Don’t we all know parents and grandparents who wish for more time
to spend with their children? Perhaps you are among them! Days are so filled
with work, organized activities, and family routines. Before we know it,
our youngsters are ready to leave home and fly on their own. How can we
make room in our hurried, harried lives for building close, invaluable,
adult-child relationships?
Goals 
Traveling Light: Family Language Fun to Go intends to meet at least
part of the need for quality parent-child time. This research-based program offers
light-hearted, beneficial ways to utilize otherwise unoccupied time while family
members are traveling together in their vehicles or waiting for something to
happen. Program goals are to:
enrich
children’s interest and skill in using
language.
enhance
parent-child communication, respect, understanding, and love.
minimize or avoid conflict between family members in tight spaces.
Studies show that hearing and speaking one’s native language in purposeful and enjoyable ways aids children’s school readiness, long-term academic achievement, and social success.
Description
Traveling Light: Family Language Fun to Go is a Web-based
collection of oral language activities for adults and youngsters from
infancy through early adolescence. Rhymes, fingerplays, poems, stories,
songs, riddles, fables, legends, and conversation starters are organized
within six broad age groups. The colorful camera-ready sheets may be
printed and inserted in plastic sleeves or three-hole punched to place
in a flip pad or three-ring binder for easy access. Families are encouraged
to add their own language treasures. Children may enjoy illustrating
the resources with crayon or felt marker pictures.
Activities are non-copyrighted and most require no supplies. Each activity sheet includes the title, “What Children Gain” (developmental benefits), any supplies needed, instructions for implementing the activity, the words for the activity itself, and a section called “To Think About,” where adults can reflect on children’s developmental progress.
Curriculum Resources for Use with Groups of Parents
Current program resources for educators include a facilitator’s guide
with research rationale, suggested teaching outlines, an evaluation instrument
to assess behavior changes, a list of research-based references and additional
readings, a CD containing selected songs, and a DVD of illustrations for
implementing activities using body motions. University of Kentucky Cooperative
Extension hopes that this program will find wide use among diverse parents,
other primary caregivers, and parent educators, supplying many hours of
enjoyment, learning, and bonding with youngsters of all ages.
Please stay tuned for additional resources and updates!
