• Activity 1: Age Appropriate Speech, Language And Communication Development
• Activity 2: Age Appropriate Fine Motor Development
  

Activity 1
Age Appropriate Speech, Language And Communication Development
Sequences A 4 - Picture Story That Has Been Read

Previously I could recount up to 3 main points of a story in order. Now I should now be able to recount at least 4 main points in sequential order. This story should preferably be new to me but within my ability to understand. This skill is critical as I begin to expand from my story-telling skills to giving you an account of experiences I want to share with you (i.e. a trip to the zoo, birthday celebration in school, etc). I usually develop the ability to repeat 4 points of a simple story just heard, maintaining the original sequence, between 68 and 72 months (5 year 8 months and 6 years).

• Tell your child a short story with at least 4 main sequential events in it.
• Have your child listen carefully to the story and let him know that he has to retell it after.

Feedback
Now that your child is able to recount the story in sequence, encourage him to provide more details within each main event/idea. For example the main point of a story may be that a boy bought an ice cream. But with some descriptive narration, he will describe and say that the ice cream was soft and started to melt, dripping down the cone and onto the boy’s hands.

If your child still has trouble, do use the picture cards illustrating the main story events. Show each picture at the appropriate time when retelling it. Your child should be able to understand or retell with the help of the visuals. If after the 3rd or 4th retelling of the story by parent, your child still has trouble, continue to tell your child stories but leave out details, focusing only on main points of the story. Use words to depict sequential order such as first, next, third, last, etc. Do include pictures illustrating the story when possible. You may also ask questions to ensure your child understands the story before asking him to retell. For example, “The children went to the zoo with their parents.” Ask, “Where did they go? or “Who went?” or “What happened?”.

You may also look at the suggestion to help him develop this skill.

Activity 2
Age Appropriate Fine Motor Development
Builds A Bridge Using Five Blocks After Demonstration

I am learning to imitate building a bridge with five blocks! Please place five 1-inch blocks on the table and demonstrate to me how to place them to form a bridge (three blocks form the first layer with gaps between them, with two blocks on top and in between the three, forming the second layer). Now, take the blocks down so that I can try to build a similar bridge with the blocks. I usually develop the ability to imitate building a bridge with five blocks when I am between 66 and 72 months old (5 year 6 months and 6 years).

• Place five 1-inch blocks on the table before your child.
• Demonstrate to him how to place the blocks to form a bridge (i.e. three blocks form the first layer with gaps between them, with two blocks on top and in between the three, forming the second layer).
• Take the blocks down and ask your child to try and make the same bridge with the five blocks.
• The distance between the lower three blocks should be at least ¼ inch.

Feedback
Your child is developing complex visual skills, problem solving skills and an understanding of spatial relationships in this activity. His eye-hand coordination is also developing well to do this successfully. These are all essential skills for life-long learning of various contents. You may look at the suggested activities for more ideas with this task.