The Activity Mom

DIY Lego Storage

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

I made these! Can you believe it? You won't believe how easy they were to make and B (6 years old) told me I was awesome and that always makes my day!

You don't have to use them to store Legos, you can use them to store anything and it is the perfect decoration for a Lego fan.

I took the labels off of this large plastic container and spray painted it yellow. When you are spray painting, spray it lightly from a distance and use a few coats to cover it instead of too much all at once (like I tried to do) because it will drip. If it does drip let it dry, sand it down a little bit in those areas, and start over with the spray paint.

When the containers are dry use a black permanent marker to draw on the lego faces.

Idea inspired by Obseussed

Your Lego fan will also love these ideas:

Lego Game

Simple Lego Party Ideas

Learn and Play with Your 24 Month Old

2013-05-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I can barely believe that my itty bitty boy is almost TWO! We've had such a fun year of playing and learning; here's what Mr. Busy Body did this month!

G doesn't go to preschool yet but I take him to a weekly tumbling class. It's great to develop his gross motor skills (lots of jumping, rolling, and attempted tumbling), PLUS he gets to be around tots exactly his age. An added bonus is social fun for mama, too. We go through our city's parks and recreation department because the classes are SO reasonably priced!

Easter may be over but the egg hunts don't have to be! Have you kept out some eggs? Keep hiding them and keep searching! G loves when we give him clues, such as, "Look UNDER the couch!" It's a great way to teach directional words and following directions!

Play dough to an almost two year old is still magical. It's just messy enough for me to handle multiple times a day and there's so many ways to switch it up. Cookie cutters, small toys or objects, or even birthday candles are fun additions to make the play last longer.

Looking for an advanced way to hone those fine motor skills? Get out a game of Cootie! Most of the pieces have to go in at an angle and G will stay SO focused to get those pieces in JUST the right way!

Stickers are so easy, so fun, and so cheap. I can hand him a sheet and they will keep him focused and entertained (especially at restaurants or doctor appointments!). I always try to pick up a couple packs when I'm at the Dollar Tree.

Our friends bought a Strider bike for their three year old and G loves playing on it! He was especially thrilled when we were at an expo recently that had a LOT of different ones for him to try. They improve your child's balance and aids in future bike riding. They are a little pricey, but even my 5 year old likes to race around on it!

G loves playing on the iPad and we are still exploring new app options. So far, his favorite are ANY of the (free) Fisher-Price ones. There are ones about colors, shapes, letters, and animal sounds and he loves them all!

He wants to use these chopsticks so badly so we've been practicing with lots of hand-over-hand learning (well, as much as he'll let me!). Putting small objects, like these counting bears, is a great activity to teach one-to-one correspondence, too!

And what could appeal more to a boy than hammering (safe!) objects?! The styrofoam block is from the dollar spot and the plastic hammer is compliments of Fisher-Price. He LOVES (I mean seriously, LOVES) to hammer those golf tees in the block. A little bit harder? Removing the tees!

Written by Jill

Lots of fun, hands on activities for this age group keep their minds occupied and their bodies busy!

NEW Learn and Play with Your Toddler eBook

36 Pages of Monthly Activities for Your Toddler!

Balancing Activities with Multiple Kids

2013-05-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

One of the questions The Activity Moms get asked most often is "How do you juggle activities with children of different ages?".

In my home, we have M that is 5, G that is almost 2, and baby G that is only 2 months old. When it was JUST M, we never had a problem balancing activities but when G was ready to enter the learning scene, some adjustments definitely had to be made! Here are some ways to keep everyone learning in a safe, fun, and cooperative environment!

Learning Stations

I was very accustomed to doing "tray-type" activities, but that wasn't the greatest fit for G's learning style. So instead, I do learning stations. They are NOT hard to set up, as it can be as simple as setting up a box of instruments in one corner, taped down butcher paper and crayons in the kitchen, and dress up clothes in another. Center-based play builds cooperation and encourages imagination.

M and G absolutely LOVE to do dress up centers together, as well as pretend play. Try setting up a doctor's office, market, or school and let your tots learn and play at the same time!

