IDEAL AGE: 3+

Words in Action with 92Y Dance Education Laboratory

Turn movement into a game by pulling action words from a jar. Get the whole family involved to create a dance and see who has the most elaborate and unique moves!

Children build coordination and observational skills as they experience the power of dance to communicate actions, thoughts, and feelings.

IDEAL AGE: 2+

How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Listen to a storytime and be inspired to create your own dinosaur friends to take on adventures.

Reading books together helps your child remember new words and learn to read and write!

IDEAL AGE: 3+

A Storytime with The Color Monster by Anna Llenas

The Color Monster explores a colorful rainbow of feelings and emotions. Create your own color monster storyboard!

Sometimes emotions can be hard to share and understand. Naming feelings and having open conversations will help your child be able to recognize and manage their feelings.

IDEAL AGE: 4+

Art & Design Fun: A Rube Goldberg Ball Run

Design, build, decorate, and test out a Rube Goldberg-inspired ball run.

Designing and building supports your child’s ability to make a plan, think ahead, and turn 2-D thinking into 3-D thinking. Experimentation requires creativity, patience, and critical thinking.

IDEAL AGE: 5+

Board Game Bonanza

Design a new board game to play with your family!

Making up new games is a great way for children to use their imagination and practice their working memory. Remembering rules and instructions is an important executive function skill that children can develop from an early age.

IDEAL AGE: 2+

Shake, Rattle, ‘n Roll Instruments

Make a cool shaker for your dance party!

Making music helps a child’s mind and body work together. Playing instruments enhances your child’s listening skills, rhythm, and fine motor skills. Bonus! Making instruments out of everyday objects is a creative way to explore recycling while reducing your environmental footprint.

IDEAL AGE: 4+

Old MacDonald Had a Puppet

Make animal puppets and sing along to Old MacDonald!

This activity helps children learn to focus and build their vocabulary while developing hand-eye coordination and sequencing skills.

IDEAL AGE: 2+

Our Mini-City

Build an imaginary neighborhood in your home!

Pretend play and conversations lead to reading later on. Pretend play is also a great way for children to use their imagination and reflect on their community and culture.

IDEAL AGE: 3+

Tape It Down

Use tape on the floor to create fun and challenging obstacles!

As children are taking part in this kinesthetic activity, they are practicing and developing gross motor skills. Children are also counting and learning colors depending on the challenge, and developing important executive function skills like working memory when given tasks.