The Everything Toddler Activities Book (25 page)

Here are a few activities to celebrate summertime. Remember that the most valuable way for your toddler to learn about summertime is through experience. Take the time to watch clouds roll by, go for a walk in a meadow, or drink homemade lemonade under the shade of a big tree.

This cheery craft will brighten up any summer day.
Children seem drawn to these giants of the flower world.

1. Draw a circle on the brown paper and the outline of eight yellow triangles on the yellow paper. Make the circle as big or small as you want the sunflower to be. Size the triangles so that side by side, they will go all the way around the circle. Cut a stem from the green paper.
   
2. Either cut the shapes out yourself, or assist your child in doing so.
   
3. Show your child how to glue the pieces together to create a flower. When the flower is dry, she can glue on the sunflower seeds in the middle.
   

This project makes a cute decoration to place into a potted plant.
It can also be used as a puppet or a hand-held fan.

1. Cut a big circle from the center of one paper plate.
   
2. Have your child paint or color the circle orange. Have her paint or color the intact plate yellow.
   
3. Help your child glue the orange circle onto the yellow plate.
   
4. Glue the craft stick onto the bottom to serve as a handle.
   

Bring the beach home with this unique craft activity.

1. Mix all ingredients together and let cool.
   
2. Your child can use the mixture to build a castle by hand, or she can use shallow plastic containers for molds. Coat the containers with Vaseline before using.
   
3. Give the castle three days to dry.
   

Decorate any sunny window with this easy project.

1. Cut 4 squares of clear contact paper.
   
2. Help your child place flower blossoms and leaves on the sticky side of the paper. Leave enough of the contact paper uncovered that it will stick to the window.
   
3. Carefully pick up the squares and press on the window.
   
4. When you choose to take the flowers off the window, you can remove the excess adhesive with nail-polish remover.
   

CHAPTER 17

Holiday Activities

Holidays are special times when ordinary routines are broken and there are new foods, visitors, and activities. The excitement can be overwhelming for young children. Although you want a holiday to be fun for your young child, remember that he may need some quiet one-on-one time with you. Take some time out of your hectic schedule to try one of these activities with him.

Your young child will probably be fast asleep long before the clock strikes midnight. But she can still participate in some of the festivities. This is a great time to talk to her about the passage of time.

Your child will enjoy making noise and helping to celebrate the new year
without having to stay up until midnight.

1. Use the pencil to poke three holes on one side of the tube. Make holes in a straight line and leave at least 1 between them.
   
2. Cut a square of waxed paper large enough to cover the opening of the tube. Help your child secure the waxed paper over the end of the tube nearest the hole with a long piece of masking tape.
   
3. Let your child decorate the horn with crayons. Show her how to blow into the horn to make noise.
   

You can adapt this basic craft and let your child make a hat for any special occasion.

1. Place the two pieces of paper together lengthwise so that they overlap by ½. Staple them together.
   
2. Roll the paper into a cone, making sure that the bottom is wide enough to fit your child’s head. Overlap the paper at the seam and mark seam with a crayon.
   
3. Unroll the paper and cut off any excess.
   
4. Spread the paper flat and let your child use crayons and glitter to decorate one side of the paper.
   
5. Roll the paper back into a cone and staple it to create the hat.
   

Here is an unusual way for your child to create a festive picture.

1. Pour the paint into the pie tins.
   
2. Have your child dip the curled-up end of the noisemaker into the paint.
   
3. Show your child how to aim the noisemaker at the paper and have her blow. The goal is to have the painted tip of the noisemaker strike the paper and leave a mark.
   
4. While the paint is still wet, your child can sprinkle some confetti onto her picture.
   

The classic stereotype is true: Toddlers love to bang on pots and pans. New Year’s is the time to make a little noise anyhow, so why not have your child use a special pot-banging spoon?

1. Pour the paint into the pie tins. Let your child paint the spoon however she wishes.
   
2. When the spoon is completely dry, show her how to coat the spoon with glue and then add glitter.
   
3. If you wish, tie a ribbon around the handle.
   

Love is in the air! Your toddler is just starting to learn about love and relationships. At this stage in his life, your toddler’s greatest love is probably you. But soon, his social world will be expanding. Talk about love and caring while you do these projects with him. Here is a great chance to reinforce recognition of the colors pink and red, too.

This activity will help your child develop fine motor skills. You may also want to use this as an opportunity to talk about color and shape identification. You don’t have to limit your child to a simple sheet of paper. Perhaps she can print hearts onto a card or calendar.

1. Pour the paint into the pie tins.
   
2. Cut out heart shapes from the sponges. You can make other shapes too. Be sure that the sponge shapes are at least as large as a silver dollar.
   
3. Attach a clothespin to the back of the sponge. This will serve as a handle for your child.
   
4. Show your child how to dip the sponge hearts into the paint and then press them onto the paper to create a design.
   

This activity will be particularly enticing if you have a child who likes to put on mommy’s makeup.

1. Help your child apply the lipstick.
   
2. Show your child how to kiss the paper to make lip prints. If you use more than one color of lipstick, help your child use the tissue to remove the preceding color.
   

Here is a cute idea for your child to create a truly personalized Valentine’s Day card.

1. Fold the paper in half to create a card. On the front, write “Thumbody Loves You!”
   
2. Pour a small amount of the paint into the pie tin. Help your child to dip her thumb into the paint.
   
3. Open the card and show your child how to press her thumb onto the paper to create prints. Let her make as many thumbprints as she wishes to decorate the card.
   

It is said that anyone can be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Focus on the color green and share some of the legends and lore of this holiday with your child.

This is a fun gardening activity, but it takes patience to see the result.

1. Cut the sponge into a shamrock shape.
   
2. Fill the pie tin with enough water to cover the bottom. Place the sponge in the water.
   
3. Help your child sprinkle the grass seeds onto the wet sponge.
   
4. Place the pie tin with the sponge in a sunny place. Keep the sponge moist while the grass is sprouting.
   

This cute craft makes a pretty centerpiece for a holiday party.
Add some gold-foil chocolate coins for extra excitement.

1. Cut the toilet paper tube in half crosswise. Discard one half.
   
2. Have your child color the half tube black to make the pot.
   
3. Cut the paper plate in half. Discard one half.
   
4. Cut off the rim of the plate to create an arch shape. You may need to trim the width so that one end will fit into the “pot.”
   
5. Encourage your child to color the arch with rainbow colors.
   
6. Let your child glue some gold sequins to the rim of the little black pot.
   
7. Balance the rainbow arch by inserting one end of it into the pot opening.
   

You will be promoting your child’s problem-solving skills while he plays this fun game.
If you wish, you can substitute a real treat basket for the paper pot of gold; just be sure
to decorate it with plenty of cut-out gold coins!

1. Cut the following shapes out of construction paper: 20 tiny green feet, 1 brown kettle, 10 small yellow circles, and an arch shape with different colors to form a rainbow.
   
2. Tape the yellow circles in the kettle shape to create the pot of gold.
   
3. Find a location to “hide” the pot of gold. Place it or tape it anywhere you wish.
   
4. Tape the green feet a few feet apart to form a path for your child to follow. Let them wind up the wall or under furniture to finally lead to the pot of gold.
   
5. Tell your child about how it is believed that a leprechaun can lead you to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Show him the footprints, and encourage him to follow them to the treasure.
   

Both of these holidays occur in the spring and they both celebrate the Jewish people’s freedom from oppression. These activities will help you introduce the history of Judaism and its culture to your toddler.

This is a fun and tasty way to share a traditional holiday treat with your child.