Book props

My latest play activity that is really resonating well with Lowell (and Chloe) is having props to go with the books we read over and over. I recently bought a copy of the beloved "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. I knew Lowell would like it, because it had counting involved. I also came across this wonderful basket of painted wooden fruit by Melissa & Doug (LOVE their stuff!). The fruit happened to match perfectly with the food in the book. I was pretending to gobble up each fruit as I read the corresponding page and we counted together. It really kept Lowell's attention and later in the day I found him pretending to eat the food himself. This is big for him, since he's usually not one for "make believe" play.
So I gathered another basket, I found as many of the animals to match as I could from another current favorite, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" I had to use a white sheep, instead of black and our Mister Potato Head is the "teacher" (which Lowell loves to say!). Lowell wasn't as into the stuffed animals as the fruit, but it did keep his attention. I find that when he mimics us reading he just mumbles very quickly and then says a few random words clearly. I wonder if that's how we sound to him. I think that using props also helps me to slow down and have more teaching opportunities throughout the book using the props.

"Five Little Ducks" was next. That was simple to pull together and the kids seemed to enjoy having a tangible animal to look at during the reading of the book. I feel good that since we took away all of Lowell's battery operated "noise making" toys, we are now replacing them with more educational and engaging toys:)

On to the next book......