Read Online The Everything Toddler Activities Book by MEd Joni Levine - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: MEd Joni Levine
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clear plastic containers (Tupperware works well)
Warm water
Place a toy in the plastic container.
Fill the container with water and freeze.
When the “glacier” is frozen, remove from the mold and add to your child’s warm play water.
Water-Play Accessories
Most young children love to play in the water. If you don’t have a sand/water table,
a dish bin will work just as well. Your toddler may enjoy simply splashing in the water,
but you enhance her enjoyment by adding a few props.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Sand/water table or a large shallow dish/tray
Assorted toys
The next time your child is playing with water, try adding some of these toys and props:
Plastic or metal tubes or pipes
Straws
Squeeze bottles
Corks
Strainers or sieves
Funnels
Basters
Floating toys
Natural Materials
Your toddler is naturally inquisitive, and he loves to explore. You don’t have to look far to find fascinating sensory materials for him to play with. Don’t be afraid to let him or her get dirty—that’s half the fun!
Etch a Sketch
This activity can get a bit messy, so you may want to have your child do it outside or over a bin.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Salt or cornmeal
A flat tray with edges, such as a cookie sheet or shoebox lid
Put some salt or cornmeal on the tray to a depth of ⅛.
Show your child how to use his finger to create designs. You may wish to guide your child in practicing shapes and letters, too.
To clear the picture, the child can either gently shake the tray or just smooth over the design with his hand.
Mud Paint
It’s okay for young children to get dirty when they play. Why not? Just be sure to do this activity outside.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
1 cup of water, or more as needed
Dirt
Old spoon
1 sheet poster board
Either find some mud outside for your child to use, or help him make some mud by adding water to dirt. Use a spoon to whip the mud up to a creamy consistency. Add more water if needed.
With the spoon, place a blob of mud on the poster board for your child to finger paint with.
Rock Painting
These make handy gifts as paperweights.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
Rocks
Poster or tempera paint
Take your child outside and help him find rocks for painting. Large smooth stones work best.
Let him paint his rocks with poster or tempera paint.
Playdough and Clay
Long before you could buy commercial Play Doh in a can, people were modeling with clay. Playdough and clay activities let your child use her imagination. She can create and destroy as much as she wishes. She can preserve her creation or she can squish it down and start all over again. Don’t be surprised if your toddler is more interested in the process of working with this material than she is in creating something specific. You will find many recipes for homemade Playdough in Appendix A.
Playdough Cooking
Making pretend food is just one of many creative uses for Playdough.
You may wish to use older kitchen utensils or pick some up at a garage sale.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Playdough or craft clay
Kitchen utensils
Provide your child with various tools and utensils for cooking up a pretend Playdough meal. Try these tools: garlic press for making pasta, cookie cutters, rolling pin, and measuring cups.
Playdough Textures
Enhance your child’s playdough fun by adding texture activities.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Various tools and materials to add texture to the clay
Playdough or craft clay
Provide your child with various tools and utensils for adding interesting patterns and textures to the Playdough, such as a meat mallet, potato
Warm water
Place a toy in the plastic container.
Fill the container with water and freeze.
When the “glacier” is frozen, remove from the mold and add to your child’s warm play water.
Water-Play Accessories
Most young children love to play in the water. If you don’t have a sand/water table,
a dish bin will work just as well. Your toddler may enjoy simply splashing in the water,
but you enhance her enjoyment by adding a few props.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Sand/water table or a large shallow dish/tray
Assorted toys
The next time your child is playing with water, try adding some of these toys and props:
Plastic or metal tubes or pipes
Straws
Squeeze bottles
Corks
Strainers or sieves
Funnels
Basters
Floating toys
Natural Materials
Your toddler is naturally inquisitive, and he loves to explore. You don’t have to look far to find fascinating sensory materials for him to play with. Don’t be afraid to let him or her get dirty—that’s half the fun!
Etch a Sketch
This activity can get a bit messy, so you may want to have your child do it outside or over a bin.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
Salt or cornmeal
A flat tray with edges, such as a cookie sheet or shoebox lid
Put some salt or cornmeal on the tray to a depth of ⅛.
Show your child how to use his finger to create designs. You may wish to guide your child in practicing shapes and letters, too.
To clear the picture, the child can either gently shake the tray or just smooth over the design with his hand.
Mud Paint
It’s okay for young children to get dirty when they play. Why not? Just be sure to do this activity outside.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 15 minutes
1 cup of water, or more as needed
Dirt
Old spoon
1 sheet poster board
Either find some mud outside for your child to use, or help him make some mud by adding water to dirt. Use a spoon to whip the mud up to a creamy consistency. Add more water if needed.
With the spoon, place a blob of mud on the poster board for your child to finger paint with.
Rock Painting
These make handy gifts as paperweights.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 20 minutes
Rocks
Poster or tempera paint
Take your child outside and help him find rocks for painting. Large smooth stones work best.
Let him paint his rocks with poster or tempera paint.
Playdough and Clay
Long before you could buy commercial Play Doh in a can, people were modeling with clay. Playdough and clay activities let your child use her imagination. She can create and destroy as much as she wishes. She can preserve her creation or she can squish it down and start all over again. Don’t be surprised if your toddler is more interested in the process of working with this material than she is in creating something specific. You will find many recipes for homemade Playdough in Appendix A.
Playdough Cooking
Making pretend food is just one of many creative uses for Playdough.
You may wish to use older kitchen utensils or pick some up at a garage sale.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Playdough or craft clay
Kitchen utensils
Provide your child with various tools and utensils for cooking up a pretend Playdough meal. Try these tools: garlic press for making pasta, cookie cutters, rolling pin, and measuring cups.
Playdough Textures
Enhance your child’s playdough fun by adding texture activities.
Activity for an individual child
Age group: 18–40 months
Duration of activity: 30 minutes
Various tools and materials to add texture to the clay
Playdough or craft clay
Provide your child with various tools and utensils for adding interesting patterns and textures to the Playdough, such as a meat mallet, potato
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