Age: 2 to 5 years

GET READY: Find pictures of wintry objects. Search through magazines or visit clipart websites. Look for images such as mittens, Jack Frost, snow families, sweaters and ice skates.

GET SET: Glue your icy images onto same-sized papers to make a little set of cards. Gluing your images to note cards will make them strong and long-lasting. Gluing your images to Post-it Notes will make them sticky and creative.

SIT BACK AND WATCH YOUR CHILD GO: Work with your very young child to help her learn the name of the objects that each picture shows. After a few tries she’ll be the first to name the frigid objects. Older children will easily master the names of the objects. They’ll be ready to put them into groups, such as: “Which of the things on our cards are things that you wear in the winter?” “Which things are usually found outside and which are usually found inside?”

AS YOUR CHILD GROWS: You may want to make two identical sets of cards and help your child learn to play a simple form of “Match Game.” If your child seems drawn to this activity, continue the fun by makings card sets of animals, vehicles, musical instruments, farm equipment or people.

YOUR CHILD WILL LOVE: Holding the cards; sorting them. Looking at the pictures. Imitating your words. One-on-one time with you!

YOU WILL LOVE: Listening to your child’s language development; watching as he classifies things in his own unique way.