From birth to age five, children experience rapid and critical development. These early years are crucial for language, literacy, physical, mental, and emotional growth. While this might sound daunting, engaging in simple activities like the summer popsicle craft below, and connecting with our Early Childhood Specialist Team, can guide you through this essential period.
For more free activities and resources like the one below, fill out the ages & stages questionnaire for your county to be connected to our Early Childhood Specialist Team. Contact Central Jersey Family Health Consortium’s Early Childhood Specialist Team today at infoci@cjfhc.org or visit their webpage.
Popsicle Stick Summer Craft - Download the instructions here.
Supplies Needed:
- Popsicle template
- Colored tissue paper
- Child-friendly scissors
- Glue stick
- Crayons
- Popsicle stick
Instructions:
- Cut Out the Template: Cut out the popsicle shape from the provided template.
- Tear the Tissue Paper: Tear the colored tissue paper into small pieces. These will be used to decorate the popsicle.
- Glue the Tissue Paper: Glue the pieces of tissue paper onto the popsicle template. Depending on your child's age and interest, they can scatter the pieces, create patterns, or form shapes.
- Color the Popsicle Stick: Use crayons to color the popsicle stick.
- Attach the Stick: Glue the colored popsicle stick onto the back of the template.
- Bring the Popsicle to Life:
- Name the popsicle.
- Discuss favorite popsicle flavors.
- Talk about whether popsicles are cold or hot.
- Imagine eating a popsicle on a beach or in a park.
How This Craft Supports Your Child's Development:
Fine Motor Skills:
- Tearing: Strengthens hand muscles and coordination.
- Gluing: Enhances precision and control.
- Cutting: Boosts hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
- Coloring: Strengthens small muscles in the hands and fingers.
Communication Skills:
- Describing Materials: Builds language by discussing colors and textures.
- New Vocabulary: Introduces words like popsicle, frozen, cold, summer, pattern, tearing, glue, crayons, and cut.
- Process Narration: Helps children understand sequences and actions by talking through the steps.
- Relating to Summer: Connects the craft to real-world experiences and activities.
- Reflecting Together: Discusses the time spent together, enhancing comprehension and expression.
Personal-Social Development:
- Quality Time: Strengthens the bond between caregiver and child through shared activities.
- Relating to the World: Helps children connect their activities to their environment and experiences.
Problem-Solving Skills:
- Creative Filling: Encourages planning and creative thinking as they fill the template with tissue paper.
- Material Exploration: Allows children to experiment and discover the best ways to use the materials.
Let's make this summer both fun and educational for our little ones!
