenges, using words to express Communication their needs and emotions, to following simple Shows an interest in the routines, and engaging in parallel play with other speech of others children. Identifies familiar people, animals, and other objects when prompted Beginning to examine characteristics of objects, Responds to simple verbal requests making independent choices, handling transitions, Names familiar people, animals, and objects seeking out others to play and carry out play plans, Uses some words and word-like sounds and is pretend, and identifying and communicating about understood by most familiar people Uses one or two word sentences or phrases problems. Joins in rhyming songs and games Shows interest in books Growth in their capabilities to express themselves in words and phrases, and initial attempts at writing as Continue reading at next page > they scribble and draw with various writing tools. ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 Information gathered from the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards and Teaching Strategies GOLD Objectives for Development & Learning, Birth Through Third Grade PAGE 8 | ZAZERIFIC EXPLORING THE WORLD AROND THEM Creativity & The Arts Chooses to spend time in artistic expression with materials (paint, crayons, dramatic play, music) Shows emotion when engaging in art activities Investigates different art experiences Shares feelings and ideas through art Shows a preference for familiar sound & gestures Cognitive Development: Math, Science, and Social Systems Verbally counts (not always in the correct order) Demonstrates understanding of the concepts of one, two, and more DEVELPMENTAL Follows simple directions related to position (in, on, under, up, down) Matches two identical shapes MILESTONES Makes simple comparisons between two objects Begins using objects as tools Asks what happened? Or Where did it go? As a continued from page 7 result of an experiment How they begin to explore art materials including finger paint, crayons, music, dancing and clay. Physical and Movement As they are growing in their mobility and Development independence in exploring the environment, the Experiments with different focus is on imitation of counting and early ways of moving understanding of one to one correspondence, Experiments with different ways of balancing awareness of full and empty, following simple patterns, beginning awareness of shape and place in space, and matching and sorting. Manipulates balls or similar objects with stiff body movements Uses fingers and whole arm movements to Focus on how they seek out items of interest, begin manipulate and explore objects Grasps drawing and writing tools, jabbing at to use objects as tools, use simple strategies to carry paper out ideas and build on past experiences. Makes scribbles or marks Uses drawing, dictation, and scribbles or marks to convey a message How they are beginning to walk, climb, run, jump, roll, push, and throw balls, use their hands and fingers to manipulate books, crayons, blocks, and other items, and participate in dressing and personal hygiene. ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 Information gathered from the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards and Teaching Strategies GOLD Objectives for Development & Learning, Birth Through Third Grade PAGE 9 | ZAZERIFIC Milestones In Motion Imitates a friend; Says or signs putting a basket on names of common Holds a toy phone head to use as a objects when sees to ear hat them Pays attention to Responds to own speaker during name conversation Chooses the same Says "more apple" Uses spoon and puzzle every day to indicate he sometimes fork to until he can insert wants more pieces feed self each piece quickly than given and easily “For a small child there is no division between playing and learning; between the things he or she does ‘just for fun’ and things that are ‘educational.’ The child learns while living and any part of living that is enjoyable is also play.” ~ Penelope Leach ZAZERIFIC / TODDLER AGES 1-3 Information gathered from the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Early Learning Standards and Teaching Strategies GOLD Objectives for Development & Learning, Birth Through Third Grade PAGE 10 | ZAZERIFIC THE IMPORTANCE OF Jim Trelease, author of the Read-Aloud Handbook, said “What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we make them learn”. Teach your children to love reading by focusing READING on the fun and joy that reading can bring. Make the experience one that they remember fondly as you laugh together and cry together, sharing the world of stories.