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!
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