Space Learning Board — Planets and Spacecraft

A picture board about space — planets, the sun and moon, rockets and astronauts — laid out for a young child to look at, point to and name. It gives a subject most children are curious about the vocabulary to go with it.

How you play

1. Sit with the board where your child can reach it.
2. Point to something and name it.
3. Ask your child to find the same thing again.
4. Talk about one item at a time rather than the whole board.
5. Come back to it and see which names have stuck.

What it builds

• Vocabulary for a subject young children ask about constantly
• Pointing, naming and answering, which is early conversation
• Visual recognition of shapes that are new to them
• Curiosity about something beyond everyday experience

Three ways to play it

• Look at the real moon and find it on the board
• Ask which one your child would like to visit and why
• Count the planets together

The details

• Ages: 1–3 years