Taking on challenges
Interactive and hands-on activities help your child to be curious, think critically and ask questions as they observe the world around them. These Meaningful Moments also build your child’s imagination and their ability to use knowledge to make new connections. Such skills are essential for taking on life’s everyday challenges.
At Arm's Reach
For ages 0 to 1
Encourage your child to move and stretch. Put them on their tummy on a blanket on the floor and place a soft, safe object in front of them saying, "Here's your soft bear!" Put it down just out of their reach. Talk about their efforts: "You're working so hard to reach your toy!"
Rock Sounds
For ages 1 to 3
While outside with your child, invite them to find rocks of different shapes and sizes. When you've collected some, test out the sounds they make when dropped on different surfaces. Can they hear a rock on the grass? What about on cement? What does it sound like if they drop several rocks at the same time?
Why?
For ages 3 to 5
"Where do you think the saucepan should go? Should we put it with these bowls or with these saucepans?" When they answer, ask them "Why?" or respond with "Interesting" to encourage their thinking about how things work.
Letter Lookout
For ages 4 to 5
Pick a letter with your child and try to find it everywhere you go. Take turns calling it out when you see it. If they see an apple for the letter A, then you have to find something next. See how many things you can find. Four? Ten? More?
Fantastic Voyage
For ages 3 to 5
When you're on a bus or train, invite your child to pretend the bus can go anywhere. "Where would you like to go?" In a back-and-forth conversation, invite them to describe this place (real or imaginary), and tell you about why they want to go there and who they'll see.
Appointment Predictions
For ages 2 to 5
Waiting for an appointment with the doctor or dentist? Ask your child what might happen. Will the doctor listen to their heart? Will the dentist look at their teeth? Encourage them to share these predictions, then compare them later with what actually happened—especially focusing on what they did to manage successfully.
Looking for more moments?
The Bright Tomorrows app provides families more than 1000 tips and meaningful moments that are easy to do every day with babies and young children. Once you load the app, tailored moments backed by science, will be provided for you and your family to help your child’s development. The app will recommend special moments tailored for you and each of your children, based on age and interests.