Sensory Tubs Geared Toward Multiple Ages

One of M's favorite learning activities are sensory tubs, but with G being younger, I wasn't ready for him to be flinging rice throughout the house! So, think of fillers that safe for the younger set but still engaging for the older set. We like using chunks of ice, cotton balls, and Easter basket "grass."

Cooperative Learning

Sometimes, you have to think of ways to differentiate the learning within the SAME activity. Reading books is BIG in our house, but G doesn't always have the attention span to listen. He wants to be included but often becomes a distraction. So to differentiate, Daddy will read, Maddie will listen, and G will stay busy by tearing old magazines or sifting through his board books.

Other Tips:

When you are working with the older child, give the younger one a few of the materials you are using so they feel included (markers, paper, playing cards, paint brush, etc.).
Let your older child be the leader and "teach" his younger sibling how to do an activity that is perfect for his age.
Sit on the floor and have one child on each side of you. You can can be right there to point, direct, and teach each child and you sitting in the middle will hopefully be a barrier from distraction. I've often done this with board games. I play against each of them (at the same time) in a game that is perfect for their age and level.

Thinking of ways that will include the younger kiddo will allow you to still work with the older one, all while they BOTH learn!

Written by Jill

Alphabet Bug Hunt (printable)

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

image courtesy of clker.com

Get our your magnifying glasses, because tis the season to hunt for bugs! One of our favorite things to do in the Spring and Summer months has been to search, discover, and learn about insects. To make this experience even more exciting for the kids, I created an ABC scavenger hunt.

My intention is to bring our ABC list along when we are out in nature as well as to use indoors on rainy days through Internet research. The reason why I included Internet research is because some of the insects will be difficult to find in our region. Also, it was challenging to find common insects with every letter of the alphabet. An extinct species was even included for the letter X..Xerces Butterfly. So of course this is one that will need to be researched, but what a great way to teach kids about endangered and extinct species!

After printing out the ABC Scavenger Hunt Pages, laminate for long term use. Have your child use a dry erase marker and circle each insect found during your hunt. This is a great long term project for any aged child and can be used at different times when you are in nature. There is space to include the names of other insects that may be discovered that aren't listed.

Another great way to extend this activity and to incorporate technology is to bring along a digital camera and have your child take photos of discoveries. The photos can be used to make an online slide show or printed out to create an insect book.

Not only will your little ones be exposed to a variety of insects, but this activity will help enforce letter identification and sounds. Have them think about other insects that might start with the letter sound. For example- (Bb is for beetle, bee, butterfly ) Older children can research and read more about the insects that interest them most.

Written by Jen

Mother and Daughter DIY Spa Day

2013-05-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Guest Post by Michelle Pino, a Spa Manager at Skana in upstate New York

Spa experiences are so relaxing and rejuvenating, but not everyone has the time or the budget to indulge in a spa getaway. However, an at home spa experience is a great ay to ease stress and relax. A spa day is simple to pull together and will leave everyone feeling brand new for a long time afterward.

Just look around your kitchen, and you can probably find many useful and essential items that can be used for a spa day.

Avocado and Yogurt

What else can you do with avocados besides make guacamole? How about fighting wrinkles? The monounsaturated fats in avocados promote skin elasticity and collagen production. Yogurt contains milk, which has been used for ages to keep skin soft and youthful.

To prepare a homemade anti aging mask:

Mash one avocado and add 1/4 cup of plain yogurt.
Apply mixture to face.
Leave on for 15 minutes to half an hour before rinsing off.

Olive Oil

Want a rich, conditioning hair mask that costs next to nothing?

To prepare a hair mask combine:

Half a cup of mayonnaise
1 egg
1 Tablespoon of olive oil
Apply mixture to hair. Leave on for at least 10 minutes. Shampoo out and style.

Apple Pie Skin Polish

Apples have plenty of nutritional benefits. In fact, they are 85 percent water, and are high in vitamins A and C as well as potassium. Apples are especially useful in removing dead skin cells as well as dirt on the surface of the skin.

To prepare a homemade skin polish:

2 Tablespoons of brown sugar
1 Tablespoon of apple sauce
2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
Mix well and apply to the skin in a circular motion while bathing.

