Vacation ABC's

There is a long tradition of playing games with children on long trips. It's a fun way to keep them occupied and help pass the time. As a child we played "My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells___" Or we looked for the alphabet on signs and license plates.

Emily is too little for any kind of meaningful game; her rings and a toy keep her content. She was more interested in the train window than anything outside of it. But I needed something to keep from getting stir crazy. So, we played a game that I plan to make a tradition~Vacation ABC's.

As she sat on my lap I went through the alphabet recalling things from our vacation. She enjoyed the sound of my voice as I reminisced about the trip. Who knows how many words she understood, but all babies are sponges when it comes to language and new experiences.

When she gets older she will be able to contribute to the game, first with naming a word that goes with the alphabet. Later she'll add her memories and talk about them in more depth. This will be a meaningful way to capture memories of the trip. She will also develop her letter knowledge and narrative skills, both key skills in early literacy.

Here is the result of our first vacation ABC's.

A-Asparagus, growing wild on the hobby farm
B-Basil, tasting it for the first time
C-Chugga, chugga, choo-choo
D- Dog, meeting Minnie the dachshund
E-Emily's first vacation
F-Flora, Miss Flora McFlimsey (by Mariana), one of Grandma's favorite books as a girl
G-Giraffe toy
H-Hummingbirds, watching grandma make sugar water
I-Ice cream at Central Dairy Creamery
J-"Jiggety-jiggety, jumping jacks..."
K-Kicking and splashing in the bath
L-Lion's Club Park
M-Missouri on vacation
N-Napping with Grandpa
O-Outside, in the garden watching Grandma, taking walks, exploring the wild flowers
P-Piano, playing with Grandma
Q-Queens, being treated like them!
R-Reading with Grandma
S-Sunday School
T-Traveling by train for the first time
U-Union Station to meet Daddy
V- Vanilla ice cream, Yum!
W-Wooden objects, watching Papa make them in his shop
X-X-tra special trip to visit the grandparents
Z-Zinnias on the table