Raising a reader starts very early. Even before arriving they can hear things around them. It would be a good idea to read out loud to your unborn. Research says reading books to infants and toddlers helps and supports their speaking skills, vocabulary, and to get ready for kindergarten. Setting up a library at home is exciting for any parents who want to raise a reader. If you want to discourage screen time and encourage book reading I would be happy to share some of my experience with you. My little one was exposed to fabric books since she was an infant. When she turned 1 we started reading books to her. We saw a significant difference in her interest in books. Without a book reading, she won’t go to bed. It helps to identify letters, phonics for them early in their life. Over time we started collecting books of her interest and started setting up a library for her at her playroom. This little bookshelf came in very handy to help her keep things organized.
Today, she is 5 years old and reads a lot for her age. We are amazed when she figures out complex words even when she encounters the first time. Is she a natural? No, we don’t think so. We are sure it is because we started early. Thanks to her pediatrician, who recommended reading books to her since her infancy. Read a lot! We think this is the best thing we did for her in the early years. If you are interested in her collection, leave a comment and happy to post the list of books with links to purchase.
Kids love to pretend & play by watching grownups. My daughter watches me cooking in the kitchen and pretends the same with her own things. To support her play & creativity we researched a few kitchen playsets and found that fits with our space and budget. There are so many to choose from. The one we bought is Step2 Lifestyle Fresh Accents Kitchen. It makes a boiling & sizzling sound when a pot/pan is placed on the stove and more. Comes with 30-piece accessory set phone, 10-pc play food set, pot, and pan w/ lids, dishes, bowls, silverware, and salt and pepper shakers. To help and support your child’s creative play with them by taking turns in role play. Here are a few ideas to add on.
Restaurant Role Play: Be a customer in your child’s own restaurant! Let them tell you what is on the menu and place your order. Make sure to ask them lots of questions as they get cooking and give special requests to encourage their critical thinking.
Make sharing the clean-up responsibilities fun with your little one. Pretend washing and putting dishes away when playtime is over will help foster good habits, show an example of teamwork, and a bonus is motor skill development!
Cooking Show: Give your little chef 5 minutes to prep their favorite pretend meal and think out how to present it to you. Create a mini cooking show by taking a video of them recreating their pretend dish, talking you through each step so you can make it too! Continue the pretend play by making “episodes” of the cooking show to watch with your family and friends! If you shoot one and upload, do add a comment with a link to your video! We would love to see our ideas come alive.
Pretend & Play helps kids to be creative. Also, helps to improve fine motor skills, social skills, language skills & critical thinking skills
Creativity + Role Play
Pretend & play gets kids engaged in storytelling as they act out new scenarios and communicate what imaginary things are going on – a great way to flex creativity and language skills. Play kitchens present kids with so many ways to practice their motor skills, like grasping and using small accessories and utensils, opening and closing doors, and turning oven knobs.
Physical + Motor Skills
Play kitchens present kids with so many ways to practice their motor skills, like grasping and using small accessories and utensils, opening and closing doors, and turning oven knobs.
Language + Social Skills
Role-playing requires kids to engage in storytelling as they makeup scenarios and communicate with others about what role they’re playing. They also have to react and build off of what the other person said or did.
Critical Thinking
Running into problems while playing, like trouble closing the refrigerator door when too many items are placed inside or trying to swivel the faucet over a full sink, allow children to think through problems and craft solutions.
Please post your comment on what you think about other play kitchen sets that work with your kids. It would help parents and families to decide when planning to buy one. Thanks!
