| More Activities & Crafts to Stimulate Your Brillant Child |
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| 25-30 months - Watering Plants Materials Needed: watering can & water source Goal: to experience the cause & effect process Preparation: place the watering can near the water source Nurturing Strategies: When the child notices the watering can, fill it with waterand introduce the activity. For example you might say "it hasn't rained in several days, will you water the plants for me? They need water to be healthy" Describe the child's behavior with the watering can, statements like "the ground is soaking up all of the water" Or " You made a puddle in the flower bed" redirect the child's behavior to maintain a safe outdoor play area. For example, suggest that the toddler water some grass instead of the sidewalk because someone might slip on the wet concrete. Refill the watering can as often as needed to sustain the toddler's interest in this experience. Addiontional Info: plan to introduce this activity on a warm sunny day. Toddler's increased verbal abilities allow them not only to express their ideas better, but also to understand situations better. |
| 31-36 months - Balloon Toss Materials Needed: 2 or 3 balloons Goal: catching skills, hand/eye coordination & full body coordination Preparation: Blow up the balloons and tie a secure knot, clear an area in the yard or a grassy place (park) of any obstacles Nurturing Strategies: Observe the toddler's behavior with the balloons. Suggest a different way to use the balloon. For example, kicking it, throwing it, something different from what the toddler is currently doing with the balloon. Encourage the toddler to catch the balloon when you throw it to her. Say something like "Susan it's my turn to toss the balloon, and your turn to catch it" If the toddler is having difficulties, provide plenty of time to practice these skills. In addition, provide verbal support. Comments like "Susan that was a great attempt, you held out your arms to catch the balloon" or "Keep trying, you'll get it" Continue to throw and catch the balloon as long as the toddler seems interested. Addiontional Info: Broken balloons can be a serious choking hazard. Therefore, provide constant supervision when the children are engaged in this experience. Do not allow a child to put a balloon or part of a balloon in his or her mouth. |
| 3+ years - Shredded Paper Horses Materials Needed: White poster board, scissors, colored paper, brown tempera paint, paint brushes, glue What to do: Cut one horse shape per child (the poster board should yield about four horses per sheet) Give the children the colored paper and have them tear it into strips approximately 1" by 6" Have the children paint their horses with brown tempera paint. Encourage the children to glue the shredded colored paper to the mane or tail areas for a realistic effect. Display the finished horses on sand-colored paper on the refridgerator. |
| Craft Ideas |
| 3+ years - Bumpy Snake Materials Needed: Wallpaper samples, scissors, black crayon, googly eyes, glue What to do: Give the children the wallpaper samples and satefy scissors. Invite the children to cut out a worm or snake shape from the samples. Show the children how to fold the snake accordion style, then unfold it so the snake has ridges. The children can then glue on the googly eyes. Another Option: Have the children cut their snake out of construction paper and then glue on different textured wall paper samples to the snake, giving the snake a variety of textures, colors, patterns. |
| 4+ years - Laboratory Painting Materials Needed: Tempera paints, paint containers, water, paper, pipettes and eyedroppers What to do: Pour the paint into containers, thinning it with a little water. Give each child a piece of paper. Supply pipettes and eyedroppers and encourage the children to drip paint on their paper, creating a design, watching the colors mix and make new colors. Laminate the final painting and use as a place mat or frame and display artwork in the child's room. |
| 5+years - Ribbon Weaving Materials Needed: Lengths of ribbon in various colors and widths, fabric cut into 2" wide strips, paper or cardboard, cellophane tape. What to do: Help the children place the lengths of ribbon or fabric in rows or columns across their paper. Tape one end of each strip to the paper. Show the children how to weave additional strips over and under the strips on their paper. When the children are finished, tape the opposite ends of the strips to the paper. |