Development at 70 Months
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Activity 1
Age Appropriate Cognitive Development
Identifies Number Which Comes Between Two Numbers
 I understand what it means to be IN BETWEEN 2 things. I can identify which object is between 2 specified objects. I will even show you that I can identify a number that is in between 2 other numbers. Watch me do this between 68 and 72 months (5 year 6 months and 6 years). |
Steps
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Play a game with me called "What is the number in between?"
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Take 10 white plastic cups and lay them out sequentially in a row.
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Write numbers from 1-10 on each cup.
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Draw a starting line (using a masking tape or chalk) a distance away from the cups.
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Take a stone in your hand.
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Say, "What number is in between 3 and 5?"
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Demonstrate by taking the stone, walking to the cup and placing it on 5.
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Play this game 10 times.
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Note the number of correct responses.
Feedback
Your child is showing good progress in his mathematical understanding of numbers with his success in this task as the ability to understand the number that is in between 2 numbers usually develops between 5 years 6 months and 6 years.
Take a look at the suggested activities to encourage this skill.
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Play a game of "in between" with colored boxes. Tell your child to place the "blue" box in between the red and yellow one. Use different objects. Focus on his listening skills to position the objects.
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Incorporate concepts of "before" and "after" in using numbers as well. Play the cup game this time asking your child, "Which is the number just before 3", ""which is the number after 7". Use various concepts in your instructions and have fun listening and playing this game.
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Play a "steps" game. Find a flight of steps and write a number on each step. Your child has to carefully listen to your instruction and walk to the step that answers your question. E.g. "Go to the number that is before 4". This game is fun as it involves walking/running forwards and backwards.
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Play other physical games with numbers. E.g. you can "wheelbarrow" your child on his hands. Let him walk with his hands to particular numbers written on the floor as you instruct him.
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If your child does not understand what ""in between"" means, try the following ideas.
a. Teach this concept of "in between" first on the table with objects. Place 3 objects and vary the object that is placed in between.
b. Play a game of "in between" with colored boxes. Tell your child to place the blue box in between the red and yellow ones.
Ensure that he understands what it means to be "in between" before playing the number game.
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Limit the number of cups in the game to 3 instead of 10. This will ensure success and easy understanding of in-between. Slowly increase the number of cups to 4-5 and play again. Build up the difficulty of the game gradually to ensure interest and learning.
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Activity 2
Age Appropriate Social Development
Plays And Works Independently For At Least Fifteen Minutes
 The focus of this activity is to see how independent I am when I am on my own both during play and work time. I will be able to engage functionally in play or work independently without supervision for at least 15 minutes. I can do this between 66 and 78 months (5 years 6 months and 6 years 6 months). |
Steps
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Observe whether your child is able to sit down and do some familiar and simple work (e.g. coloring, doing simple worksheets) for at least 15 minutes on his own.
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Observe whether your child is able to play by himself for at least 15 minutes on his own.
Feedback
Your child is learning to demonstrate a good level of independence in his play and work without needing you to be around at this stage. He is able to occupy his time on his own functionally when he is shown the resources that he can use. Note his level of independence and gradually increase the time of his independence from there. E.g. if he can only work independently for 5 minutes, then build it up to 10 minutes with planned activities.
Look at the suggestions for ideas to encourage and use his independence.
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Your child is showing that he is ready to handle some responsibilities independently. Try letting your child be responsible for certain chores. E.g. making his bed, caring for a pet if he asks for it, taking care of a plant, etc.
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Praise your child for his independence by making a special ""Big Boy"" badge for him to wear for that day.
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If your child finds working independently a little difficult, then
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Create a distractible free environment for him
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Let your child do easy work first instead of difficult homework. Remember the priority is independence at his level of work not persistence. If your child finds the work difficult, you can build up those skills at a separate time.
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Organize the work he has to do. E.g. Place his coloring book and pencils on one basket, threading according to various shapes and colors on another basket and fixing a favorite puzzle in the third basket.
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If your child finds playing independently a little difficult, then
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Create a play area with all his favorite toys in a box and cushions spread out.
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Minimize your interaction play with him so that he is used to playing more independently.
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Independent play or work times are very useful especially when you have another child. Plan such times for this child. So that while he is playing or working independently, you can focus your time on the other child. When he finishes his independent time, he knows that he will have some time to either be taught by you or to do something fun with you.
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