The Everything Toddler Activities Book (8 page)

1. Use the ruler and marker to outline six equal squares on the poster board.
   
2. Review the magazine pictures with your child. Let him select six pictures of animals that he thinks he will find at the zoo.
   
3. Help him glue one animal picture in each square.
   
4. Cover the board with clear contact paper.
   
5. Bring the board and dry-erase marker to the zoo. Show your child how to mark off each animal that he sees.
   
6. Challenge him to complete the entire card.
   

Engage your child with this lively movement activity.

As you view an animal, ask your child to mimic how the animal moves and/or sounds. Good animals to imitate are monkeys, kangaroos, elephants, and the big cats.

Not too long ago, taking children to a museum was an exercise in frustration, given all of the interesting things they could look at but not touch. Fortunately, children’s museums in many larger cities now recognize that children learn best through hands-on exploration. Even some of the larger traditional museums have added more interactive exhibits. You can make any museum more interesting to your toddler with these simple ideas.

This is a version of the game I Spy.

1. As you approach a picture or an exhibit, have your child guess what you can see. Chant the following rhyme:
   

   Can you see what I can see,
   Can you guess what it can be?
   I see something… (red, scary, round, etc.)
   

2. Once your child has guessed, let her take the next turn.
   

Art exhibits do not have to be boring for your children. Encourage your child to use her imagination with this activity. You will also be developing her vocabulary and literacy skills.

1. Find pictures that depict people. Abstract or still-life paintings will not work for this.
   
2. Ask your child to make up a story based on what she sees. Maybe your child will have a new idea about why the Mona Lisa is smiling.
   

CHAPTER 5

Art and Exploration

Young children are naturally creative. They love to manipulate and explore art materials. They often are more immersed in and interested in the process of creating than in what the final project will look like. When a child creates arts and crafts, he is also learning to express himself and is developing emotional control and problem-solving skills. You will find art ideas and projects throughout this book; however, here are some favorites that both you and your child will enjoy.

Coloring may be the most basic and common of all art activities for young children. Crayons are inexpensive and easy to transport and to clean. You will discover that you can spark your child’s imagination by avoiding coloring books and templates and trying these open-ended ideas instead.

Liven up your child’s coloring projects with this easy idea!

1. Have your toddler color any design or picture she wants on a dark-colored sheet of construction paper. Remind her to press hard for the colors to show well.
   
2. Next, let your child use the brush to paint over her picture with the salt water. (Be sure to stop her before the paper becomes too soggy.) The crayons will resist the water. When the paper dries, the picture will sparkle wherever the salt remains.
   

This is a simple way to encourage your child’s creativity and fine motor skills.

1. Help your toddler tear the masking tape into smaller pieces and strips.
   
2. Have her put the tape onto the paper in any design that she wishes.
   
3. Let her color over the tape. Encourage her to cover as much of the paper as possible.
   
4. Let her peel back the tape to reveal the picture.
   

This process will give your child’s artwork a unique look.

1. Cut the bag open so that it forms 1 piece of flat paper.
   
2. Help your toddler soak the bag in water and then squeeze the water out. Let the bag get wrinkled.
   
3. The wet bag will tear easily, so open it carefully and lay it flat.
   
4. Once the bag is dry, your toddler can color a design on it.
   

This classic activity still delights young children!

1. Let your child color on the paper with crayons. Avoid dark colors such as black, brown, or gray. Show her how to press hard to make sure the crayon marks are heavy.
   
2. Once the picture is complete, your child will paint over the entire paper with the black watercolor paint. The original crayon drawing will resist the paint and show through.
   
3. For older toddlers, or with your assistance: Instead of using watercolor paint, help your child cover the picture with a thick layer of black crayon. (All crayon layers must be extra thick for this to work.) Scrape away patterns or designs using the side of a coin to reveal the vibrant rainbow colors underneath.
   

This activity will help your child express creativity and learn about textures.

Let your toddler explore coloring on the different textures of sandpaper.

Recycle and reuse old crayons! These homemade crayons are easy for small hands
to hold, and they produce bright colors and patterns.

1. Discard brown, black, and gray crayons.
   
2. Remove the paper from all crayons. Small fingers may need help with this.
   
3. Break remaining crayons into small pieces no more than ½ long. Supervise your children carefully to ensure they do not put any crayons in their mouths.
   
4. Distribute crayon pieces into muffin tins lined with liners.
   
5. Bake at 300°F until all the crayons are melted together.
   
6. When cool, remove the new cupcake crayons from the tins—they’ll be ready to use!
   

There is no end to the number of creative projects your child can complete with paint. Here you will find unique ideas that go well beyond a plastic palette and a little brush. Nowadays, you can find paints that are washable to cut down on the cleanup. Also, you should be sure to opt for nontoxic paints whenever you can. As a general rule, tempera paints are best for young artists—watercolors come in less vibrant colors and tend to run, which might frustrate your child. You will also discover that you do not necessarily need store-bought paint for your painting projects!

Using this new take on an old art material, these paintings will look like a professional artist was at work!

1. Show your child how to dip the chalk into the water and let it sit for 1 minute.
   
2. Once the chalk is wet, show your child how to color on the paper—don’t press too hard, or the paper will tear. The wet chalk will look like pastel paints.
   

This activity will help develop your toddler’s fine motor skills. Along with or instead of stickers, you can use return address labels, gummed paper reinforcers, or simply pieces of masking tape.

1. Allow your toddler to choose the stickers that he wishes to use. Stickers with distinctly shaped outlines work best.
   
2. Show him how to attach the stickers to the paper in any arrangement that he chooses.
   
3. Paint over the entire paper, covering the stickers.
   
4. Once the paint is dry, help your toddler remove the stickers to reveal the sticker shapes.
   

Break away from the routine. Let your child’s creativity be the only limit to
the materials he can use to paint with.

Let your child paint using any number of paintbrush substitutes. He will find that each tool makes a different mark on the paper.

This nifty process will let your child preserve his finger-painting creations.
You can have him paint directly on the table or onto a cookie sheet for easier cleanup.

1. Have your child finger paint on a flat surface.
   
2. Press the white construction paper on top of the finger paint and rub—a mirror image of the design will transfer to the paper.
   

No two pictures will ever be exactly alike!
Watch your child’s delight when he opens up the paper to reveal the new design.

1. Fold a sheet of paper in half and crease down the middle. Unfold paper.
   
2. Let your child paint a design on one half of the paper, using the crease as a guide.
   
3. Fold the paper in half and show your child how to gently rub over the painted design inside.
   
4. Let your child unfold the paper to reveal his new double design.
   

It’s like magic—when you open the box, you’ll find a picture painted inside!

1. Cut a piece of paper to fit the bottom of the box. Tape it securely in place.
   
2. Pour small amounts of paint into the pie tins. Show your toddler how to dip a ball into the paint.
   
3. Have him place the paint-covered ball into the shoebox. Cover the box with the lid.
   
4. Let your child gently roll and shake the box around.
   
5. Remove the ball. Repeat with as many other balls and colors as desired.
   

The more your child can handle and manipulate materials, the more she will enjoy the project, and the more she will learn. Sculpture encourages your child to be creative, to see things in a new way, and to think “outside the box.” Let these activities start you off in exploring this art technique with your child.

Your child will love the ooey-gooey feel of the glue and the yarn as she molds this fun sculpture.

1. Have your child dip pieces of yarn in the glue to coat.
   
2. Let your child arrange the yarn pieces onto the waxed paper in any design she wants.
   
3. Allow the sculpture to dry for a few hours, and then remove it from the waxed paper. You may choose to hang it as a mobile for display.