Explore Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge
Activities to Try at Home
Build Your Own Brooklyn Bridge (For Children 3-5 years)Get out your blocks and build your own Brooklyn Bridge as a family. Get some books from the library with pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge or print some pictures of famous bridges from the Internet for you and your child to refer to for inspiration. Add some toy boats and cars to make the scene complete.
If you don't have blocks at home, you can use empty food, gift or shoe boxes. Tape them shut and wrap them with brown or black construction paper so the blocks look like bridge building materials.
What is the child learning? Children love to recreate what they see in the world. Giving them the time, opportunity and materials to do this helps them understand and reflect on what they have experienced. Through block building, young children develop spatial understand, shape recognition, an understanding of patterns, and problem solving skills. These skills will help when it comes time for them to learn to read and develop math skills.
How to help? Boys usually take to block building enthusiastically. Sometimes girls need a little encouragement. If you add accessories, such as cars, boats, and toy people, this will help capture girls' imaginations. As children are building, let them make mistakes. Some of their structures may fall over. Children learn, as many adults do, through trial and error. If we criticize or jump in to quickly to help, children will think they can't do it right and they may give up.
Cross the Bridge (For crawlers and walkers)
Place one or two large blue or green sheets on the floor. Put sofa cushions by of the sheet in a line as if they are a bridge crossing a river. Two or more older helpers gently ripple the sheets on either side to create a rolling river effect. Encourage the child to crawl or walk across the bridge.
What is the child learning? It takes a child a while to develop balance, particularly children under three. Children will enjoy this challenge and practice their large motor skills.
Act out the Story of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" (ages 3-5 years)
Read or tell your child the story of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." If the he enjoys this story, get him to act out the story with you. Get family members or friends to help be the other characters.
How to help? You may need to remind your child what happens next in the story.
What is the child learning? By retelling familiar stories, children develop their language skills as well as reinforce their narrative skills. These are important early literacy skills which give children the foundation necessary to learn how to read when the time comes.