Civics

Public Safety

Hurry, hurry, drive that fire truck! Call your engine company and set up an appointment for a firehouse tour (for help finding one nearby, check out Fire-find.com). See where the firefighters cook and sleep when they're on duty, and try on as much equipment as possible. Get some fire-safety tips along the way.

Homework: Log on to Firesafety.gov/kids/flash.shtm for online coloring pages and fire-safety games, as well as information about becoming a junior fire marshal.

Applied Communications

The next time your child draws a picture for a grandparent or a friend, take a trip to the post office to mail it to the recipient. Have your kid choose the stamp and stick it on. Bring along a map, and try to find the delivery route the letter will take.

Homework: Hand over your junk mail so your child can play "post office."

20th-Century Artifacts

Go to a flea market or antiques shop to look for relics from different eras. Or visit a historic home in your area (find one at Nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com), then point out the similarities and differences with your own house.

Homework: Show your tot some old photos of yourself from when you were a child. What were you wearing? What kinds of toys did you have? How bad was your hair?