Family and Friends Photo Album Week: A One-Week Themed Learning Plan

Welcome to our family and friends themed learning week! As the crisp autumn weather settles in across Ontario, it is a wonderful time to celebrate the special people in our lives. This week, we are using a simple handmade photo album project to help children connect with loved ones, build communication skills, and practice early developmental milestones. Remember that every child’s pace is different, so please ensure that these plans are adapted to each child’s own goals.

Goals for the week

  • Communication: Practising names of family members, friends, and familiar people using words or visual supports.
  • Early literacy: Pointing to picture labels and looking at left-to-right turning in a homemade book.
  • Early math: Counting how many family members live in the house or appear on a page.
  • Social-emotional: Recognizing familiar smiling faces and talking about feelings of care and belonging.
  • Fine and gross motor: Tearing paper, turning thick pages, and walking around to collect photos or drawings.
Family and Friends Photo Album Week: A One-Week Themed Learning Plan
Photo by Jessie Maxwell on Unsplash

Day-by-day plan

Monday

Main activity: Start the album by gathering pictures of close family members and printing them out. Let your child help pick where each photo goes.
Quick extension: Point to each face and practice saying or signing who it is.

Tuesday

Main activity: Decorate the front cover of the photo album together using colourful paper scraps and stickers.
Quick extension: Practice fine motor skills by letting your child tear construction paper strips for the cover border.

Wednesday

Main activity: Add a page for special friends or extended family members, drawing simple lines or shapes next to their pictures.
Quick extension: Count how many friends are on the page together, touching each picture one by one.

Thursday

Main activity: Create a feeling face page by looking at photos where family members are smiling, laughing, or making silly expressions.
Quick extension: Match real-life expressions in the mirror to the happy faces shown in the photo album.

Monday

Main activity: Read through the completed family and friends photo album from cover to cover during story time.
Quick extension: Ask simple questions like, “Where is grandma?” and wait for your child to point or respond.

Materials

  • Printed photos of family members and friends
  • A blank notebook or sturdy binder for the album
  • Child-safe glue sticks and colourful construction paper
  • Markers, crayons, or thick coloured pencils
  • Optional visual support cards for names and feelings

Tracking progress

  • Noticing if your child independently points to familiar faces in the album
  • Observing engagement during shared arts and crafts time
  • Listening for attempts to use names or descriptive words for loved ones
  • Noting comfort with fine motor tasks like gluing and page-turning

Every child learns and grows at their own unique pace, so have fun celebrating the important people in your child’s world this week!

If you have any questions specific to your child’s developmental journey or would like guidance on OAP funding and therapies, please reach out to book a free 20-minute call with our team at Bloom ABA.

Cover image: photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash

Autumn Pumpkin Pass: A Fun Game for Practising Taking Turns

When the crisp October air arrives in Ontario, it is a wonderful time to bring seasonal fun indoors while helping your child build important social skills. This simple game uses a small autumn pumpkin or soft toy to help children, siblings, or peers practise waiting, sharing, and taking turns in a low-pressure way. Every child’s pace is different, and playful games are a gentle way to connect without any rush.

What you need

  • A small, lightweight plastic pumpkin or a soft fall-themed toy
  • Two or more players (parents, siblings, or friends)
  • A simple visual turn-taking card or token if helpful
Autumn Pumpkin Pass: A Fun Game for Practising Taking Turns
Photo by Ana Klipper on Unsplash

How to do it

  1. Sit together on the floor facing each other in a circle or a comfortable row.
  2. Show the pumpkin to the players and name whose turn it is first using a clear visual or verbal cue.
  3. Gently roll or pass the pumpkin to the first person while saying, “It is your turn to hold the pumpkin.”
  4. Encourage the person holding the pumpkin to wait patiently for a count of three before passing it to the next player.
  5. Practise saying “my turn” and “your turn” softly as the pumpkin moves from person to person.
  6. Keep the game light and fun, focusing on the joy of passing the object together rather than strict rules.
  7. End the game with plenty of warm praise and a transition to a quiet activity.

Make it easier or harder

  • Use physical hand-over-hand guidance if your child is still learning how to pass an item to someone else.
  • Add a visual timer or a special token to make waiting easier to understand.
  • Offer specific, enthusiastic praise every time your child successfully waits for their turn or shares the pumpkin.

Skills your child practises

  • Taking turns during a shared activity
  • Practising patience and waiting
  • Sharing items with peers or family members

Remember, keep the atmosphere warm and positive, and feel free to book a free 20-minute call with Bloom ABA if you need more personalized ideas for your child.

Cover image: photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

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