Toddler Activities and Games

There are plenty of toddler activities and games that you can do with your child by using simple household items. Every toddler is an active learner. With his new found ability to walk around, he's in a whole new relationship with the world and can explore new territory like an old world adventurer. Through his falls, his bumps, as well as his triumphs and discoveries, he's learning about how the world works and also about how his own emerging self can help it work even better. Provide him with lots of concrete learning materials, things he can pick up, roll, punch, stack, squeeze, bounce, pound, push, pull and in other ways, interact with. They don't need to be brightly colored fancy educational toys. Some of the simplest household items will delight a toddler; for him, the whole world is brand new.

While much of his behavior may seem haphazard to you, there's actually a lot of intelligence going on in even the simplest of acts. When your toddler picks up an object, he's forming new associations to it and creating his first ideas about how the object relates to previous things he's picked up. These new discoveries become part of his inquiring mind and fuel his drive toward mastery and accomplishment.

The following list some toddler activities and games that can keep your child entertained and at the same time stimulate his body and mind :

Discovering Textures

The following two toddler activities and games are designed to help your toddler discover the various textures of materials:

- The Bean Game - all you need is a bag of dry beans and a dishpan or large bowl. Dump the beans into the bowl and then let him have at it. At first, he will probably delight in sinking his hands into the beans, picking them up and running them through his fingers. As he begins to lose interest, give him a cup, a set of nesting measuring scoops or a large wooden spoon to dig around with.

- Another toddler activity that involves texture is to assemble some different items and place them in a paper bag. Some good items are cotton balls, sand paper, a rubber ball, and a feather. Use your imagination to choose items that are very different in texture and size. Help him to pick one item out at a time, rub it against your and his face and say excitedly "feather", or whatever the name of the item is. Put the item back in the bag, shake it gently and do it again. This not only helps your child learn about texture, but it helps him develop a more extensive vocabulary. You can ask questions to help build their ability of description, for example..."Is the object smooth to touch...sharp, blunt, cold like metal, firm, soft etc."

Learning to follow instructions

Have your child put his face down on the floor for a few seconds while you toss a toy, aiming for a particular place, such as under the chair. Then the child gets up and you give him clues, or, if he is very young, tell him where to look. The toy is UNDER the chair. This gives your toddler practice in following directions and learning the concepts of on and under, behind and in front, and in and out.

Science Activities and simple experiments

Static electricity at it's best! All you need is an inflated balloon. Have your child rub the balloon vigorously against his hair or sweater. Experiment with different objects...where the balloon will stick? The Drapes, Wall, Refrigerator...

Read or Tell a Story

If you’re bored stiff with the same stories over and over, try varying them by using funny accents or sound effects, or inserting a wrong word in the story and watch the reactions of your children.

Find out how you can prepare your child to read and selecting the proper child books.