Sing along with your little one and Tad.
Who cares if you sing off-key? Sing along with your little one
and Tad! Simple rhythms make learning easy and fun, while
repetitive refrains reinforce the process of counting. Once your
child has learned the lyrics to Tad's counting song, encourage him
or her to sing it solo—in the bathtub, in the car, or in bed. Help
your child teach the song to family members!
Use Tad's counting book to reinforce the learning
and develop language skills.
As you and your child sing along with Tad, point out each numeral
and numerical set in Tad's counting book. Identify the objects, and
help your child find similar objects in and around your home.
Use your child's five senses to extend the learning.
• After Tad identifies each color, have a color hunt at home.
Search for objects with each primary color. As you point to the
object, ask your child to name the color. Then ask him or her
to find another object with that same color.
• Bake a batch of cookies. Have your child count out the cookies
as you place each one on the cookie tray.
• Make a healthful snack at home. With your child, count out
10 nuts and 10 raisins. Then mix them together to make trail mix.
Add other ingredients, counting out how many of each one.
• Move to the rhythms of Tad's songs with your child. Young
children respond to music with their whole bodies. Create hand
gestures and use your fingers to represent the numbers in
each verse.
Extend bilingual learning.
Now that Tad has provided an introduction to a second language,
keep it going! In order to help your child learn languages later in
life, it is important to let him hear different languages in a variety
of contexts at a young age. Look to expose your child to new
languages through books, TV programming, a next-door
neighbor or a friend!