October, 2010

PARENT INVOLVEMENT FAMILY FUN CALENDAR

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

31 It’s Halloween. Be safe if you go out trick-or-

treating!

Parenting Tip: Halloween can be scary for some preschool children. If you want to join in the fun, and keep your child happy and safe, talk about

pumpkins and scarecrows. Talk about autumn colors and falling leaves too. Talking about the months and seasons helps your child to understand time

and how it progresses.

1 O is for October, octopus, orange,

ostrich – draw an “O picture” with all the

O words you can think of.

2 Take the kids to the library – find books about fall (ask the librarian to help).

3 Take the kids to the

park and play on the playground.

Play with them – don’t just watch –

it’s fun!

4 Play, “Where is my

hat? Is it on the box, or under the box, or in the box, or beside

the box?”

5 Ask your child what he or she likes best at school. Ask why.

6 Wonderful

Wednesday! Think of words that

start with W.

7 Take your kids to the

grocery store. Let them choose one

healthy food item.

8 Funny Friday –Think of words that begin

with F.

9 Invite one of your

child’s school friends to come and play.

Help them prepare a snack together.

10 Take a nature walk

or bike ride. Look for signs of fall in your

neighborhood.

11 Sit down with your

child while he or she draws a picture for a

friend or family member.

12 Terrific Tuesday.

Think of words that start with T.

13 Put on some lively music and dance

with your kids. It’s a great way to stay in

shape!

14 Sing nursery rhymes

with your child. Which is your

favorite? Which is your child’s favorite?

15 Ask your child to set the table for dinner. How many people

will be eating dinner?

16 Make a shopping list

together. If you don’t need to shop, just play at grocery

store with items from the pantry.

17 Collect leaves in your yard or in the park. What color are they?

Glue them onto paper.

18 Marvelous Monday! Think of words that

start with M.

19 Make a simple

dinner together. Grilled cheese or

peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are

easy and fun.

20 Look for store signs as you drive or ride the bus. Notice the letters on the sign.

21 Make up a story

about your child’s favorite toy.

22 Have a pajama party. Watch a

favorite movie and discuss it with your

child.

23 sssSilly sssSaturday! Think of words that sssstart with sssss.

24 Play a board game.

25 Look at pumpkins in the grocery store –

what shape are they? What color?

26 Ask your child to

draw an ENORMOUS pumpkin.

27 A pumpkin is

orange. What else is orange? Draw or paint an orange

picture.

28 Look at more fall

fruits and vegetables in the grocery store. What colors do you

see?

29 Play dress-up

together. Let your child wear mom or

dad’s shoes, scarves, or ties.

30 Take a walk around

the neighborhood and look for

pumpkins and other Halloween

decorations.

 

Family Fun Facts

Did you know?

Children who eat dinner around the table with their families do better in school. Children who take family trips do better in school. Simple, free trips to the park or library are as good as expensive trips away

from home. Children who are read to frequently read earlier and better. Children who see their parents read regularly are likely to read more themselves. Spending 30 minutes a day with your child can help them to achieve better grades in school. Children love to spend time with their parents!                (Facts from Harvard Family Research Project, wwww.hfrp.org)

Websites for parents and educators: Florida Parental Information & Resource Centers (PIRCs):

    Florida PIRC at USF:       www.floridapirc.usf.edu     Florida PIRC of FND:      www.floridapirc.org

Project Appleseed: www.projectappleseed.org Be There Campaign:     www.bethere.org 

Copyright 2009 Florida Partnership in Education (FL PIE). This document can be downloaded and reproduced without prior consent for non‐profit educational use only, provided the author/copyright holder is fully cited/credited and no modifications are made to the document. All other rights reserved.  This document was produced, in whole or in part, with funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation & Improvement, Parental Information & Resource Center program, under Grant # 84.310A. The content herein does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, any other agency of the U.S. government, or any other source.