The Everything Toddler Activities Book (9 page)

This project will turn your toddler into a mini-architect!
She will use her problem-solving skills and creativity to make a 3D sculpture.

Allow your child to glue and tape the materials together to create her own 3D sculpture.

Your child will be developing fine motor skills and using her creativity with this activity.

1. Have your child tear the tissue paper into small pieces. They do not have to be uniform in size.
   
2. In a small bowl, mix the glue and water in equal parts.
   
3. Show your child how to crumple up the tissue paper into wads. Dip each wad in the glue mixture and stick onto the cardboard.
   
4. Your child can add tissue wads onto a growing sculpture mound in this fashion.
   

Papier Mâché is fun for all ages. Your young child will love the feel of the squishy paste. The best part is that the only limit to your creativity is your imagination. Be warned: This is a messy project!

1. Have your child tear the newspaper into strips.
   
2. Combine the flour and water, adjusting proportions to achieve the consistency of very loose paste, like runny oatmeal. You may have to make more paste for progressive layers of your project.
   
3. Help your child dip each strip into the paste mixture and smooth it over the form. You will probably need to help your child squeeze the excess paste off the newspaper strip before removing it from the bowl.
   
4. Be sure that the entire mold is well covered with the paper strips. Let the layer dry before applying the next layer. Large or complex molds need multiple layers; small or simple shapes need fewer.
   
5. Once the sculpture is dry, it will be quite hard. You and your child can decorate it in many ways. Try using paint, markers, and glue with scraps of paper, feathers, or glitter.
   

There is no end to the number of materials that can be used for collages. Anything that will stick with glue is fair game. Let the ideas below be an inspiration for you and your child to create many variations.

Your child will enjoy manipulating and gluing the rice. You will enjoy how bright the colors appear. This procedure also works well with dried pasta in distinctive shapes, such as macaroni or wagon wheels.

1. For each color, mix ¼ teaspoon rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring in a zip-top bag. Add ¼ cup of rice. Seal the bag and shake well.
   
2. Spread the rice on waxed paper and let dry.
   
3. Let your child use the glue to make designs on the construction paper. Sprinkle the rice over the wet glue to create a brightly colored picture. Let dry.
   

This activity will produce some very pretty fabric swatches. You may wish to use the resulting collage to make another project from the fabric, such as a kite or doll dress.

1. Spread the muslin on the ground. Measure to middle of the fabric swatch and mark the center line so that fabric is divided in half.
   
2. Working on one half of fabric, help your child place his chosen materials into any pattern or design he wishes.
   
3. Fold the fabric in half with the items inside.
   
4. Let your toddler pound the items through the muslin with a small hammer or mallet. Very young children can also stomp on the fabric to flatten the materials.
   
5. Open the fabric and brush away the remaining materials to reveal the collage design.
   

Art is creative. Look around, and you will find many items and materials to use for art projects. Recycled materials often make super art materials. Oatmeal boxes can become drums, and margarine lids make great coasters. Try keeping a box of miscellaneous materials available for your child to create with.

You will be amazed at the unique look of this project!

1. Mix a few drops of food coloring into the bubble solution. Pour solution into the pie tin.
   
2. Have your child use the plastic straw to blow bubbles into the solution. For young children, poke a few tiny holes near the top of the straw to keep them from sucking up any of the bubble solution.
   
3. Spread a sheet of paper gently on top of the bubbles to make a print.
   

Does your child love stickers? Now you can make some from just about any image! This recipe is for adults to prepare. You will then have finished stickers for your child.

1. Boil vinegar in a small saucepan.
   
2. Add the gelatin, then reduce to low heat and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add extract and mix well.
   
3. Let the mixture cool before painting on the back of chosen images. Once dry, you will have stamps or stickers the child can use by moistening with a dab of water.
   

Your toddler can create some very pretty and novel pictures using this technique.

1. Fill the pan with water.
   
2. Help your child grate the chalk into powder. Place powder into the cupcake liners.
   
3. Help your child sprinkle the powder onto the water, letting her choose the colors, amounts, and patterns.
   
4. Have her spread a sheet of paper on top of the water to absorb the chalk design.
   
5. Hang the wet picture up to dry.
   

You may remember creating spin art paintings at the local amusement park when you were a child.
Here is a simple homemade version to try.

1. Push the paper plate onto the record player by pushing the center peg though the plate. If you are using a salad spinner, you may need to trim the disc of paper before placing it into the spinner.
   
2. Crank the salad spinner to make paper spin.
   
3. Show your child how to hold the marker to draw on the paper while it spins.
   

Your child will enjoy squeezing the glue to make different patterns,
and she will be amazed to see her designs glitter and shine!

1. Mix salt and glitter in equal proportions. Add sequins if desired.
   
2. Help your child squeeze designs with the glue onto the paper. Swirls and squiggles look better than large puddles.
   
3. Show your toddler how to sprinkle the glitter mixture all over the glue design.
   
4. Shake the paper to adhere all loose glitter mixture possible to the wet glue. Tilt paper to discard remaining glitter mixture.
   

Although crafts tend to be more structured, remember to let your child’s originality rule whenever possible. Start with the basic format but do not be afraid to let children make their own alterations and variations to the pattern. So what if they paint the sky yellow, or the puppet has three eyes?

Here is a simple craft piece that your child will enjoy making and that you will enjoy displaying.

1. Punch a hole in the lid and attach string for the hanger.
   
2. Your toddler can help tear tissue paper into scraps. The cellophane will need to be cut.
   
3. Have your toddler glue the scraps onto one side of the lid.
   
4. When the lid is dry, hang in a sunny window.
   

You may remember the commercial version of this craft from when you were a child.
Now you can make them at home in a flash!

1. Cut the Styrofoam into desired shapes. Punch a hole at the top if you wish to hang the finished product.
   
2. Help your toddler decorate the shapes with the markers.
   
3. Microwave the creations for just a few seconds, and you will see them shrink!
   
4. Thread string through the hole if you wish to hang the finished project.
   

CHAPTER 6

Sensory Activities

Modern psychological research has determined that flashcards, drills, and worksheets are not effective ways of teaching young children. Your young child is not able to grasp abstract concepts. Instead, he learns by doing and by using his five senses. Sensory activities help your child learn while he has direct, concrete, hands-on experience with the world around him. This chapter provides all sorts of interesting sensory activities that are perfect for a toddler.

Sand is a great sensory material for children to explore. It is versatile and easy to find, and it even changes properties when water is added. You do not need to have an elaborate sandbox or table for sand-play activities; simply use a plastic dish bin. Add a shovel, a funnel, and other simple tools, and your child will have all he needs. You will need to tell your child that the sand must stay in the container.

Your toddler will enjoy searching for the buried treasure!
You may choose to think of other interesting things to bury.

1. Paint the rocks and let them dry.
   
2. Hide the rocks in the sandbox and let your child dig for treasure!
   

This activity combines the fun of sensory play with your child’s imagination.
You can also adapt this activity for any outdoor dirt area.

1. Show your child how to use the spatula to draw roads and passageways in the sand.
   
2. Let him create the roadways and then drive the vehicles around.
   

This simple project is very easy and yet creates a beautiful result.
Add some glitter to the sand for a special effect.