Busy Hands
I love to touch things and see what happens. I want to turn knobs, push buttons, open boxes, and turn pages. Find ways for me to get busy with my hands. You may want to buy some toddler-safe finger paint…
Look How Big I Am!
I am growing so fast. When my parent deploys, I want to make sure you remember me especially since I am changing so fast! This is a two-part activity; the first takes place before deployment, and the second takes place…
Kitchen Band
A fun thing for me to do when you are in the kitchen is to play with my kitchen band! What is that? It is a collection of pots and pans you don’t mind that I play with, rubber storage…
Sing a Little Song to Think of Me
Did you know music is one of the best ways to trigger our memories? You can help me think about you and remember you by singing a song with me! Pick any simple song, a silly song or a loving…
Act it Out
I love when I get to imagine and be creative in my play! Keep a box of old clothes and items for props that I can play pretend with. You can include things like scarves, hats, backpacks, and containers, even…
Bubbles, Bubbles
I can have lots of fun trying to pop the bubbles that you blow! Buy some bubbles at the toy store, or you can look up how to make your own bubble soap on the Internet. It is always best…
Quiet Play
Sometimes, I need to be quiet and slow down my activity. What can we do when I need to be quiet? How about looking at books, listening to recorded stories, or drawing pictures? I can grow my imagination and develop…
Talk to Me
Did you know that I can recognize your voice as a newborn? Even before I am born, I can hear the sounds around me. When I am only minutes old, I will turn toward my mother’s voice over other sounds…
What Can We Do with This?
Let’s be creative! Let’s take recyclable items and see what we can do with them! Old yogurt cups can become building blocks for a tower or a place for us to plant seeds I can watch grow. Water bottles can…
Yellow Ribbon
You can help me show how proud I am of my deployed parent by helping me to make a yellow ribbon. Yellow ribbons have come to be recognized as a symbol that someone you love is away serving their country.…
Let’s Take Turns
Help me learn how to take turns and share. I can practice when I am with my friends, and I can practice with you, too! When we have cookies, have me take them to everyone in the room and offer…
Kissing Hand
In the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, the Mamma Raccoon reassures her young child that her kiss in the palm of his hand can help him when he starts to miss her; all he has to do is…
Say It with Music
“Freeze” and “Hokey Pokey” are fun musical games. When I play it with you, I have to listen and follow directions. I also learn new words and sounds. I am moving, exercising my body. I think you will enjoy watching…
Scent of You
I am comforted just by your smell. If you have to leave me for any length of time, like a deployment, why not leave me with something that smells like you! Perhaps it can be one of your t-shirts you…
Won’t You Be My Friend?
Toddlers learn a lot by watching and playing with other children. If you invite one of my friends over to play, take me to the park to play, or join a play group in our community I will have lots…
