Activity: Fun in the Sun!

Learning to play with friends in a respectful and positive way is important to a child's social and emotional growth. By giving your child opportunities to interact with others, you are helping him/her learn how to build lasting relationships.

Materials:

• "no tear" shampoo
• water sprinkler
• silly string
• shaving cream
• pet grooming tools
• insect net or netting fabric

Directions:
Have your child invite a friend to play outside. Bathing suits only, and don't forget to lather up with sunscreen and wear sunglasses before heading outside to enjoy these playful silly ideas:

• Create bubbles by adding bubble bath or "no tear" shampoo to shallow play pool with a strong spray from the water hose.
• Dance like there's no tomorrow in the water sprinkler.
• Have a chase with silly string.
• Paint the "world" (surfaces safe to paint outside) with shaving cream.
• Bathe, dry, and groom a pet.
• Catch butterflies, collect bugs, and climb trees!
• Discover fascinating cloud designs that look like rabbits, boats, dogs, flowers, and other familiar objects floating by in the sky.

Take It Further:

• Watch Clifford episodes with friends. Then talk about Clifford's actions and how
  each story ends.
• Play fun Clifford online games and print out Clifford coloring printables to share
  with friends.

With a Group: Practice showing respect to friends by making an art collage by using objects found during outside play like twigs, feathers, leaves, grass, flowers, etc. Combine the objects in a free-form design on a piece of cardboard or poster board. To preserve the collage, cover with plastic wrap. Option: With adult supervision, the collage may also be sprayed (before covering with plastic wrap) with one color of acrylic spray paint for a monochromatic look. Individual collages can also be made, giving everyone something original to take home.