Toddlers have an incredible mixture of energy and curiosity. There are many creative activities that a parent can share with a toddler. These early years in a child's life are filled with an abundance of learning and discovery.
Fun Activities to Share with Your Toddler
1. A Toddler Treasure Hunt: First, choose seven or eight colorful objects found around your home. A few suggestions are a rubber duck bath toy, a tennis ball, a stuffed animal or even a baseball cap. Next, hide the objects in various places in your backyard where your child usually plays. Then, find a laundry basket and go into the backyard with your toddler. Ask him or her to search for a particular object that you've hidden. Be sure to give a hint to your child if he or she is in need of one. As the toddler finds each object ask him or her to drop it into the laundry basket. Remember to make a big fuss and praise your child as he or she finds each object. Also, pronounce the name of each item. This activity will give your toddler encouragement in recognizing objects as well as help in the development of his or her language skills.
2. A Nature Expedition: Take an afternoon to travel to the woods for a walk with your toddler. As you make your way down a short trail point out the birds, insects, and other wildlife that the two of you see. Also with your toddler's help, collect some leaves that are on the ground. After you return home, place each leaf beneath a sheet of white paper. Next, ask your toddler to choose two or three crayons. Then, lay a crayon on its side and help your son or daughter to move it back and forth over each leaf until you've colored its outline. You'll end up with several pieces of leaf artwork created by your toddler that the whole family can admire.
3. Pudding Project: Share a simple art activity with your toddler by putting a few globs of his or her favorite flavor of instant pudding on a play table or a large tray. Then, show your toddler how to draw shapes and patterns in the pudding with his or her fingertips. This entertaining activity is also a great way to introduce your child to the letters of the alphabet. The sweet taste of the pudding will make learning the alphabet even more appealing.
4. Water Balloon Race: Invite three of your toddler's friends with their parents over for a water balloon race. In your yard, create a starting line by laying a broom on the ground. Next, line up a row of four buckets about ten feet in front of the broom. Fill about a dozen small balloons with water and put them in a box near the starting line. Then, demonstrate the race to the toddlers by taking a water balloon and carrying up to a bucket and dropping it in. See how many balloons each toddler can drop in the bucket in one minute. This game adds a lot of laughter and fun to a hot summer afternoon. It also helps improve a toddler's developing motor skills.
5. Animal Grab Bag Game: The first step of the game is to find a large grocery bag or an empty duffle bag. You can either cut pictures of farm animals out of a magazine or use small plastic farm animal toys for this game. Place the farm animal figures into the bag and ask your toddler to reach in and pull one out. If your youngster is able to tell you the name of the animal then give him or her a little prize. If your toddler doesn't know the animal's name, this game offers a great opportunity for him or her to learn it. Be sure to encourage your toddler throughout the game.
6. The Animal Sound Game: This game is a great way for your toddler to get to know the other little ones in the neighborhood. Gather your group of toddlers together in a circle and hold up a picture of an animal. Then, ask the children to tell you what animal it is. Choose some pictures of familiar animals like dogs, horses, birds, etc. Once the toddlers tell you what the animal is, ask them to tell you what sound the animal makes. The silly sounds that the toddlers make and hear from their friends will send them into fits of giggles. If you want to add even more fun, show them a picture of a giraffe or a rhinoceros or better yet dress up as an animal using different costumes. If they don't know what the animal in the picture is, explain a little about it. Be sure to ask them what sound they think it makes. Toddlers are imaginative and will likely come up with a particular sound for every animal they see.
7. Share a Song Time: One of a toddler's favorite activities is to sing or listen to someone singing. There is a wide variety of children's song lyrics to choose from. Some of the easy-to-sing favorites of toddlers include, "Baa, Baa Black Sheep", "The Farmer in the Dell" and "The Eensy Weensy Spider."
8. Learn a Nursery Rhyme: Toddlers will love the simple story displayed in the nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty. The simple rhyme encourages a toddler's imagination. As an extra activity you could encourage your toddler to draw a picture of Humpty Dumpty.
9. Online Games: This gathering of online games for toddlers feature trains, music and entertaining creatures. This type of game gives a toddler some experience with a computer and how it works.
10. A Matching Game: This online matching game for toddlers helps develop a child's memory and recognition of objects. Plus, it gives them an opportunity to see how a computer mouse works.
· A Muddy Game: Features a list of simple materials needed for an appealing and messy game for a toddler.
· A Classic Nursery Rhyme: The words to, "All Around the Mulberry Bush" are offered to set you on the path to singing fun with your energetic toddler.
· Creative Activities for Toddlers: Discover the details of several activities for toddlers including one that includes a magnifying glass. Incidentally, one of the (best gift ideas) for a toddler is a magnifying glass for activities like this one and for use on days spent outside.
· Entertaining Games for Toddlers: A collection of games designed for toddlers with helpful suggestions for the adults who are supervising them.
· Inventive Games for Toddlers Using Household Items: Descriptions of games for toddlers that use materials commonly found around the house.
· Simple Songs for Toddlers to Enjoy: An extensive list of song lyrics organized by title are available for you and your toddler to enjoy.
· ABC Zoo Game: Music and zoo animals are featured in this educational and fun online game for kids.
A toddler can learn and have fun in the simplest of activities. The days spent with your toddler as he or she makes discoveries and grows will be a time you both will treasure.
Article written by Janice D. McDonald