At home spa experiences are great because they can be spur of the moment and are practically fuss and cost free. A simple, relaxing day with your daughter can be just what you need!

Michelle Pino is a Spa Manager at Skana, a spa in upstate New York at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. She enjoys DIY projects, healthy recipes, exercise, and all things related to skin care. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Michelle via email at michellepino@turningstone.com.

Time Saving Tip

2013-05-08T06:51:00.000-05:00

I'm obsessed with quotes and I'm also obsessed with Pinterest so it is no coincidence that I've stumbled upon subway art printables that so many awesome bloggers offer for FREE.

I have a 5X7 frame near my kitchen that I like to put them in and I change it often (once a month) especially around holidays. I love it!

Time Saving Tip:

When I find a new quote or holiday art to print, I put it in the frame but keep the old ones right behind it. That way they are all in one place and easy to rotate. I've been doing this for more than a year so I have one for each holiday, season, or month all in the same frame. So easy and fun!

You can also find and print 12 different ones all at one time and put them in your frame so you are all set to rotate them throughout the year.

My Subway Art Board on Pinterest has several printables to help you get started.

This would also be a great way to rotate your child's artwork!

Worm Activities

2013-05-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Little boys and many adventurous girls love investigating worms! These squirmy activities are perfect for this time of year with April showers bringing many critters to our outside gardens.

Before starting any activities, enjoy a few books featuring worms. Here are a couple of our favorites..

Would your little one eat worms for lunch? Be sure to serve gummy worms after reading this fun book- Worms for Lunch by Leonid Gore . We love the illustrations and reading about the different animals and what they like to eat.

What would it feel like to be a worm for a day? Find out by reading life from a worm's perspective in this humorous book- Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin.

Activities with Gummy Worms
1. Counting-- Add and subtract the worms
2. Measure the worms
3. Sort by color. How many red worms are there? How many green? Are they more red or green?
4. Using a small plastic container, cut out holes, have your little guy pick up the worms chopsticks and try to put the gummy worms in the holes for a fun fine-motor challenge.
5. Have your little one cook create dirt with pudding and chocolate cookie crumbs and top it off with some of the gummy worms!

After a rainy day, be sure to go outside and explore real worms with your kids. Don't forget your magnifying glass!

Written by Jen

Developing Gross Motor Skills (8 Activities)

2013-05-06T06:46:00.000-05:00

Motor skills are motions carried out when the brain, nervous system, and muscles work together. Fine motor skills are small muscle movements, such as grabbing something with your thumb and forefinger. Gross motor skills are bigger movements that use the bigger muscles such as running and jumping. (Resource: babycenter.com)

So often we focus on ways to practice and develop fine motor skills. So here are a few ways to get the bigger muscles moving with gross motor skill activities:

DIY Golf Course

Putt the ball through tunnels, under chairs, around stuffed animals, etc.

Bowling

Use toilet paper tubes cut in half with cupcake liners on top as your pins.

You can even use water bottles as pins. Roll a ball to knock them down.

Obstacle Course

Make an obstacle course with pillows, painters tape, tunnels, blankets, or boxes.

Move around, under, and over the obstacles.

Indoor Balance Beam

Put a piece of painters tape on the floor and practice walking, crawling, or hopping on the balance beam.

Human Size Board Game

Set up 10 pillows and start at the beginning. Roll the die and bounce from pillow to pillow (how many you rolled). When you get to the end, you win.

Bean Bag Toss

Cut a square in the top of a shirt box. Toss bean bags and try to get as many as you can in the hole.

Beware of Crocodiles

Cut out crocodile shapes from construction paper. Put them on the floor in a vertical line with letters, colors, shapes, or words at the end. We worked on names of the people in our family. Have your child tip toe, jump over, or gallop around the crocodiles to find a certain item at the end. For example, "Can you find the card that says Mom? Watch out for crocodiles!" and he would jump down, find the card, and jump back with it.

Falling Flowers

Stand on a chair and drop silk flowers or silk leaves down to the floor. Let your child try to catch them midair in a bucket or cup.

