The Everything Toddler Activities Book
Page 18
Letter Collages
Here is a concrete way to help your toddler with letter identification and the sounds the letters make. Close supervision is needed when you are working with small objects.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Scissors
Poster board
White craft glue
Variety of small objects
Cut your chosen letters from the poster board. Make them 8–10 high, leaving plenty of room to glue objects.
Help your child select and then glue appropriate objects onto the letter. For example, glue buttons on the “B” or glue pennies on the “P.”
Time
Time is one of the more complex concepts you can’t expect your young child to comprehend. This is because your child cannot see or touch time. Time is an abstract concept, so any meaningful activities must be hands-on and relevant for your child.
How Long?
Although your child is not ready to measure time with a clock,
you can introduce him to the basic concept of time passage in a concrete way.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: Variable
Challenge your child to guess/estimate how long certain activities will take to complete. You can use an hourglass, a timer, or simply count. Sample activities to time include brushing his teeth, walking up the steps, or singing his favorite song.
What Comes Next?
The progression of time follows a predictable rhythm.
This activity will help your child track the passage of time as he learns to predict and anticipate events.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
5 or 6 index cards
White craft glue
Magazine pictures depicting routine activities
On each index card, glue a picture depicting a child performing a routine activity. Examples might be a child getting dressed, taking a bath, eating dinner, or listening to a bedtime story.
Help your toddler to put the cards in order as they occur in his day. Be sure to discuss the concepts of routine and sequence with him: “What do you do after you come home from Grandma’s house?” or “Do you take a bath after dinner time or before dinner time?”
Spatial Concepts
Helping your child learn spatial concepts will help her master mathematical and reading skills when she enters school. These activities will also help her to learn to follow directions and build her vocabulary.
In and Out the Doors
By playing this fun game, your child will be learning the directions in, out, and through. It is also a great way to build large motor skills. Once your child has mastered the basic activity, add excitement by challenging her to do it faster and faster.
Activity for a group
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: Variable
Participants hold hands while standing in a circle. Players need to stand far enough apart that they can hold their arms outstretched.
Players can make one of two configurations. If they hold their arms straight out, they are making a window. If they raise their arms, they are creating a door.
One player stands in the center. She then goes in and out of the circle by passing through the doors the other players have made. She cannot go through any windows. Players in the circle can change from a door to a window as they choose.
Hey Diddle Diddle
Use the famous nursery rhyme to help your child learn spatial concepts.
Activity for a group
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Masking tape
Cut-out or photograph of the moon
1 sheet poster board
Cut-out or photograph of a cow
Tape the moon onto the poster board. Stick a loop of tape to the back of the cow.
Teach your child the classic nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle.” Ask your child questions like, “Did you ever see a cow jump over the moon?” or “Do you think a cow can really jump that high?”
Ask your child to stick the cow “over” the moon.
Introduce variations to the rhyme and have your child place the cow in the appropriate place each time. Examples: the cow hid under the moon, the cow danced beside the moon, and so on.
The Noble Duke of York
This is a traditional action song that will get your child moving while she learns directions.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Teach your child the following song and the movements that accompany it:
The Noble Duke of York,
He had 10,000 men
(hold up ten fingers)
He marched them all straight up a hill
(point up and rise up on tiptoes)
And marched them down again
(point down and squat to the ground)
And when they’re up, they’re up up up!
(point up and rise up on tiptoes)
And when they’re down, they’re down, down, down!
(point down and squat to the ground)
And when they’re only halfway up,
(stoop halfway)
They’re neither
Up nor down!
(quickly jump up and then land on the ground)
Hurrah for Hula Hoops
Your child may be too young to swivel a hoop around her hips, but she can still have fun while she is learning.
Activity for a group
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Give your child directions for moving with the hula hoop. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
With the hoop on the ground:
Stand inside the hoop.
Jump out of the hoop.
Walk around the hoop.
While holding the hoop:
Put the hoop over your head.
Step through the hoop.
CHAPTER 16
Seasonal Activities
Your child still has a lot to learn about the world around him. Help your child observe the natural changes that occur with the seasons. He will be learning about the predictable rhythms of time. Because the most concrete signs of the seasons are changes in nature, you will find that the activities in this chapter often use materials found outside.
Harvest-Time Fun
Harvest time is a fun season to celebrate with your child. Take this opportunity to talk about where food comes from. If you can, consider a trip to a local commercial farm. Many have programs for children where they can pick their own pumpkins, taste fresh apple cider, or participate in other activities.
Apple Prints
Celebrate harvest time with a bounty of fresh apples.
This activity will help your child have fun with this popular fruit.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
Knife
1 apple
Paper towel
Tempera paint
Shallow pie tin
Light-colored construction paper
Cut the apple in half crosswise. Dry off the inside with a paper towel.
Pour a small amount of paint into the pie tin.
Show your toddler how to grasp the apple to dip it into the paint. Have her press the painted apple on the paper to create a print. The effect will look a little like a star.
Cornucopia
What is a more popular symbol of harvest than the cornucopia (horn of plenty)?
Here is an easy way to make one. While you are working on this project,
take the time to discuss with your ch
ild where different foods come from.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
1 sheet brown construction paper
Masking tape
Magazines
Scissors
Roll the sheet of brown paper to create a horn shape. Secure the edges with tape.
Go through the magazines with your child to find appropriate items to add to the cornucopia. Explain that the cornucopia holds foods from a harvest: fruits and vegetables that have been picked.
Assist your child in cutting out the magazine pictures or have her tear out the pictures. Let her tape the food into the cornucopia.
