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would you like learning activities for toddlers? August 31, 2011 |
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Learning Activities For ToddlersToddler Ideas is the insightful ezine delivered to your inbox monthly from clever-toddler-activities.com August, 2011 Issue 22 Featuring:
Opening ThoughtsAre There Safe ‘Learning Tools’ that are Out of Your Toddlers Reach?We all learn that toddler proofing is necessary, because are toddlers into everything, aren't they!? Keeping precious and dangerous things out of reach is best because toddlers have low self control. Yet how about safe objects? Are they being kept away from toddlers as well? Older babies and toddlers have a strong drive to explore and learn everything about the world around them. Of course everyone benefits from an orderly environment, as long as everyone has access to what they need. Have you ever noticed that toddlers like random everyday object as much as, or even more than, their toys? However, young children can feel overwhelmed by too much stuff at once. On a practical note: how the heck could we keep up if toddlers had access to everything at home! What about creating opportunities for your toddler to explore safe everyday objects a bit at a time. For example at different times:
I think an important part of creating learning activities for toddlers out of household items is to clean up quietly with a neutral or joyous attitude. Mess is part of a toddler's learning process. I sometimes invite toddlers to tidy up with me but I’ve stopped encouraging/forcing because I found it’s not worth the pain it causes on both sides. By modeling the cleaning up process children not only imitate when they’re ready but also tidy up for the sake of having a pleasant place rather than out of fear, or to simply get a reward, or be praised. I hope this information about learning activities for toddlers in this issue of Toddler Ideas is something you will useful. Q&A with ClaireLearning Activities for Toddlers in the Garden (Back Yard)Question: I am trying to think of something to do outside with my 2 children that I look after. They have a keen interest in balls and I would like to incorporate that into the experience. I have a sand play area and a water table outside that I would like to somehow incorporate into the experiences. The 26 month old is hearing impaired and the 30 month old has Cerebral Palsy (CP) and is learning to walk in a walker. I would also like to incorporate the use of language and literacy in these experiences. Any ideas would be grateful. Thanks! Marnie-Elaine Answer: Hi Marnie-Elaine, Thanks for your question and for telling me a bit about the children and your resources. I've observed that toddlers simply enjoy throwing balls out of sand and water trays whenever we've added them for variety. I've played the game of toddlers throwing the balls out of the tray and me tossing them back, many times. Hey, it's a good way to keep fit and their giggles are so energizing, aren't they. :-) Hopefully the child with CP could enjoy this game too. By talking about what's happening, the toddlers would learn about prepositions (in, out, beside and on). You could describe the colours, patterns or images on the balls as they use them too. It seems like they might enjoy sitting a few feet away from each other rolling a ball back and forth as well. The children could even do it in the sand area and make tracks in the sand. I've found filling and emptying containers to be the most popular water and sand activity. I've observed so many toddlers concentrating and engaged while completing this task. Save and wash yogurt pots, laundry scoops, hairstray lids and food trays etc for a great free activity. Then show the children how to fill the larger containers using the small pots and scoops. To make it easier of the child with CP you could use large pans, that would hopefully sink in the water and be a large, still target for him/her. This is also perfect time to share basic scientific and mathematical vocabulary, such as full, empty, heavier, lighter etc. Describing what actions they are preforming, while scooping, pouring, filling, emptying etc, would help their understanding of verbs. I don't know if the 30 month old could manage the following but the 26 month old might enjoy it, while the other one did something else. Place either house decorating paint brushes or child's art brushes in the water tray. Encourage them to 'paint' the path/deck/patio and wall/fence. Have a simple nature treasure hunt for sticks, stones and leaves. You could encourage the children to drop the items one by one into the water tray to see if they float or sink. I add some water to the sand (out of children's sight) now and again for a change. You could use a ruler to smooth out the sand and provide some sticks, rakes and forks to draw lines and patterns on the flattened and smoothed sand. By writing their names and other words in the sand with a stick or your finger, literacy would be included. Well, I could go on and on! :-) If you'd like some more ideas along this theme, you could check out our sand play, water play, toddler exercise and free games pages. Have you tried replacing water with tactile activities now and again? I hope you find these ideas useful. Feel free to ask us any more questions as they arise. Warmest regards, Claire Tip of the MonthToddlers Can Learn More Than Most People RealiseIt’s proven that toddlers are far better at acquiring knowledge than older children and adults. Just think how easily and efficiently young children can pick up and perfectly speak any language in three years which adults find much more challenging. When your toddler is engaged in something, causally describe it’s appearance and purpose, clearly yet in depth. If you know the: make of the car, type of plane, breed of the dog, name of the flower, type of the digger, material of an object, the food they're eating, shapes of their blocks, their address or amount of toys in the bath - tell your tot as they experience it as long as they’re interested. You might be surprised how much information you can mention here and there or how long your toddler’s attention span is at learning certain topics. Basically I try to point out the obvious and share as much as I know about most subjects as they arise, especially when the tot’s interested. Most importantly go with the flow and forgive yourself if you miss an opportunity as there will be many more!. Featured PageCheap Things to do with Toddlers when you're Out and AboutAre you on the lookout for cheap family activities? Learning activities for toddlers can be found in random places in your local community. You can find many things to do with toddlers while out and about here. What Do You Think?If you liked this ezine please do a friend and me a big favour and tell them about Toddler Ideas. If a friend DID forward this to you and if you like what you read, click here to subscribe. When you subscribe, you'll receive a FREE download of 'On the Spot' Toddler Activities that can be done anywhere with whatever is around you.I would be happy to answer any questions you have about toddlers. I'd also love to read a cute/funny story about young children, a parenting tip, a great toddler activity or a comment you have about Toddler Ideas at our Contact Form. |
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