Importance of Your Child Seeing His Name in Print

2013-05-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Your child's name is often the first word that he will learn to recognize, read, and spell. It may even be the word that helps him make connections about letters making sounds and letters making words.

Usually, the first letter of his own name is what he identifies first. "N for Natalie! M for Mom! D for Dad!". Once those sounds are learned, he can make connections to other words that start with those same sounds. "Hey nose starts with N just like Natalie starts with N!"

Vinyl Decal from Signs.com

For those reasons (and also that it is a cool decoration) I've always had my children's names displayed in a creative way in their bedroom. They can see the letters of their name daily, we use them to sing our name song, and it also makes their room a special place of their own.

An easy way to display your child's name is with a vinyl decal. I got mine (above) from Signs.com where you can even upload custom designs or have their designers help you for FREE! So cool!

She loves that her N has a crown! She is really into princesses right now so it grabs her attention.

Use the promo code: ACTIVITYMOM15 to save 15% off your order at Signs.com!

Do you want to win a custom vinyl decal

for your child from Signs.com (up to $50)?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cookie Recipe for the Kids

2013-05-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Quick, go grab your kiddo and a box of vanilla, yellow, or white cake mix. You're about to make the most delicious, colorful, and EASIEST cookies ever!

Mix a box of cake mix with 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Then, in a separate bowl, mix two eggs, a half cup of oil, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Mix it up and pour it in the bowl of cake mix and baking soda.

Now, ready for the big fun? Pour in a cup or so of rainbow sprinkles!

Let your tot stir and pour along the way!

Plop the dough in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes.

Such a fun and quick recipe and I promise that your kids will love it!

Now you can download and print the
Sprinkle Cookie Recipe for Beginning Readers.

If your child has fun reading and making this recipe, he will love similar recipes in Cooking to Learn!

May Busy Boxes

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's time for another month of busy boxes! I swapped out four old ones for these new ones:

Art

One of G's favorite busy boxes is Play-doh, followed closely behind by markers and crayons (especially the markers!). I've been trying to find other art-centered boxes and was so excited to find some of these paint with water books in the Michael's dollar section. All we do is fill a bowl with water and keep the box stocked with paint brushes and the book. He loves to do this box independently and it's totally at his level.

Scratch Paper

Another fun art box this month has THIS magic scratch paper. Basically, any scratches made reveal a rainbow design. So fun! I keep the box stocked with several sheets, as well as a popsicle stick, golf tee, birthday candle and plastic spoon. He can use all these tools to make different designs (I usually keep the scratching tool out, as it's fairly sharp and this is another box he does independently so I don't feel safe with him using it).

Shaving Cream

Oh boy, this was a fun and MESSY busy box (notice that I only took a picture at the beginning, since by the END we were both covered!). I bought a can of shaving cream at the Dollar Tree and together, we squirted a ton in an empty busy box. He LOVED squishing, smooshing, and hiding his hands in it and it was a great opportunity for us to talk about our five senses (because it DID have a strong smell!).

Piggy Bank

For a busy box with less mess, I popped a plastic piggy bank inside and added some coins. Not only does he LOVE to drop the money in (always supervise with small pieces!), he's almost completely mastered unscrewing the pig's nose and dumping the coins out. Great fine motor work!

Organizing Kids Keepsakes

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Are you accumulating a LOT of school work, art projects, or other masterpieces that your Mama heart just can't bear to toss?

Here's how I keep the keepsakes organized in our house.

I have a big box from Ikea that sits in my hall closet. When M or G create something adorable (which is ALL the time, naturally!), I toss it in this box.

Every few months, I'll go through the box and pull out the keepers (the ones that I'll show them when they're 18 years old).

I bought this plastic milk crate at Target and popped some colorful hanging file folders inside.

Each kiddo (well, minus the baby... He's only 9 weeks old, haha) has their own crate.

Here's what it looks like:

I gave each important year of school (starting with preschool!) a folder.

Miss M is almost done with kindergarten and we just recently sat down together to decide which artwork, photographs, teacher notes, and reports to place in the folder. We also looked back on her preschool folders and had SO much fun reminiscing!

