August 03, 2009
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Summer Activities
Toddler Ideas is the insightful ezine delivered to your inbox every month from clever-toddler-activities.com
August 2009 Issue 03
Featuring:
- Opening Thoughts – Does the Weather Matter?
- Q&A with Claire - Garden (Back Yard) Activities
- Cute Corner – The Two Ushers
- Tip of the Month - What Does Your Toddler Hear?
- Featured Page – 'If You Go Down to the Woods Today...'
Opening Thoughts
Does the Weather Matter?As we're in the middle of summer I thought exploring the great outdoors would be an excellent topic! Well, in theory anyway, I hope you've been having better weather where you are. I haven't seen much summer yet.
Though, in my experience children are often more weather resistant than the rest of us. I have lots of fond memories of watching toddlers delight in splashing in puddles, dancing in the wind and catching snowflakes on their tongues. And many young children hardly notice the weather at all! So, braving all weathers is often worth it in the end.
I hope you enjoy these outdoor toddler ideas.
Q&A With Claire
If you have a question about toddlers, we'd love to help! Just use our handy contact form.Garden (Back Yard) Activities
Question:
I am trying to think of something to do outside with the 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 make more use of.
The 26 month old is hearing impaired and the 30 month old has 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 welcome. Thanks!
M.E.
Answer:
I'm so glad you asked - I hope my suggestions here are useful.
You want to use balls in the water and sand? Good luck. ;-) I've observed that toddlers simply enjoy throwing balls out of sand and water trays whenever I'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 and 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 really engaged in this simple task. Save and wash yoghurt pots, laundry scoops, hair spray 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 for the child with CP you could use a large pan, 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 performing while scooping, pouring, filling, emptying etc., would also 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 does something else. Place either house decorating paint brushes or child's art brushes in the water tray or in a smaller pot of water. Encourage them to 'paint' the path/deck/patio and wall/fence. If you joined in, you could write words or letters (for sounds) on the surfaces with your wet brush.
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.
You could use a ruler to smooth out wet sand and provide some sticks, rakes and forks to draw lines and patterns on the flattened and smoothed sand. You could write their names and other words or letters in the sand with a stick or your finger.
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 materials for variety?
I hope you find these ideas useful. Feel free to ask us any more questions as they arise. Take care and have fun.
Warmest regards,
Claire
Cute Corner
The Two UshersSix-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church.
Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. 'You're not supposed to talk out loud in church.'
'Why? Who's going to stop me?' Joel asked.
Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, 'See those two men standing by the door?
They're hushers.'
Received via Will and Guy's Clean Jokes.
Tip of the Month
What Does Your Toddler Hear?Often a great perk of spending time in nature is peace. Granted, toddlers aren't naturally peaceful but they do benefit from tranquillity as well as stimulation.
It's a good idea to turn off the TV, radio, and stereo at some point during the day. Your toddler cannot be selective in the sounds he blocks out, like we can. This means that he will be blocking out your voice along with any constant background music. Playing in silence will aid his concentration and help him to process his thoughts.
When you talk with your toddler without the distraction of background music or chatter, he will be able to really listen to what you are saying and distinguish the sounds of our complex language.
Talking and interacting with your toddler on a daily basis is very important for his language development and self-esteem. Pretty much all of the activities and games on Clever Toddler Activities can become tools in expanding your toddler's vocabulary while you play together.
Featured Page
'If You Go Down to the Woods Today...'With so many electronic toys, children's TV channels and computer games even for toddlers it's so easy for tots to get wrapped up in technology, like the rest of us. There was an article in the news lately about fears of children having 'Nature Deficit Disorder'. Well, summer is a perfect time to widen your child's awareness of nature. Plus toddlers are fascinated by nature and all its little gems.
Would you like some ideas on how to help your little one get the most out of your trips to the woods, beach or park. Simply check out our Natural Free Toddler Games. If you would like some more activity ideas to take with you, I recommend the book Sharing Nature With Children
. It would also be useful for years to come too as your children grow.
What do you think?
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