Rainy Day Play Dough
Activities Nicholas Kukla Activities Nicholas Kukla

Rainy Day Play Dough

Rainy days have this mama searching for anything and everything to take-up time and entertain both myself and the toddler. When I think of these activities, I look for multi-step projects to A. take up the most time and B. provide feelings of accomplishment and creation, while still allowing the activity to be open-ended. These two goals are the reason why we frequently make our own play dough instead of buying it. 

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Sorting the Rainbow
Activities Nicholas Kukla Activities Nicholas Kukla

Sorting the Rainbow

So what is a pregnant mama with a toddler to do to beat the heat? I’ve decided to compile a list of activities to do with my son that will keep us entertained, inside, and cool during these HOT, HOT months. I will publish a weekly activity that worked in our house and include how to modify it for age/skill. Additionally I’ll cover all the great learning opportunities that the activity presents while you and your child are engaged.

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The Power of a Picture Schedule
Activities, Transitions Nicholas Kukla Activities, Transitions Nicholas Kukla

The Power of a Picture Schedule

Picture schedules are often used with children on the Autism Spectrum as a way to communicate routines and expectations within the classroom. The picture cards on a picture schedule can be used in many different ways, such as: a child communicating preferences, an adult communicating expectations (“First we wash hands, then we eat snack.”), and also as a roadmap for daily activities.

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Learning Centers at Home
Activities Nicholas Kukla Activities Nicholas Kukla

Learning Centers at Home

Center set-ups keep materials organized, children focused, and learning objectives obvious and clear. While children are in these centers, they are encouraged to learn important academic and social skills through their natural inclination to play.

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Children’s Literature: A Discipline Tool?
Activities Nicholas Kukla Activities Nicholas Kukla

Children’s Literature: A Discipline Tool?

Children’s books are gifts to children and parents alike. They capture children’s attention and activate their imagination. Authors, illustrators, and publishers who specialize in children’s literature do all our leg work to communicate morals, lessons, and stories to children in ways that they understand and enjoy. Because of their thoughtful design, children’s books offer an approachable and understandable medium to explain abstract concepts such as emotions, friendship, love, fairness, kindness, etc.

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