Summer Toddler1.5 - 2.5 years

• copy of alphabet matching

game

• Surface to lay out all of the

pieces

• Magnetic strips (if making

this a magnet matching game)

• Tape

• What letters are in my name?• How many letters can I recognize?• How many letters are there?• What is my favorite flavor of ice cream?• When does my family eat ice cream?

Ice CreamAlphabet GameIce CreamAlphabet Game

InstructionsMaterials

TT

Playful Questions

Domain:Language

Skills:

Indicator:

Letter Recognition

Toddlers love ice cream! So what better way to introduce them to the alphabet than through ice cream! This game allows you to introduce both uppercase and lowercase at the same time.

Match uppercase “scoop” with “cone”

Learning Outcomes

Step 1: Choose an area to have this matching game. It can be on a table top or on a vertical magnetic surface.

Step 2: Use tape to make a definitive line between where the cones are (below line) and where the scoops are (above line) for younger toddlers.

Step 3: This game is great as a magnetic vertical activity for little ones so it can be at eye level.

Step 4: Encourage toddler to match the cone (uppercase) with the scoop (or lowercase) As you make the match, say the letter out loud and encourage your toddler to say it, too.

Step 5: When you make a match, pretend to take a bite/lick of the ice cream and say, “Yum yum!”

30Minutes30Minutes

ab

cd

ef

gh

AB

CD

EF

GH

© HiMama Inc. This template is provided courtesy of your friends at HiMama. Visit us at www.himama.com

mn

op

MN

OP

ij

kl

IJ

KL

© HiMama Inc. This template is provided courtesy of your friends at HiMama. Visit us at www.himama.com

© HiMama Inc. This template is provided courtesy of your friends at HiMama. Visit us at www.himama.com

z Z

rs

tu

RS

TU

vw

xy

VW

XY

q Q

Spring Toddler1.5 - 2.5 years

• Shaving Cream

• Clear Container (vase, jar, etc)

• Small Cup of Water

• Food Coloring (preferably blue

and other colors)

• Eye Dropper or Syringe

• Optional: Copy of Little Cloud

(or any cloud book)

• What is a cloud made of? • What kinds of clouds are there?• Why are clouds different shapes? • How are clouds helpful?• What kind of weather is my favorite?

Shaving CreamRain CloudsShaving Cream Rain Clouds

InstructionsMaterialsStep 1: Read a story about clouds or look outside at clouds and point them out. See if the toddlers can say “cloud.”

Step 2: For some sensory play, put a little shaving cream on the table top and allow a few children at a time to create clouds or draw designs in the “clouds.”

Step 3: Gather a small group of toddlers and pour water into a larger clear container about half way.

Step 4: Squeeze a generous amount of shaving cream on top of the water. Say, “this is like a CLOUD” as you are squeezing it out.

Step 5: Add water to a small cup and add drops of blue food coloring to make the water blue. Use an eye dropper or syringe and fill it with the blue water.

Step 6: Allow children to slowly add the blue water to the top of the cloud until it is emptied to see the cloud get full and then “rain.”

Bonus: If you have additional food coloring colors on hand, create different colors of water to add to your clouds! As you add additional colors, you can talk about colors in the rainbow.

TT

Playful Questions

Domain:Cognitive

Skills:

Indicator:

Cause & Effect

When children experience rain, they usually don’t learn about where rain comes from until they are much older. As toddlers, you can start to point to the sky and say, “cloud.” Then when it rains, you can say, “Rain comes out of the cloud.”

Explore outcome of adding water.Identifying cloud and rain.Squeezing dropper/syringe with control.

Learning Outcomes

15Minutes15Minutes

Emotions Toddler1.5 - 2.5 years

• Copy of “Feelings and Emo-

tions” cards cut and laminated

on thick cardstock. Copy two

of each emotion for matching

• Books about feelings

• Safe handheld mirror or

mirror on wall

• Poster of different emotions

that match cards

• How do you feel right now? • What are some feelings that you like to feel? • When do you feel silly? Sad? Afraid? Tired? • What should you do when you feel angry and do not want to feel that way?• How many feelings can you name?

10Minutes10Minutes

Feelings Memory GameFeelings Memory Game

InstructionsMaterials

TT

Playful Questions

Domain:Emotional

Skills:

Indicator:

Expression of Feelings

Toddlers will match cards that have different emotions on them to see that we all have different emotions, and that is perfectly okay. This helps normalize the different emotions and introduces them to other emotions besides happy and sad.

Show range of emotions.Identifying self in relation to “feelings cards”.Pretend to make face expressions like teacher.

Learning Outcomes

Step 1: Since toddlers may not fully understand all 9 of the emotions on the memory cards, you may want to start with three or four.

Step 2: Hold up one card and make the face/expression that is on the card. (I.e.- angry and make an angry face) Ask toddlers to make an angry face.

Step 3: Lay out two other kinds of emotions in front of the toddler and ask them to point to the one that shows the match. “Which one is angry?” Have the matching card in child’s hand to refer to.

