It’s family time! We’ll read a classic book about all sorts of families, stamp out a family portrait, switch things up with a role reversal game, and build a dream home with the Doozers.

Cuddle Up and Read

There are many children’s books about families, like What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best by Laura Numeroff or Who’s In My Family?: All About Our Families by Robie H. Harris. Have your child choose a book to read with you, inviting him/her to compare the family members in the book to your own. Or, watch this read-aloud of The Family Book by Todd Parr. There’s even time at the end of the video for your child to reread the book to you!

Find the story here.

Family Faces Art Project

Pre-KPages.com offers this unique take on family portraits. Join your kiddo in the fun or set up the project beforehand so you can have some time to yourself!

Materials:

• Variety of objects to use for making circles: marker tops, container lids, paper cups

• Ink pad

• Crayons, pens, or markers

• Blank paper

Directions:

1. Show your child how to press the paper cup or other circular object onto the ink pad and then onto the blank paper. Encourage him/her to make a circle for each member of the family. (Some children may get excited and want to make more circles. No worries- just roll with it!)

2. If you don’t have an ink pad, show your child how to trace around the object to make circles on the paper.

3. Invite your child to draw a face inside each circle, and then add hair, a body, and anything else they would like.

4. Encourage your child to write the name of each family member next to their corresponding drawing. If your child is not yet able to write, you could write the names in a lighter color, having them trace the letters, or you could make a list of names for him/her to copy.

Build with the Doozers

Every family needs a home, and who better to help you design one than the Doozers? Click below to print out a blueprint planning page, where you can draw the coolest home in Doozer Creek. Then follow your plans, recreating your structure with whatever materials you have handy: blocks, books, cups, Legos, sticks…the sky’s the limit!

Find the activity sheet here.

Switch It Up! Game

Pull a Freaky er…Monday with this role reversal game your child will love! Invite your child to pretend to be you and vice versa. If more family members want to play, you might draw names to see who will be playing whom. Children will jump at the chance to boss you around, calling the shots when it comes to what to eat, where to play, and how things should be done. You might enjoy the chance to do some impersonations of your child’s reactions, (whining anyone?). Just be sure to keep things light and good-natured to avoid hurt feelings! It’s also a good idea to designate a fixed amount of time for this game in order to avoid confusion in younger children. Ex: “You pretend to be Mommy and I’ll be you until lunch time. Then we will go back to normal.”

Coming up next…

More family fun with interviews, a sensory activity, and more!