Block 5: Planning

Context: after playtime​

Setting: play area​

Materials: any toys​

Action:​

1. Ask your child to help clean up. “First, find the toy container, then let’s put the toys in.”​

2. After the toys are in the container, prompt, “Now, put the container back where it belongs.”

Context: playtime​

Setting: play area​

Materials: 2 sets of 4 different colored blocks​

Action:​

1. Build a tower with two blocks of different colors.​

2. Ask your child to build the same tower using the same colors you used

Context: any time​

Setting: any room

Materials: a set of blocks, cubes, or Legos​

Action:​

1. Place the blocks in front of your child​

2. Show a specific sequence of movements to create a specific model (e.g., place blocks one by one to make a bridge)

3. Ask your child to create the same structure with the same sequence of movements.

Context: playtime​

Setting: at home​

Materials: a favorite toy, a shoebox, a small cloth/blanket (optional), a larger box (optional)​

Action:​

1. Say, “Your favorite toy is inside here [show the shoebox]! Can you find your toy?" ​

2. Facilitate by holding up the shoebox and then saying, “Find the toy.”

3. You can model finding the toy one time, cheering, and then putting it back in the box and prompting your child to find it.​

Context: any time; while doing laundry​

Setting: at home​

Materials: clean socks​

Action:​

1. Say, “We need to fold the socks! Let’s find the pairs!" ​

2. Facilitate by holding up one sock and then saying, “Hmmm, can you find one that goes with this one?” ​

3. Model scanning and finding the first few pairs; show your child that the socks match, then fold the socks in front of your child and cheer!​