So does using their senses to gain information. Your child’s teacher uses these methods each day. You can try them at home, too.

Activities like these will keep your child busy and engaged.

• Weaving. To challenge little hands and minds, cut horizontal slits through a clean foam tray or piece of cardboard. Give your child long narrow strips of paper and show him how to weave the paper through the slits—under, over, under, over. Encourage him to keep at it.

• Sign language. Your child will love having a “secret code” with you. Make up hand signs for “I’m hungry,” “I love you,” and others. Remembering the meanings and hand motions will be a fun mental workout for your child.

• Feely bag. This game sharpens your child’s reasoning skills by letting him use only his sense of touch to identify an object. Put five or six familiar objects into a bag. Have your child put his hand in, without looking, and grasp one object. See if he can tell you what it is. Then go on to the next object.

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