Good morning! We hope you made it safely through yesterday’s windy weather. Here are a few ideas for toddlers (or children of any age) for today.

Fine Motor Invitation: (making) Play Dough

Our favorite play dough uses the stove, but your toddler can help mix the dry ingredients and stir in the wet ones before cooking.

You can find our favorite play dough recipe here.

Cooking of any kind engages children’s curiosity and builds motor skills.

Sensory Invitation: Play Dough

Once your play dough is cool, you can invite your child to explore it using their hands, or tools like butter knives, chopsticks, or rolling pins.

This invitation is an opportunity for creative expression, fine motor skill building, and exploring a different texture.

Art Invitation: Outdoor Chalk Paint

Mixing equal parts cornstarch and water with a little food coloring creates a delightful chalk paint that children can use on natural objects. In our test, it did not wash away cleanly with just water, so you may want to do this on the grass or an old shower curtain or plastic table cloth.

Self-expression through a multitude of languages is a central tenet of the preschools and infant-toddlers centers of Reggio Emilia. At LACS teachers work to make children’s thoughts and learning in a multitude of languages visible. This begins in the toddler room where children begin to become familiar with the tools and techniques of paint and painting.

Outdoor Invitation: Neighborhood Walk (scavenger hunt)

We have all been confined to our homes and neighborhoods for several weeks now. Going on a scavenger hunt can help you and your child look at the familiar in new ways. We like this scavenger hunt from Run Wild My Child, or you can make your own.

This invitation combines cognitive skill-building with exercise, encourages children to look closely at the world around them, and builds cooperation between siblings if you ask them to work together to complete the hunt.