Activity 1
Footprints on paper
Duration: 10-15 minutes
What to you need?
- Green Paint
- Wide, shallow dish/container
- Newspaper
What to do:
- In a shallow container have some green paint ready.
- Place newspaper in front of the container.
- Now have your child step into the container barefoot and walk over the newspaper. Making footprints all over it.
- Talk about the foot prints by saying: There is (use your child’s name) foot prints. It is all over the paper.
Activity 2
Song: I am special
Duration: 5-7 minutes
What you need?
- Small portable mirror
Click on the link below to play the song: I am special, along with your child
What to do:
- Caregiver first sings the song with child, now take the mirror and have your child look at it while singing it again.
- This creates self-awareness and is a wonderful interactive activity.
**Mirrors allow toddlers to continue developing self-recognition. Self-recognition is a process that takes several years to be actualized. Looking in the mirror with a toddler and asking questions such as “Who is that?” and “Where is your ____(nose, tummy, etc.)?” encourages self-identification and fosters language growth. Additionally, mirrors can help young children develop emotionally as they have more opportunity to witness their own expressions throughout the day**
Activity 3
Walk the line
Duration: 5-10 minutes
What do you need?
- Sidewalk chalk
- Large floor concrete space
What to do:
- *Caregiver is to draw different types of lines and patterns onto the concrete using chalk.
- Examples include: Straight lines, a zig-zag line and curvy line
- Demonstrate to them how to walk and guide them the first around
- Now let them do it by themselves
- They will have some trouble balancing, so it’s best to lightly holding on their hands while walking on the line.
- They will make great improvements with staying on the line more closely with practice
**Balance and coordination are important skills for children to jump, climb and play sports without falling over**