Developing Fine Motor Skills

2013-04-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

We often hear about the importance of developing a child's fine motor skills but do we always know what that means or why it's so important? As your child develops, being able to color with crayons, cut with scissors, tie their shoes, or complete puzzles becomes integral to their development. We can ensure their success by developing the small muscles in their hands.

Here's how we do that in our house!

Tots can build muscle strength most easily through play!

We LOVE the Lakeshore peg board with chunky pegs. Not only do they push through the foam mat, they can also be stacked (and sorted by color but we'll stay focused on fine motor for now!).

Active tots can get lots of fine motor mileage out of a toy like this hammer one by Melissa and Doug. They have to place the ball in the opening, grip the hammer, and then hit the ball through the hall. So many hand muscles are developed through this!

G is almost two and one of his favorite activities that requires a TON of fine motor work is when he plays with his Duplo blocks! They're the chunky version of tiny Legos and they are AWESOME. I highly recommend the new Lego Duplo Read and Learn series. While they do err on the pricey side, they are so rich with learning opportunities and fine motor work as the child builds the animals in the book.

Looking for a quick activity to set up? Empty out the salt shaker, push some pipe cleaners through the lid, and have your tot string beads onto the "branches." I promise it'll be challenging and focused work!

As we hone their fine motor skills, we develop their hand muscles, which will aid them in hand writing tasks later on!

Written by Jill

Nature Walk Activities

2013-04-25T09:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday we went on a nature walk and I couldn't believe how much fun N had! We collected things (mostly found on the ground) in a basket and her excitement was contagious!

When we got home, we sorted our nature items into piles (leaves, sticks, rocks, flowers, etc.) and then counted each pile to see what we collected the most of. Such a fun way to appreciate our natural surroundings and practice a little math along the way.

Other Ideas:

Make a Nature Sculpture

Make a Nature Collage

Making Your Child Feel Special

2013-04-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

I think that one of the hardest parts of being a mom to many (because I DO consider three to be "many" children in the house!) is taking time to make sure each one feels special and loved. Of course the words we say are daily reminders, but sometimes it's fun to DO things that are a tangible reminder for them.

Heart Attack

We did this once on Valentine's Day and M (5 years old) loved it so much that we try to do it every few months. Basically, my husband and I wait until she's gone to bed and then we cover her door with hearts (I also use sticky notes). Each one states one thing we love about her. Not only does she love finding and reading them in the morning, but I've also found that she keeps them in a stash next to her bed. So sweet!

Dates with Mom

Mommy-daughter dates are so fun and they don't have to be long or elaborate. I found that our local nail place only charges $5 for a nail polish and M just thinks she's royalty when I surprise her with this treat!

Dates with Dad

And of course, daddy dates are the best, too! Did you know that MANY Chick-fil-as host Daddy-Daughter Date Nights AND Daddy-Son Date "Knights"? We always participate in them and they are SO fun. Each one is different, but past ones have included games, limo rides, and crafts... And they're free. Look up your local location for details!

Small Surprises

Sweet little surprises are easy to execute, thanks to so many dollar sections in stores! My kiddos absolutely squeal when they find that I've wrapped and hidden a little puzzle, pack of play dough, or set of stickers for them.

Time!

And finally, sometimes it's enough just to take time out and include them. I know that I could empty the dishwasher, fold the laundry, or grocery shop a zillion times faster if I did those things by myself. But, it means a ton to kiddos to be included and it can be such a valuable, cheap, and free experience for them. M LOVES to help daddy fix and build things!

Written by Jill

Lego Game

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

I saw this idea on The Pleasantest Thing and knew that we just had to try it! It was simple and quick for me to set up and when all of the bags were finished he said, "Mom, we should do more of those!".

Simply grab a variety of Legos (a handful) and put them in a bag. I labeled ours and stapled them shut to add a bit of mystery. I told B to pick any bag and see what he could build with the pieces that were inside, but he had to use ALL of the pieces.

He was so excited as he dumped out the pieces and saw what he had to use.

Here are two of his creations. He had names for them, but I didn't write them down.

