All children love putting together Christmas wish lists, and the simple act of flipping though a catalog of toys will get tykes talking and give you inspiration. Children focusing on literacy skills can read toy descriptions and underline descriptive adjectives. You could also help your child with writing a letter to Santa, describing why he wants a certain toy or game. To work on descriptive language, ask the child to give you three details about a favorite gift they've chosen. If you're working on group social skills, give each kid a turn to pick a toy and describe it to his peers. When he's finished, he gets to cut the toy out and paste it on a bag-shaped piece of construction paper labelled "Santa's Sac."
You can do this activity in the great outdoors or move your snowman-making inside, using pieces of precut construction paper for three large snowballs and adornments. Have the child walk you through the process of making a snowman verbally, helping him to build as you go. Give choices for the eyes, nose, hat, mouth and other decorations. If you're working outside, for example, bring a few different potential snowman hats. Those working indoors should have cut-outs in different colors ready. Have the child describe each type of decoration he wants before you put it on.
The speech therapy resource website Speechtx.com suggests trying a footprint identification card game. Have a discussion about how each different kind of animal leaves a unique footprint behind in the snow in the winter, then lie some reference cards down on the table in front of the child. Each should have a picture of an animal, the animal's name and its footprint. The child draws footprint cards from a separate deck and tries to identify the animal that left that mark behind, using the reference cards to help him. A document of winter activities provided by Speechtx.com includes these cards, ready to print out and use.
Design holiday cards together for friends or family members. Provide glitter, crayons, glue, markers and stickers. Encourage the child to ask for supplies that are just out of reach. Help the child write personalized messages inside his cards. If working on social skills with other children, kids can exchange holiday cards with their peers, read the messages they receive from others and practice "please" and "thank you."
Prepare Christmas cookies or a favorite hearty winter casserole together. Recipes are useful teaching tools when helping little ones to pay attention to details and follow instructions. Read the entire recipe through together first. Make the child the head chef in the kitchen, holding him responsible for telling you what you need to do to get the dish or dessert finished.