Corn Rolling
This simple painting activity produces a unique effect. You may also wish to have your toddler try painting and printing with other vegetables, such as potatoes, cauliflower, and green peppers.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
1 dried ear of corn
Tempera paint
Shallow pie tin
Light-colored construction paper
Have your child roll the corncob in the paint in the tin the same way that you would a paint roller.
Your child can then roll out different patterns and designs on the paper.
Harvest Bowling
Help develop your child’s motor skills while exposing her to some fall vegetables. Your child will enjoy exploring the different colors and interesting textures. Look for gourds that are shaped like bottles, with a wide base and thin neck.
Activity for an individual child or a group
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
5 small dried gourds
Masking tape
1 or 2 small round pumpkins
Set the gourds up like bowling pins.
Stick a strip of masking tape to the floor to make a start line. This should be quite close to the gourds, as the pumpkins will not roll very far.
Show your child how to roll the pumpkins to knock down the gourds. Don’t worry about keeping score.
Leaves Are Changing
If you are fortunate to live somewhere where the leaves change colors in the fall, be sure to try some of these activities. When you do activities around fall leaves, you are promoting your child’s observation skills. This is a wonderful way for your child to see how things change and to observe the passage of time and seasons.
Leaf Rubbings
This is a great way for your child to explore the different shapes and textures of autumn leaves. Avoid leaves that are already dried out. This simple project seems to work like magic.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
A variety of autumn leaves that your child has collected
Light-colored bond paper
Peeled crayons
Have your child place one leaf or a group of leaves under the sheet of paper.
Show your child how to use the side of a crayon to rub on the paper. The shape and texture of the leaf will be revealed.
Leaf Crown
Your child will enjoy making this crown. He can use it as a prop in his imaginative play.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
Measuring tape
Scissors
2 sheets construction paper
Stapler
White craft glue
A variety of autumn leaves
Measure the circumference of your child’s head. Cut 2-wide strips from the construction paper and staple them together to make a band that will fit your child’s head.
Help your child glue the leaves to his crown.
Leaf Glitter
Here is a new way to add pizzazz to your child’s drawing and artwork.
You may choose to add store-bought glitter to the mix.
Activity for an individual child or a group
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
Colorful autumn leaves, slightly dry
White craft glue
Construction paper
Help the child crumble up the leaves into fine pieces.
Let your child sprinkle leaf “glitter” to his glue design on the paper. He may also choose to add the leaf glitter to other pictures he has made.
Scary Things
You may or may not choose to celebrate Halloween with your young child. Toddlers have a great deal of difficulty understanding the difference between fact and fantasy, so common symbols and sights of this holiday can be truly frightening for them. Giving your child hands-on, safe opportunities to explore scary things can help her understand and feel more in control.
Egg-Carton Bat
Popular culture has done much to malign the reputation of bats. Most bats are harmless and even helpful in keeping the insect population in check. You can talk to your child about bats while you do this craft.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Scissors
1 cardboard egg carton
Black tempera paint
Red tempera paint
Small paintbrushes
Black construction paper
White craft glue
Cut off one cup of the egg carton. This will be the bat’s body.
Let your child paint the cup black and then use the red paint to add facial features.
While the paint is drying, cut out two wings from the construction paper. Each wing should be no longer than 2 long.
Show your child how to glue the wings onto the bat.
Tissue Paper Ghosts
This is such a simple activity with a very cute result.
Your child may want to make a lot of ghosts and then hang them around the house for decoration.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 10 minutes
Tissue paper such as Kleenex
Cotton balls
Masking tape
Yarn cut into 12 sections
Fine-tip black marker
Show your child how to drape the sheet of tissue paper over the cotton ball.
Help your child secure the cotton ball by wrapping a piece of masking tape tightly below. This will form the neck. If you wish to hang the ghost later, stick a piece of yarn under the tape.
Your child can use the marker to draw on the eyes and mouth. Hang the ghost where the breeze will catch it and make it fly.
Paper Plate Spiders
Even if your child is afraid of spiders, she is still likely to enjoy this cute craft.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 30–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Crayons
2 paper plates
Hole punch
2 of yarn
White craft glue
8 strips black construction paper
Let your child color the front of the plates. She can draw in a face for the spider if she wishes.
Punch a hole in the center of one of the plates. Knot the end and thread the yarn through the hole from front to back. This will be used to hang the spider.
Help your child glue the black strips onto the back of one plate. These are the spider’s legs—they should be evenly spaced and should stick out past the rim of the plate.
Glue the two plates together back to back to complete the spider.
Masks
Masks can be particularly frightening for a young child, who may not recognize the transformed face as someone she knows and may not understand that the transformation is temporary. This activity may help your child overcome any
fear, but if she is reluctant to wear the mask, don’t force her.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Scissors
Paper plate
Crayons and markers
White craft glue
Craft stick
Mirror
Cut wide holes in the paper plate to make eyes and a mouth.
Have your child decorate the back of the plate to create a face.
Glue the craft stick onto the bottom to serve as a handle. Your child can then hold up the mask to her face. Let her see herself in a mirror.
Spider Webs
Your toddler will enjoy making this unusual craft.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
White craft glue
Shallow bowl
1 cup cooked spaghetti, cooled
Waxed paper
Pour some glue into the shallow bowl.
Show your child how to dip each noodle individually into the glue. Have her hold the noodle over the bowl to let any excess glue drip off.
Let her arrange the noodles onto the waxed paper in her version of a cobweb design.