Step 4: Repeat this with as many cards as you think toddler can handle, and practice matching.

Step 4: To modify this for older children, have this game at a center with mirrors and books about feelings. You can also keep this game in the “calming corner” to play when they need a break and want to identify what they are feeling.

happy proud angry

sad disgusted excited

happy

© HiMama Inc. This template is provided courtesy of your friends at HiMama. Visit us at www.himama.com

proud angry

sad disgusted excited

worried confused surprised

happy proud angry

sad disgusted excited

worried confused surprised© HiMama Inc. This template is provided courtesy of your friends at HiMama. Visit us at www.himama.com

Bugs Toddler1.5 - 2.5 years

• Rocks - various sizes (larger

rocks for infants and slightly

smaller for toddlers)

• Box or Bin - to have rock sit

in while painting to allow for

“mess” while painting.

• Paintbrushes - one large to

grip, one finer for the details

• Colorful Paint - this will be

the color of your ladybug.

• White & Black Paint

•Q-Tips

• What is an insect? • How many legs do insects have? • Why is a ladybug a beetle? • How many different colors of ladybugs are there? • Which color ladybug is my favorite?

LadybugCraftsLadybug Crafts

InstructionsMaterialsStep 1: Get ready to make a mess! Have infants/toddlers ready with smocks or oversized t-shirts to get messy.

Step 2: Place the rocks inside a large/shallow box or box lid. Have the child choose which color paint they want their ladybug to be.

Step 3: Paint the rock the color you want the ladybug to be. First model how to paint the rock by dipping the paintbrush into the paint and then stroking the rock. Hand the brush to the child and get them to mimic. Assist where needed until the rock is painted. Leave it in the box to dry.

Step 4: Using black paint, trace the wings and color in the face of the ladybug. Once the face is dry, use your white paint to add the eyes. Leave it in the box to dry.

Step 5:Have the child use a Q-tip to place black dots or marks on their ladybug. As the child places a dot on the ladybug, count each one out loud.Have the child use the Q-tip to also add the googly eyes. Leave it in the box to dry.

Step 6: Once completely dry, put the child’s initials on the bottom and place it somewhere in the classroom to admire.

TT

Playful Questions

Domain:Cognitive

Skills:

Indicator:

Tactile Exploration

Springtime is a fun time to do crafts that involve insects like ladybugs. Ladybugs are fun to look at, less ‘scary’ than other insects, and they are all unique with colors and dots. In this activity, you will create your own ladybugs to inspire creativity indoors and curiosity about the natural world.

Painting.Gripping paint brush and getting paint on all sides of rock.

Learning Outcomes

15Minutes15Minutes

Emotions Toddler1.5 - 2.5 years

• Plastic Bottle - Voss Bottles or

Smart Water bottles work best

• Super Glue

• Glitter Glue

• Filler - this can be glitter, pom

poms, letters, beads, sequins,

etc.

• Glass Jar or Bottle

• Hot Water

• What can I do when I’m angry? • Why does my body feel sad sometimes? • How can I calm myself down?

10Minutes10Minutes

Calm DownSensory JarCalm Down Sensory Jar

InstructionsMaterials

TT

Playful Questions

Domain:Emotional

Skills:

Indicator:

Self Regulation

Self regulation is a skill that develops as children get older, but it can be very difficult as toddlers when their verbal skills aren’t developed yet. With this simple activity, you’ll be able to get their mind off of being overwhelmed and upset to calming and soothing.

Beginning to show emotion.Being overwhelmed and recovering.

Learning Outcomes

Step 1: Clean your plastic bottle by removing any adhesive labels and glue. Homemade Goop Remover: If you’re really in a pinch to get that bottle clean, mix together two tablespoons of vegetable oil and three tablespoons of baking soda into a paste. To use, put a small small dollop on the glue and gently rub with fingers.

Step 2: Fill a bowl with what “filler” you want to use for your sensory bottle. It can be pom poms, letters, beads, sequins, etc. Feel free to mix and match! Pro Tip: We LOVE adding lots of white glitter because it makes it extra sparkly.

Step 3: Fill a glass jar with hot water and add your glitter glue. Aim for 1/5th glitter glue to 4/5th water. Let the hot water melt the glitter glue. You can also use Elmer’s glue!

Step 4: Once the mixture is cool enough, pour mixture into the plastic bottle.

Step 4:Add your “filler” (this could be more glitter, pom poms, etc.). The more you add, the nicer it looks.

Step 6: Shake it up and see if it falls too fast. If so, add elmer’s clear glue directly to the bottle. If it falls too slow, add more water.

Step 7: Once it is desired consisten-cy, unscrew top and use super glue to fasten the top permanently. Allow to dry before allowing children to play with it.

Step 8:Place the sensory calming bottle in an area of the classroom where children can go to be calm and settle down. This area should be established with soft items like pillows, stuffed animals, rug, etc.