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Who Is It? A Safety Activity for
Preschoolers
By Jodie Lynn
We all know that it's our role as parents to do everything we can to
insure the safety of our children -- every day in every way. This
activity is a good way for you and your kids to work together and
have some fun, while at the same time reinforcing -- in a
non-threatening way -- your preschooler's awareness of the
family-friendly people in her life.
Who Is It?
To help preschoolers develop memory and site recognition of safe
family members and friends -- ask them to help you draw pictures of
their loved ones. (You will probably do most of the drawing, as
manual dexterity is not fully developed in young children until
around the age of six.) Note: it is very important to allow your
children to do as much of the project as possible, and if you do
help, do not focus on perfection! Have fun!
What you'll need to get started:
Crayons
White construction paper
Empty toilet tissue rolls
Paper towel rolls
Uncooked macaroni and beans
Safe washable school glue
Scraps of material or felt
Giggles, smiles and imagination
Concentrate on one individual each week and never go over four in
one month. Family pets are welcome characters to draw as well. Help
the child make a decision of whom they would like to make a
life-like doll (drawing). Of course, many will shout, "me!" In
addition, many times it will be "you!"-- "Mommy!" or "Daddy!"
Great-- go with the flow. Some will want to draw and decorate the
dolls all by themselves. Others will ask for your help. In many
instances, it will become a project to do together, i.e., you will
be required to possibly begin the drawing of a body and the child
will come in with instructions or placements of items.
For example, mommy/daddy will draw a body and "wait" for further
instructions. Use the beans for eyes, macaroni for hair, felt or
other material for dress or clothes, and for some, the toilet paper
or paper towel rolls will be used for a stand up figure. Since
preschoolers become frustrated easily, stop the activity if it
causes arguments or grief. It can always be picked up at a later
time.
The whole object of this activity is to not only have educational
fun, but to ultimately get as many relatives and friends "made" so
your child will be able to know a little about each person and who
is safe. After each figure has been completed, dry it out, pull it
out from time to time, and ask "Who Is It?" The kids will not only
enjoy this activity but a giggle game will surely follow as you say,
"Yes, this is Mommy. I am a safe person for you and I can dance!"
Gently shake the doll because as you well know, your preschooler
will want to imitate your actions. You can also make police
officers, firefighters, etc. Not only will your children learn a
wide array of safe people, but also you can add to and use the dolls
for all kinds of role-playing in actual storytelling.
As with any items that require small pieces, monitor and supervise
the construction and play at all times. Markers can be used for
coloring instead of crayons if they are safe and washable and only
if you can always be there for supervision. Store drawings and dolls
away in a safe plastic storage container with safe fitting lids
(where little fingers cannot open them without help).
Healthy parenting -- and have fun!
Tip: For extra help and to build better family friendly recognition,
cut a picture out of the person who the doll is supposed to be and
tape it onto a piece of construction paper. Neatly print the
person's name above the picture in black marker. Tape or attach with
magnets to the refrigerator. When each doll is finished or taken out
to play, the child can match it up with the picture on the fridge.
Oval pictures of the person's face work best. This reinforces and
encourages the real face, name and good feelings about that person--
or pet. :)
©2006 Jodie Lynn
Note: This is an excerpt from Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) -
Having, Doing and Surviving It All, (June 2006), by Jodie Lynn.
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning internationally syndicated
family/health columnist and radio personality. Her syndicated column
Parent to Parent (
www.ParentToParent.com ) has been successful for over 10 years
and appears in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and throughout the
Internet. She is a regular contributor to several sites and has
written four books and contributed to three others. Her latest books
are Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing and Surviving
It All! (June 2006) and Syndication Secrets - What No One Will Tell
You (March 2006), both are available through
www.amazon.com . Check out the
website for details on her new radio talk show, Inside Parenting
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