Parent-Child Connection-and-Skill-Building Activities

TIPS FOR THE ACTIVITIES:

 Try to switch up the activities between indoor, and outdoor.

 Allow 15-30 minutes for each activity; remember that the time it takes for an activity
may change depending on how long your child is able to focus their attention. It’s
okay if they take a shorter or longer amount of time than you thought they needed.
 Before changing to a new activity, remember to give your child transitioning time, and
offer them choice as much as possible. For example: “We’re going to play a different
game in about 5/10 minutes; would you like to play a drawing game or go outside,
next?” This gives them time to process in their little brains that they need to change
their point of focus soon, and it gives them some control and choice in the situation,
(i.e., choosing the next game).
 Remember to be positive! If your child succeeds in winning a game, finds an item on
their scavenger hunt list, or creates a piece of artwork, praise them, encourage them,
and provide them with positive feedback. For example: “Wow, I love how you drew
that boat, it’s amazing! I like the colours that you picked.” Or, “Yay!! Great job, you
won the game!! Should we play again??” Be enthusiastic, kind, and encouraging.
1: Guess the word/animal. (Teaches fine motor skills, facilitates learning, encourages use of
imagination).
Using a whiteboard, chalk board, or piece of paper/marker. You, or your child, begins
drawing an animal, or a picture that represents a word (i.e., drawing a slide & swings means
“park”, or “playground”). The other person has to try and guess what the drawing is. When they
guess correctly, it becomes their turn to draw. Game continues until you both feel like you’re
done. OR: each time a person guesses right, they get one (1) point, and the game ends when
one person reaches three (3) to five (5) points.
2. Backyard or park scavenger hunt. (Boosts gross and fine motor skills, facilitates learning,
and problem solving).
Grab a small basket, or other container, and your list of items to hunt for, and head
outside! Whether in the back yard, at the park, or wildlife center, there will be lots of fun things
for your child to find outdoors. Write down a list of things for them to find, anywhere between
six to twelve (6-12) items, and help him/her search! Examples of what to write can include: a
feather, a pinecone, small flowers, big flowers, something in their favourite colour, funny
looking sticks, three leaves, a purple leaf, something they think is “cool”, etc.
3. Create a book together. (Encourages use of imagination, nurtures fine motor skills,
creativity, and artistic ability, facilitates cooperation and communication skills).
Take four to six (4-6) sheets of paper (it can be plain white, or coloured construction
paper), cut them across the center, and fold them in half. Hole punch the folded edges in two
or three (2-3) places. Thread through a piece of yarn, string, or elastic band as the “binding” of
the book. Now it’s time to get creative! Take markers, crayons, pencils, pencil crayons, or
whatever other art tool you and your child want to use. Let them create the story and help
them write it by writing it in the book for them, or by helping them spell the words themselves.
Encourage them to draw pictures to go with their story, and offer to help draw or colour. Try
not to alter their story – let them be as silly and creative as they possibly can! These will also
make for wonderful keepsakes, in the future.
4. Perform a puppet show, or play. (Encourages creativity and imaginative play, facilitates
problem solving, cooperation, and communication skills, boosts gross motor skills).
This activity can be outdoor, or indoor, which is part of the beauty of it! Start collecting
thrift store clothes, or use some of your own old clothing, and encourage your child to dress up,
create a character (or maybe even a puppet out of socks), and a story to go with it. Engage with
the story, ask them what their character’s name is, what they do (“are you a knight?”, “are you
going to be a chef for this play?”, etc.,) and ask them to have a puppet show or play for you
about their story. Maybe you can be a character in the story, and dress up with them…
engaging in imaginative play, laughter and storytelling is a great way to connect with your child.
Maybe siblings or other caregivers can even be roped into the audience! Don’t forget to give
your child a big round of applause at the end, let them know what a great job they did!
5. Play a simple board game. (Fosters cooperation and communication skills, facilitates
learning about rules and following rules: i.e., inhibitory control).
Board games that have three (3) or more rules are perfect for younger children to play.
For example, games like Snakes and Ladders, Candyland, Connect 4, Guess Who, Tic Tac Toe,
etc. These are all examples of games that – not only provide you and your child with fun, quality
time – help your child develop the ability to control their impulsivity, and to follow several rules
at the same time (which will help them in the future, for following home rules, and rules at
school).
6. Play “shop”, or “restaurant”. (Encourages creativity and imaginative play, facilitates
problem solving, communication skills, and provides opportunities for learning).
Playing pretend as adults isn’t always very exciting, but if you collect some play money
(might even have to steal it out of your Monopoly game, or head to your local dollar store!),
and fake food and kitchen items, you can encourage your child to play “shop” or “restaurant”
with you. Not only does this help kids use their imaginations, but it provides opportunities for
you to begin teaching them about money, making healthy food and snack choices, and
“preparing” meals. Even outside of playing pretend, try to include your child in your grocery
shopping adventures, or when you’re preparing snack for them and/or their siblings. Explain to
them what you’re doing, and provide them with the opportunity to help, learn, and make
choices. This gives you and your child that extra, fun, and sometimes silly, quality time besides
all of the learning that comes along with playing pretend.
7. Read a book together. (Facilitates learning and communication skills, encourages use of
imagination).
Now, you may have heard this many, many times. However, reading with your child is a
wonderful way to spend quality time with your little one by, not only encouraging them to read
and facilitating their literacy learning, but by providing opportunity for open communication
and conversation between the two of you. Have a few books available, and let your child pick
the one they want to read (remember to give them a choice). Read it to them clearly, and at a
pace they understand, and when the book is done, have a chat about it. “What did you like
about that story?”, “Is that one of your favourite stories?”, “Which picture was your favourite?
Why?”, “What story do you want to read next?”, “What did you think was the funniest part of
the story?”, etc.
8. Playing pass/catch. (Boosts gross motor skills, facilitates communication and inhibitory
control).
The classic game of pass with a soft ball for even ten (10) minutes helps your little one
get better at their hand-eye coordination skills, gross motor skills (catching, throwing, etc.,) and
provides you both with opportunities to laugh, be silly, and have fun. Playing pass back and
forth also lets you have the chance to teach them about gentleness, communication, (“Are you
ready? I’m going to throw the ball, now!”), and patience (waiting for the other person to be
ready before you throw the ball at them).