This is the perfect activity for quiet time, while you are preparing dinner, or as a distraction activity when things have gotten crazy around the house.

Extensions:

Draw a picture of what you created, name it, and keep them in a Lego themed journal.

Write a story about your creation as it goes on an adventure.

Bake with Your Toddler

2013-04-22T06:41:00.000-05:00

My toddler LOVES to help me bake and especially loves when I trust him to do tasks on his own.

A quick and easy "cooking" project is when we make trail mix.

He knows that when it's time to cook, he drags the dining room chair into the kitchen!

Since this is HIS project, I use plastic bowls, wooden spoons, and soft measuring cups. Basically, everything is non-breakable and safe.

For our trail mix, I pour things in the measuring cup (1/4 cup is easy for him to handle and gives good portion sizes) and he pours them in the bowl.

Our favorites to include are: dry cereal, raisins, marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, nuts, Goldfish, and dried cranberries.

After all our ingredients are added, he LOVES to stir, stir, stir!

Of course we have to immediately have a bowl, but the remaining gets bagged up into small baggies or bowls and becomes his favorite, go-to snack for the rest of the week!

I bet you have some of these things in your pantry right now, and maybe even some other good shelf-stable items that would work! It's definitely a favorite around here and he is always SO proud of the outcome!

Paper Plate Alphabet Craft - M is for Mouse

2013-04-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

M is for Mouse

*Cut ears from construction paper or an extra paper plate. Glue them onto the mouse and add a pom pom nose, googly eyes, and whiskers.

Learning with a Growth Chart

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

I love our personalized growth chart and keepsake (ours is from Petite Lemon)! It is so fun to look back and remember how small they were when they were 2 and to think about the year they had that huge growth spurt.

When we were measuring and marking our heights the other day I realized that there is a lot of fun learning that can happen with your personalized growth chart, especially if your kids are as interested in it as mine are.

Comparing Heights

Compare how tall you are now versus how tall you were at a certain age.
How much have you grown in one year?
Compare the difference in inches between you and your sibling at a certain age.

How Many Stuffed Animals High?

How many stuffed animals high are you?
How many blocks tall were you last year?

Colors, Counting, and Vocabulary

Can you find the blue crayon?
How many blue crayons are there?
What color crayon is at the top?
What color crayon is at the bottom?
Which crayons are longest?
Can you find a short crayon?

Letters of Your Name

For toddlers and preschoolers, seeing their name on something special is meaningful and exciting!

Do you see any letters you know in your name?
How many letters are in your name?

Here are ways to make learning fun with a few of my favorite designs from Petite Lemon:

What animal is on top of the elephant?
Point to the animal that says "Quack".
Do you see a green animal?
Which animal is under the lion?
Which animal is the biggest?
Which animal is the smallest?

What color truck is behind the green car?
Can you find the number 3?
Can you find a number that comes before 2?
How many clothes are hanging on the line?
How many windows are on the green building?
Do you see any letters you know?
What do you see at the top?
What do you see at the bottom?

What numbers have polka dots?
Point to a number that comes before 7.
Point to a number that comes after 2.
What numbers are green?

If you don't have a personalized growth chart yet, make sure to find one that is durable so it will last throughout the years, one that you can take with you if you move, and one that fits with your style just like the keepsakes you will find at Petite Lemon!

This post is sponsored by Petite Lemon, but the ideas and opinions are my own.

Earth Day Learning Fun

2013-04-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

April is Earth Day month so we're celebrating with some learning trays! These are fun for M (5.5 years old) and G (22 months) to do together.

Color Sort

I put out a bowl of garden pebbles, sea glass, and stones and a pair of Dollar Tree tongs. Then I labeled some pots (also Dollar Tree) and had the kiddos sort by the Earth's colors! G used his fingers but M used the tongs.

Seed Sort

This wooden box came from the Dollar Tree and I used a dab of hot glue to glue down different seeds and beans. Then they had to match, given the bowl of seeds of beans. M loved this, and was curious about each type. G was more interested in pulling each seed out of the glue. Ha!

