Blog: Toddlers

Happy Friday! It looks like more stormy weather may be on the way today. We hope you are safe and dry. We will be continuing the Lakewood at Home blog series through the month of June and hope you will join us for more invitations for young children.

Art Invitation: Markers and paper

Today we think this simple invitation for mark-making would be lovely. If your markers are starting to dry out, you can offer them with a small jar with just a little water in it. Children can dip the marker tip in the water and rejuvenate it a little. 

Mark making is a common language for self-expression and creativity. Today we want to offer something simple for the end of the week. 

Fine Motor Invitation: Packing for a picnic

We have been thinking a lot about how children construct transportation schema, the way they carry things around and the satisfaction they find in these tasks. Today we are wondering what your toddler might pack for a picnic. Would they pack dishes? Food? Toys? Invite your child to help fill a basket or bag with the things they would need for an indoor or porch picnic.

Dramatic Play Invitation: Teddy bear picnic

Once the picnic bag has been packed and repacked, set up a picnic for your child and some teddy bear or doll friends. It looks like it may be wet/stormy today so it might be a good day for a cozy under the table picnic, or a porch picnic, or a pillow fort picnic. You can offer a snack, or pretend food. 

Good morning! It looks like we may have a couple of stormy days. Here are some invitations for toddlers on a stormy Thursday.

Art/Connection Invitation: Making a care surprise

While social distancing restrictions are beginning to ease, many of us are still separated from friends and loved ones. This morning, invite your toddler to make a care surprise for someone. Offer a variety of art supplies and paper. You can send the care surprise through the mail, or take a photo and send it digitally.

This invitation is a way to continue to connect with loved ones, continue to feel like a contributing member of the community and explore art materials and creative expression.

Sensory Invitation: Pompoms, tubes and scoops

This invitation can be done in a large box or empty storage bin, or you can tape the tubes to a wall or door using painter’s tape and put something underneath to catch the pompoms as they fall. Invite your child to explore how the pompoms go through the tubes. If you do not have pompoms you can use cotton balls or something else appropriate for your child. 

This invitation is a different exploration of slope and gravity as well as an opportunity to explore scooping and dumping.

Building Invitation: Blocks and fabric

Today we are curious about what might change in your child’s block building if you add some fabric. You can add scarves, or small pieces. Fabric adds a new layer of softness to block building and opens new possibilities for structures.

It’s already Wednesday! Here are three offerings for toddlers today.

Science/Fine Motor Invitation: Returning to ramps

This morning we are wondering what might happen if you offer ramps to your toddler again. What might they roll down the ramps today? Balls? Cars or trucks? If you offer it outside, might they explore rocks or try pinecones again? 

We are also wondering how toddlers’ understanding of ramps may have changed since they first explored them. What do they do differently with the ramp materials now? 

Art Invitation: Molding with play dough

Last week we invited your toddler to safely explore cutting with play dough. Today we are curious about what toddlers will do with a variety of molds and play dough or clay. These molds can be as simple as large shells, measuring cups, or large clean lids.

This invitation is an opportunity for your toddler to build motor skills, explore encompassing schema, and be creative with play dough.

Large Motor Invitation: Dance Party

With the exceedingly variable weather this spring, we wanted to offer a large motor invitation that can be used inside or outside. Spotify has several free playlists put together for toddler dance parties, or you can put together your own. 

Dance is a form of creative expression that builds motor skills such as balance, agility and coordination.

Dance Party Extension: Make ribbon sticks to dance with. Tie a length of ribbon to the end of a stick (a short length of dowel works well if you have some), and invite your child to see how it moves as they dance.

Welcome back! We hope you had a really wonderful long weekend. Here are several invitations for toddlers to explore today.

Language/Math Invitation: Counting toes

Today is all about toes! Busy Toes by C.W. Bowie is a lovely story that explores wonderful things your child might do with their toes. What toe-counting games does your toddler know? “This little piggie?”

What about this one?

Starting with the little toe-

Little Pea

Penny Lou

Lucy Whissie

Mary Hossie

And Great Gobby-gobby-gobby!

(The last is said while tickling the child.)

 

Sensory/Art Invitation: Painting with toes

A couple of weeks ago we suggested offering smooth, squishy finger paint to your toddler. Today we are wondering what they might do with their toes, some finger paint or washable tempera paint and a large piece of paper, cardboard, or shower curtain liner. Be prepared for this to be a full-body painting experience. The paint can also be slippery, so find an open area for this exploration.

Sensory Invitation: Washing toes/bubble bath

After painting with their toes, invite your child to help clean their toes with a bubble bath. How can they clean between their toes? How will they know when their toes are clean? With a couple of clean plastic cups they can also explore scooping and pouring water along with the self-help/self-care skill of washing.