Toddler Activities

Toddler's love to explore and have an endless curiosity to satisfy.  Here are a few simple things you can do with little to no investment.

1.  Where Did It Go?   Play a simple hide and seek activity with a simple toy or object that the child has an interest in.  Place it in different places and have the toddler look for it.  Ask them to look high, low, under, between . . . and you are helping them learn simple position words that will plant a seed for future learning.  They learn to follow directions, position words, and critical thinking
2.   Peek-a-Boo Animals-  Place a small blanket over the child's favorite stuffed animal or doll and show them how they can play peek-a-boo with their animals like you play with them.  This helps to teach them independence as well as cause and effect.
3.  Bucket Toss-  For this activity you will need a large pot, bucket or bowl and either a soft ball, small stuffed animal or bean bag.  Place the bucket on the floor and have the child toss the ball into the bucket.  While this is happening help the child count, retrieve and try again, identify colors and shapes of the balls/buckets.  You may use one ball or several.  This helps the child with motor skills and colors/shapes/counting.
4.  Music Count- All you need is a wooden spoon/durable surface or plastic bowl for each of you.  Have the child copy your beat.  During this activity you can count, sing, or  sound out syllables of words for older children.  This teaches the child rhythm, counting, eye-hand coordination, language/literacy(songs), following directions.  After the child has mastered following you, let them be the leader and you copy them which helps with their feelling of autonomy.  Modify the counting and rhythm activities by marching, walking, hopping or tip-toe to a beat or counting increasing gross motor development and balance.