It’s Wednesday! This afternoon is going to be warm again, a wonderful time to invite your child to cool off with some water play outside, in the kitchen sink, or the bathtub. Here are some other ideas for invitations for toddlers.
Fine Motor Invitation: Float/Sink Water Play
This invitation is easy to set up, a non-breakable container of water and some items that can get wet, and interesting for children of many ages. For toddlers, the activity may become more about which object makes the biggest splash, or how something can be a boat or a fish.
Intent: Exploring physics in this open-ended way is very appealing to young children. It is an opportunity for investigating how things work, different properties, and cause and effect.
Art and Sensory Invitation: Outdoor Finger painting
Young children’s approach to finger paint can very from tentative touches and finger prints to full-body experimentation. Make sure the paint you offer is child-safe and washable. You can make your own finger paint using cornstarch and water, just be aware that most food coloring can stain. A large piece of cardboard is the perfect outdoor canvas for finger paint which you can offer in a clean yogurt container or metal pie tin.
Intent: This activity offers lots of scope for creative expression, fine (and possibly large) motor development, and an interesting sensory experience.
Music Invitation: Little Bird, Little Bird, Fly Through My Window
Our favorite version of this song is that performed by Elizabeth Mitchell. Lyrics and a video of her singing can be found here.
This is a wonderful time to be outside and listen to the birds with your child. You may even see some through your window.
Intent: This song connects us to nature and the larger natural community. Singing promotes speech and language development and singing together connects us to one another.
Outdoor Invitation: Vehicle Wash
In warm weather, water play invitations can help children cool off and engage them for long periods. For this invitation you will want a vehicle or two of any size (parent involvement required generally increases with the size of the vehicle), some soapy water, and brushes, sponges or rags for washing as well as a hose for rinsing larger vehicles like ride on toys or actual family cars.
Intent: This second water exploration is an opportunity for fine and large motor development, exploring opposites, and an opportunity for children to be helpers.
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