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Activity of the Month
Here are some age-appropriate activities to do with children.
If you have some favorites you'd like to share e-mail us.
Infant Muffin Tins
A muffin pan game is a first experience in learning number concepts. Using a six cup muffin tin, place a tennis ball into each cup. Give the baby a turn taking them out and putting them back in.
From: Marilyn Segal, Ph.D. Your Child at Play: Birth to One Year, c.1983.
Transparent vs. Opaque Barriers
Now that your baby is learning about hiding games, play games where you hide a toy behind a barrier. Put a toy behind a lucite tray or picture frame. Will your baby reach for the toy directly or will she reach around to get the toy?
From: Marilyn Segal, Ph.D. Your Child at Play: Birth to One Year, c.1983.
Cheerio Spill
Place some Cheerios in a plastic bottle. See if your baby can figure out how to tip over the bottle to feed herself some Cheerios.
From: Marilyn Segal, Ph.D. Your Child at Play: Birth to One Year, c.1983.
Find the Picture
Put an interesting picture on one side of a carton. See if your baby will crawl around the carton until she discovers the picture.
From: Marilyn Segal, Ph.D. Your Child at Play: Birth to One Year, c.1983.
Toddler Easy Milk Carton Blocks
Collect milk cartons of various sizes and wash them out thoroughly. Cut off the top point and fold down the top flaps to square off the box. Tape the edges. Cover the whole container with pretty contact paper and the blocks will be surprisingly sturdy. In no time you will have a large collection of inexpensive and very satisfying blocks. Because they are so light, a toddler will not be hurt by a block that somehow becomes airborne.
From: Miller, Karen, Things to Do with Toddlers and Twos, c. 1984
Preschool Crayon Resist
Here's what you'll need: crayons, white paper, watercolor paint, paintbrush and a container of water.
1. Use crayons to color a picture on the white paper. Leave the background area uncolored.
2. Brush one color of paint over the entire drawing. The paint will stick only to the non-crayoned areas for a crayon resist drawing.
School Age Crayon Pressings
Materials needed: Old crayons, wax paper, an iron, cheese grater (or knife) scissors, hold punch and yarn.
Set up:
1. Put pieces of wax paper down on the table.
2. Give each child a cheese grater or a knife for shaving. Give children instructions on how to use the grater or knives safely.
3. Peel the paper from the crayons.
4. Put the iron on a medium setting and assure proper supervision.
Procedure:
1. Let the children choose many crayons to shave.
2. Grate or shave the crayons onto the wax paper, leaving about 1" border around the sides.
3. Cover the crayon shavings with another piece of wax paper.
4. Have an adult or an older child, iron over the wax paper until the crayons melt.
5. When the pictures have cooled off, let the children cut the edges for decoration.
6. Punch a hole; string with yarn to hang in the window.
Comments:
During autumn, add colorful leaves to the crayon shavings. Also pieces of construction paper, feathers and other decorations can be pressed in between the wax paper.
From: Haas-Foletta, Karm and Cogley, Michele, School Age Ideas and Activities, c. 1990
If you have some favorites you'd like to share e-mail us.
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