Blog: Toddlers

Good morning! It’s the middle of another week and the middle of the month! Today is also the new tax day this year. Here are three invitations for toddlers, who do not have to do their own taxes.

Sensory Invitation: Melting ice explorations

You will need ice for this invitation, so if you do not have any, put some small containers of water in the freezer now and they will be ready by the time it is really hot this afternoon.

When your ice is ready, put it in a bowl or on a baking sheet along with some small containers of water and spoons. Invite your child to explore these materials. They may pour the water onto the ice, move the ice into the containers, or stir everything together with the spoons. 

Language/Literacy Invitation: Reading together

It can be difficult to find time during the day to read with your child, so perhaps today you can set aside a few minutes to read. We found this article from NPR about helping children learn to play by themselves very thought provoking. The idea of fifteen minutes of quality time followed by 45 minutes of self-directed play sounds wonderful to those of us working from home with children. Reading with children is excellent quality time.

Fine Motor/Art Invitation: Markers and paper booklet

For this invitation you will need to fold and staple a couple of pieces of paper together to make a small booklet. Offer it to your child with some markers or other art medium. We are wondering how having paper in book form might change how children interact with these materials. 

Good morning! Here are three invitations tailored to toddlers today.

Sensory Invitation: Smelling herbs

You can offer this invitation with dried herbs and spices from your pantry, or fresh herbs from a garden (or the grocery store). If you are using dried herbs, pull out bottles of herbs and spices (avoid things that are very spicy such as cayenne pepper). Invite your child to open the lids and smell the contents of the bottles. You can narrate what you see your child doing and initiate conversations. We suggest using open ended questions like, “what would you cook with this?” or “what does this remind you of?”

If you are using fresh herbs, you can also have your child explore the leaves and stems with their fingers, you can add questions about how the herbs feel and how they are similar and different. Much of this work will be adult noticing and narration of what the child is doing.

Art Invitation: Painting

Today we invite you to think back over the past several months, thinking about the paint offerings you have set out for your child. What was their favorite? Do they prefer finger paint, watercolors, tempera paints with brushes? Was there something they were tentative about trying? Consider setting that up again and inviting your child to explore. You can add richness to the invitation with different colors, brushes, or a different canvas.

Large Motor Invitation: Watering the garden

We have suggested this offering before, but with the hot weather, plants may be thirsty. Fill a large bucket or other container with water and offer your child a small watering can, pitcher or cup. Invite them to fill this smaller vessel and use it to water the plants. They might also delight in watering their own toes!

Good morning! We hope you were able to stay cool and find some time for renewal over the weekend. Here are three invitation ideas to start your week off.

Building Invitation: Blocks and people

This morning we are wondering what your child would like to build for a small doll or figure. Will they use blocks to make a house, or a sidewalk, or a playground? Maybe they will use other things from your collection of loose parts or add some natural objects. Having a rich environment often leads to rich, creative building and world creation by children. 

Large/Fine Motor Invitation: Durham County Library indoor obstacle course

We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Durham County Library’s Summer Reading program is happening now. As part of that program, they are posting virtual storytimes and other informative and fun content on their Youtube channel. We really liked their idea for an indoor obstacle course that involves not only physical, but cognitive challenges as well! What obstacles will you and your child come up with?

Art Invitation: Stamps and stamp pads

This invitation is somewhere between an art invitation and a fine motor challenge. Stamps can be part of a creative piece as a starting point or a later addition. For toddlers, much of the learning is in how stamps and stamp pads work; the steps involved in getting the stamp’s shape in the desired color in the desired location on the paper (or on your child’s foot or hand as often happens). Your child may also explore how the ink pad works, making prints with their fingers and hands.

Happy Friday! We are wishing you a wonderful weekend. Here are three invitations to for the last day of the week.

Large Motor Invitation: Frisbee catch in a kiddie pool

This invitation works best if you have a kiddie pool or a large, shallow storage bin. You will also need a couple of Frisbees or large lids and some balls. Put a couple of inches of water into the pool and float the lids in it. Invite your child to throw the balls and try to hit the lids (or Frisbees). This invitation is an opportunity to build motor skills like accuracy and throwing.

Art Invitation: Markers and paper

Once again we suggest offering markers and paper to your toddler as an art invitation. Markers are an opportunity to explore mark making, build fine motor skills, and for toddlers to learn a language of creative expression.

Fine Motor Invitation: Exploring stacking

As a fine motor invitation today, you might consider offering a rod (like an upright paper towel holder) and some retaining rings from canning jars, shower curtain rings, or bangles. Invite your child to explore these materials, building coordination and other motor and cognitive skills.