Toddler Activities

ORIGINATING IDEA
Interest in books
MATERIALS
Colored paper
Plain white paper
Hole punchers
Yarn
Markers
Crayons
Colored pencils
Stickers
Glue
Scissors
Magazines
Stencils
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Language, Literacy, and Communication: Exploring Print. KDI #20
BEGINNING
During small group, have the material out on the table for children to explore.
MIDDLE
The children use the materials to create a book of their own
EXTENSIONS
Using material to make a creation of their own
END
Take the books to the library area, for the children to read, once they are finished
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Show books at group time
Put the books on the shelves in the library area
Leave material out for free time


Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Rhyming Word Game
MATERIALS
Pictures of different words that rhyme
o Such as: cat, hat, bat
Dog, log, frog
Etc.
Plastic trays
Labels on the pictures and on the trays
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Language, Literacy, and Communication: Enjoying Language. KDI #21.
BEGINNING
During small group, have the pictures out in their rhyming categories.
MIDDLE
The children use the help of their friends to figure out which words go together (rhyme).
EXTENSIONS
Allow children to come up with their own rhyming word game to play with the class.
END
Ask the children if they know any more rhyming words that could be added to the game,
and then add those words into the game.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Leave material out for free time
Allow children to play the game with their friends during free play
Switch rhyming words out every two-three weeks to keep it different.

Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Obstacle courses
MATERIALS
Hula hoops
Plastic cones
Tires
Ropes
Pool noodles
Cardboard boxes
Tape (start/finish line)
Balloons
Bubble wrap
Inflatable bouncers
Timer
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Physical Development, Health, and Well-Being. Moving the whole body. KDI #13
BEGINNING
Take kids outside (weather permitting) or into Gym and split them into two groups
MIDDLE
Have children go through the course, two at a time until everyone has had a chance to go
around
EXTENSIONS
Children can help in the making of the actual obstacle course, by adding more or taking
away from the course.
END
Once all children have gone around twice, clean up, and start heading back to the
classroom
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Allow children to participate in a different obstacle course, later on during the year
See if they can beat their times, the second time around
Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Animated Story Telling
MATERIALS
Open space
o Either inside the classroom or outside
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Physical Development, Health, and Well-Being. Moving Parts of the body. KDI #12
BEGINNING
Have children think of their favorite stories.
o Stories can be real or made up.
MIDDLE
Have children share with a friend or two their favorite story while acting it out.
EXTENSIONS
Have every child, tell their favorite story to the class during circle time
o Each child gets one day until all the children have had a turn, and then every child
can have another turn.
END
Once the child is finished acting out their story of choice, see if the rest of the children
know which book the student was talking about.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Swap books out in the reading area, every few weeks to see if the children choose a new
story to act out.


Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Team Fishing Game
MATERIALS
Twigs
String
Magnets
Kiddie swimming pools
Plastic rubber ducks
Water
Timers
Little fishing nets
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Approach to learning: problem solving. KDI #2
BEGINNING
Children are split up into three or four groups and make a plan in their groups to figure
who gets to go first, second, third, etc.
MIDDLE
Children follow through with their fishing schedule, and try to collect the most ducks in a
certain amount of time
EXTENSIONS
This project could be done in the winter, with snow instead of water
END
Children finish up fishing for the ducks, and help in the cleanup process.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
The activity could be set up for a while, so that the children can continue to play with it.





Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Free Choice Play
MATERIALS
Whatever materials the children wish to use or play with
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Approach to Learning. Initiative. KDI #1
BEGINNING
Allow the children to have some time to just pick an activity in the room that they want to
play with or do.
MIDDLE
During the free choice watch the children to see what they choose to play with, who the
choose to play with etc.
EXTENSIONS
Ask children questions about what they have chosen to do or play with during the free
time that they were given.
END
have children cleanup and talk about what they chose to do during their free time.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Allow children to have free play every day or every few days to see if the children
change any of their choices during their free play.




Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Classroom job chart for students
MATERIALS
Name cards with childrens names written on them
Velcro on the name cards and on the poster board
Poster board with classroom jobs
Hard written copy of all the jobs and who has done them copy for the teacher
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Social and Emotional Development. Group participation. KDI #11
BEGINNING
Allow children to help figure out what the classroom jobs are available.
At the beginning of each day or week the children find out what their classroom jobs are
going to be.
MIDDLE
The children then carry out their jobs for the day or week.
EXTENSIONS
Each day or week, the children switch jobs, so that they get a chance to do every job in
the classroom.
END
At the end of the day or week, allow children to figure out what jobs they have already
had, and what new job they may want for the next day or week.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
At the end of each day or week, allow children to reflect on whether or not the liked their
jobs, if they would like to do them again, etc.

Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Emotion/Feelings Chart
MATERIALS
Childproof camera/ Disposable
Blank sheets of either colored or white paper
Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils
Stickers
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Social and Emotional Development. Emotions. KDI #8
BEGINNING
Have the children take pictures of one another while doing all different emotional faces.
o Such as happy, sad, mad, angry, surprised, etc.
MIDDLE
Once all of the children have had their picture taken and the photos are laminated allow
the children to add Velcro to the back of their pictures.
EXTENSIONS
Allow the children to create a border around their face and decorate it any way that they
see fit.
END
Allow each child to put their first face up on the chart.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Every few weeks, allow the children to switch out on of their faces on the chart for a
different face.
o For example: if one child has their picture on the Happy spot, in two-three
weeks allow that child to put up her angry face and take down her happy face.
Have children use the chart to help them describe their feelings to other children when
they are unhappy, as another form of communication.



Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Kiddie Pool of Sand
MATERIALS
Plastic kiddie pool
Bags of sand
Beach toys (shovels, pails, etc.)
Plastic tarp
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Cognitive Development: Filling and Emptying. KDI #29
BEGINNING
Set up the tarp on the floor, or do the activity outside, and set the bags of sand up with the
shovels and pails and set the kiddie pools up.
MIDDLE
Have the children take the shovels and pails to take the sand and move it into the kiddie
pool.
EXTENSIONS
The children can do the activity with a timer to see how long it will take them
They can count to see how many pails full of sand it takes to fill the kiddie pools up
END
At the end of the activity have the children help in the clean up
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
This activity can be used with snow, water, and flour

Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Table Set up
MATERIALS
Snack and lunch time utencils
Napkins
Cups
Plates
Forks & Spoons
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Social and Emotional Development. Participating in Group Routine. KDI #11
BEGINNING
Have the children get into their small groups.
MIDDLE
Have small group set up with a task that involves setting up the snack and lunch time
tables.
EXTENSIONS
This can also be used to help divide up clean up time messes.
END
Have each child clean up the mess at the tables after snack and lunch time are over.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Have the groups and children swich tasks every couple of days, so that they do not
become unhappy with their job.

Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Racecar Painting
MATERIALS
Little Hot wheel cars (enough for each child to have at least two)
Paints in various colors
Paper for each child
Paint smocks
Paper plates
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Creative Arts. Visual Arts. Exploring art materials. KDI # 37
BEGINNING
Set up the table so that each child has enough room to drive the car over their paper.
Make sure the childrens names are written on the back of the paper.
Allow the students to pick the two cars that they would like to use for the activity
Have students put their smocks on and sit at the table
Allow students to pick the paint colors that they would like to use
MIDDLE
Show the children how to dip the cars wheels in the paint
Allow the children to drive over their paper as many times as they would like with their
racecars.
Allow children extra paper if they would like to make more than one picture.
EXTENSIONS
If children want to use other colors, help them make a trade with another student who has
that color but isnt using it at that moment.
END
Once children are finished with their pictures, let them dry before sending them home
Have the children help clean up and then have the children wash their hands with soap
and water.
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Leave materials out for children to use again.

Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Paper Bag Puppets
MATERIALS
Brown Paper Bags
Construction paper
Glue sticks
Goggley eyes
Crayons
Markers
Pompons/ Cotton Balls
Yarn
A puppet theater
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Creative Arts. Visual Arts. Exploring art materials. KDI # 37
BEGINNING
Have material out for children to explore
MIDDLE
Allow children to make a puppet of their liking whether it be a person or an animal
Have children write their names on the back or inside of their puppet.
EXTENSIONS
Allow the children to make their own puppet, whether it is a person, an animal, etc.
Allow them to use their creativity.
END
Have children help clean up activity and wash their hands
Allow puppets time to dry
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Once puppets are dry, allow the children to put on their own puppet show.
Leave materials out, so that children can make more puppets for the puppet theater.

Toddler Activities
ORIGINATING IDEA
Paper cup Maracas and Paper Bowl Drums
MATERIALS
Paper cups/Paper bowls/ Paper plates
Dried beans
Rice
Tinfoil
Tempera paint
Paint brushes
Stapler with staples
Masking tape
CURRICULUM CONTENT
Creative Arts. Visual Arts. Exploring art materials. KDI # 37
BEGINNING
Allow children to pick which type of instrument they would like to make: a drum or
maracas
Bring in toy drums and maracas for the children to explore before starting the project
MIDDLE
Have the children put either beans or rice into one of their cups or bowls.
Staple bowls/ Tape cups together and wrap in tin foil
Allow children to use the paint to decorate the parts that are covered in tinfoil
EXTENSIONS
Allow the children to staple/tape the project themselves and to wrap it up by themselves.
END
Allow the paint to dry
Write childrens name on the bottom of the instrument
Have the children help clean up the activity and wash their hands
FOLLOW-UP IDEAS
Once the paint is fully dry, have a dance party while the children play their new musical
instruments.