Floral Arrangement

I stuck some floral foam down into the pot and put out some silk flowers. They had to push the flowers through the foam. This was all from the Dollar Tree and it was G's favorite activity!

Recycle!

I labeled a divided basket with the different materials that can be recycled. Then I put out a box of "trash" and had them sort and recycle! M loved this one!

Alive?

I used a divided plate from the Dollar Tree, labeled it "Living" and "Not Living" and put out tiny animals, plants, and objects. The kiddos had to sort the objects. M loved teaching G where to put the items!

Magnet Play

Making Learning Fun has some great resources for Earth Day! I taped this magnet page on our small white board and provided a ton of magnets. They moved the magnets to the circles on the page!

Do you celebrate Earth Day with your kiddos?

Written by Jill

Learning Numbers

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've been working with N (3 years old) on identifying numbers. She had fun with this number stamping activity so I wanted to share it.

Print the 0-5 or 5-10 number mat (below). Write the numbers at the bottom of the page in the blank area and put a dot of color under each number so your child will know what color you want her to stamp each number. For example, the zeros were purple, twos were blue, etc.

Don't have dot markers? No problem! Instead of putting a dot of color under each number you could use stickers (a certain character or shape goes on all of the fives etc.), bingo chips, colored cereal, or colored blocks. You can even use markers or crayons to color over the numbers.

Number Stamping 0-5

Number Stamping 5-10

Learn and Play with Your Toddler eBook

2013-04-13T07:29:00.000-05:00

Playing with Your 23 Month Old

2013-04-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that our little G is almost TWO! He's growing and learning so quickly; here's what we've been up to lately!

Sandpaper Letters

Lately, G has been trying to sing the ABC song (which consists mostly of him humming!) so I thought he might like these. I know you can buy them, but I braved making my own, using sandpaper from the dollar store. I won't lie. These were a PAIN to make (tracing the letter, cutting it out, gluing it on cardstock)... But G likes to feel them and it's good exposure to the printed letter.

Sensory Play

He loves his rainbow rice with tiny Easter-themed objects!

Alphabet Tray

I grabbed a cookie sheet at the dollar store and wrote the letters out, using puffy paint. He loves to feel the "bumpy" letters! This will be an activity that will definitely grow with us!

Button Drop

He loves to drop my big buttons through the slit in the Puffs lid!

Model Magic Mosaics

We rolled out some Model Magic, cut it with cookie cutters, and then G got to push glass garden pebbles (from the Dollar Tree) into each shape! He LOVED doing this! Granted, once they dried, he systematically removed EACH AND EVERY pebble but oh well. He enjoyed the process. :)

Paint!

The boy requests to paint every single day! I contain him in his highchair and always tape his paper down so that it doesn't go flying off.

Blocks

These foam blocks came from Costco and he LOVES them. He loves to dump them, stack them, toss them, and just generally make a huge mess with them!

Written by Jill

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More Toddler Ideas:

Learning with Your 22 Month Old

Playing with your 21 Month Old

Learning and Playing with Your 20 Month Old

Learning with Your 19 Month Old

Learning with Your 18 Month Old

Learning with Your 17 Month Old

Learning with Your 16 Month Old

Learning with Your 15 Month Old

Learning Activities for Your 14 Month Old

Activities for Your 13 Month Old

Playing and Learning with Your 2 Year Old

Activities for a Busy 2 Year Old

Spring Sorting

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To celebrate Spring, we sorted birds into their nests by color and by size (below). The nests were really easy to make with brown paper bags (lunch size). Roll the top down and scrunch. Keep rolling and scrunching until you get down to the bottom. That's it!

Not only can you sort by size or shape with this printable, but you can write letters, numbers, or words on the nests and birds and then match them up. So many possibilities for Spring fun and sorting!

Bird Sorting Printable

Paper Plate Alphabet Craft - L is for Lion

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L is for Lion

This is one of my favorite paper plate crafts so far! I love that N got to do a lot of cutting with this one. For the hair of the lion, I cut strips of cardstock (you can also use construction paper) and she snipped the strips into smaller pieces and then glued them on around the head. We used a pom pom for the nose and googly eyes.

This craft idea was found at Rainbows Within Reach.