Toddler Tuesdays: Part1

We're starting something new. Panda is almost 20 months and wants to learn. So we are starting a pre-preschool with him. We will be doing several activities throughout the day and repeating them for 3 or 4 days before switching to new ones. I will post what worked and what didn't. These are also great boredom busters for people with toddlers who are trapped inside with cabin fever tots. This weeks activities are winter themed... more or less. Some of these objects are very small. Panda is pretty good about not putting things into his mouth anymore, but I was still with him closely supervising while he worked.

 

 Pushing pom poms through a small hole in Tupperware`

This is an old activity for us that I made new by making some yarn pom poms to use instead of the craft pom poms and cotton balls we've been using. He liked the new texture. I thought they looked a bit like snowballs.

 Beading pony beads onto pipe cleaners. Panda has been beading large wooden beads onto a shoe string lately. This was a little more challenging and worked those fine motor skills. I used wintry colors to keep with the theme. 

He really enjoyed working with the tiny beads and the tinkling sound the pipe-cleaner made when he hit it on the ceramic bowl. He also really enjoyed pulling them off the pipe-cleaner and watching the pony beads clatter and dance around the table as they fell. Notes, next time don't use clear beads. They were hard to find in the carpet later. 

 Wrapping blocks in icy looking tinfoil. More fine motor skills, sensory, color, and shape play.

Panda tried wrapping a few blocks, but he really enjoyed crumpling the tinfoil into little balls and manipulating them. Facepalm moment, why didn't I think of this before. This is a great activity for toddlers. 

Clipping clothes pins to a bucket. There are 10 little winter gnome people here. Later this will become a counting exercise, but right now it's  all about fine motor skills, and cause and effect. 

We had to take the tinfoil off of the bucket because it made it a little hard to put the pegs on for Panda. He also liked that he could slide the pegs back and forth on the bucket rim like  a rail.

Of course there was some outside play before nap-time.

After nap-time it was time for some sensor play. We played with  Snow Dough from Growing a Jeweled Rose. He loved it! He dug spoons in it, crumpled it, smashed it, and so forth. He did try a tiny taste, but  was quick to figure out that this was not for eating... Next time I will be sure to put a mat under the table. Oye!

Bear was late coming home from work so Panda had extra sensory time. Here is his winter sensory table.

And that is how our day went. I hope you enjoy this new venture we are attempting. I would love ideas and to hear what you have done Join us on Tuesdays, leave a link in the comment section. Lets see where we can take this. Shine on!