toddler activity #6: wrapping & unwrapping

Take a toy or game your child is familiar with - I chose Memory because it was a good shape to wrap - and wrap it up. Let him unwrap it, then wrap it up again while he watches. Repeat as many times as your child is interested in this activity. My guy only did it a few times because he was more interested in the game inside. I'll post more about that later :) This is a great one for learning about abstract ideas, manual dexterity, and problem solving.

toddler activity #5: indoor tents

we took our flashlight fun a little further and made a tent over a table for our little guy to shine it in. he loves to make tents with pillows on the couch, in our bed (with our legs holding it up!), anywhere he can. I'm hoping to make a table tent that can easily be placed over our table and not have to be held down by something. have you ever seen one of those? if I get around to it, I'll have to post a pic. have fun making tents today!

toddler activity #4: flashlight fun

just give your child a flashlight and they're bound to have fun! I sat with mine in a dark room for a minute and pointed at things with the flashlight, naming each one. then I had him do the same. he loved it!

he took the flashlight everywhere: in his homemade tent, the bathroom, outside...I need to get him one of his very own now.

a variation: set the flashlight down on something and make shadows with your hands or body.

toddler activity #3: mirror play

just pull out a big mirror for your child to stand at and see his/her reflection. now ask him to point at the nose in the mirror, then the eyes, and other various body parts. have him make faces (he'll probably do that on his own!). turn on music and let him dance in front of the mirror. he's sure to get a good laugh - and you will, too!

toddler activity #2: edible play dough

edible play dough

1 c. peanut butter

2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. honey

mix all together and store in an airtight container. I like to divide it into individual "portions" then store it in baggies. that way I can just pull one out and give it to him to play with, rather than scooping it out a bit at a time or giving him the whole thing.

here's a more nutritious recipe:

1 part flour

1 part water

2 parts oatmeal

mix together and form fun shapes. this recipe will harden when dry, then it can be painted.

toddler activity #1:Water Play

I've felt like I needed to do more with/for my little guy to stimulate his imagination and help him master different skills, so I've been looking for ideas on the internet and in books from the library. I thought I'd put some of them up on here for memory's sake and for others' use.

This is the first of them: Water Play.

(If you feel brave, you could do this in your kitchen over the dishwasher door, or in the bathtub.)

1. Find a big bucket - laundry detergent buckets work great - and put enough water in it that it can't be picked up and dumped by curious "helpers".

2. Gather various finds from your kitchen to be used to pour, stir, and hold water. I gave my son Cool Whip containers, a pitcher, little bowl, whip, measuring cups, water bottle, funnel, and some sand toys.

3. Show your child how to fill the water bottle with the funnel, and demonstrate how to use anything else you might have given him, then let him go at it. My guy loved filling everything, then dumping them, and doing it again. He was entertained for hours, really, just playing in the water on the deck.