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Play your child’s favorite songs and dance with your child.Teach your child to stop and wait when excited by playing red light, green light, or freeze dance (play music, turn it off, and have everyone freeze when it stops).Let your child help with simple chores, such as bringing in the mail, feeding a pet, or wiping down tables.This will help her learn better speaking skills and helps with future reading and writing skills. Spend time speaking to your child in complete sentences, using “grown-up” words.Teach your child to play outdoor games with friends, such as tag, follow the leader, and hide and seek.Continue to teach your child skills to play with others, such as using words, sharing toys, and taking turns.
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Let her choose what to wear, play, or eat for a snack. Give your child choices that are simple and healthy.This will help your child learn about numbers and counting. Count simple things, such as fingers, toys, or bananas.If you don’t know the answer, say “I don’t know,” or help your child find the answer in a book, on the Internet, or from another adult. Take time to answer your child’s “why” questions.Join him in pretend play, such as eating the pretend food he cooks. Give your child toys or things that encourage his imagination, such as dress-up clothes, pots and pans to pretend cook, or blocks to build with.Children this age need 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day (including naps). Avoid any screen time (TV, phone, tablet, etc.) for 1 to 2 hours before bed and don’t put any screens in your child’s bedroom. Let her see you enjoying healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and drinking milk or water. Eat meals with your child when possible.Playing with others helps you child learn the value of sharing and friendship. Ask about local play groups and pre-school programs. Let your child play with other children, such as at a park or library.
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Do you want to go outside and play or put on some music and dance?” Give her a choice of what she can do instead.
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