Gather animal stuffed toys with blankets, medicine droppers, bandages and small bowls. Roleplay with your toddler and pretend to take care of pets that are not feeling well. Demonstrate empathy and care for the pet. Encourage your child to take the lead in the role play. 鈥淗ow can we make the puppy feel better?鈥�
This classic song fosters the development of math and listening skills. If you have a dog puppet or stuffed toy, be sure to add it to your song. You can find the tune and lyrics here -
Sing the song 鈥淏aa, Baa Black Sheep鈥� with your child. Sing the song repeatedly, changing the colours of the sheep as you go. Find coloured objects or print off sheep in different colours to use as visual cues while you sing the song.
Running is a fundamental movement skill that toddlers are learning to master. When running, their excitement grows as they participate in games that involve chasing. Throw a ball across your yard. Model running to the ball and picking it up. Throw it again and ask your child to get it. As they go, run with them. Add a sense of urgency - 鈥淚鈥檓 going to get it鈥�. You may hear giggles as your child thinks you are also chasing them!
Sheep look fluffy like cotton balls. Create a new painting tool by clipping a cotton ball with a clothes peg. Dip in paint or coloured water and use it to make marks on paper. Talk through the process with your child.
鈥淵ou made four red marks.鈥� 鈥淲hat happened to the cotton ball?鈥�
- Visit this website to find 鈥�8 Games to Play with Your Baby鈥�. You will find lots of other information on this Today鈥檚 Parent site as well.
- Follow this link to a website full of easy craft ideas for children.