With just a few items found around the house, parents and caregivers can entertain toddlers and preschoolers and help them develop gross motor skills, creativity, observation techniques and more. The following games are geared for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2 and up, but can work for developmentally-ready one-year-olds as well.
Physical Indoor Activities for Toddlers
A couple of great ways to work on gross motor skills with the preschool and toddler crowd need nothing more than a roll of masking tape.
Masking Tape Balance Beam. Stretch a piece of masking tape across the floor to make a balance beam and encourage the child to walk the beam, one foot in front of the other, while holding an adult’s hand. Later see if he can do it himself. He can also practice hopping, walking backwards, or other silly ways to balance.
Masking Tape Shapes. Using a roll of masking tape, make shapes on the floor. For younger toddlers, use simple shapes like squares, triangles, or circles. If the child has already mastered simple shapes, expand their knowledge by including shapes like a diamond or trapezoid. Ask the child to “run to the square” or “jump to the triangle.” Other ways to get to the shapes include dancing, marching, wiggling or "flying."
This activity practices a multitude of skills including shape recognition, listening skills, gross motor skills and creativity (if the child comes up with other unique ways to “get to” the shape.)
Bathtime Activity for Toddlers
Trapped in Ice. This is a fun, easy activity for the bathtub that encourages sensory development and discovery. Fill a couple of containers with water and drop a small plastic toy inside each. Add a few drops of food coloring (optional). Then place the containers in the freezer. A little warm water run over the containers will loosen the block of ice with a “surprise” inside, which the child can discover as the warm bath water melts away the “iceberg.”
Sorting Activity for Toddlers
Mail Carrier. This activity can be used to practice just about anything from shapes to colors, letters to numbers, or even recognition of relatives living far away! Empty a few drawers in the kitchen or bedroom and mark each one with a different shape, color, letter, number, or family photo. Prepare some envelopes with matching symbols and then ask the child to “deliver” the letter to the correct mailbox.
Parents don’t need to invest in a lot of expensive toys or classes to help their kids learn the skills they’ll need to succeed. With simple items found around the home, toddlers and preschoolers can develop physical skills, shape recognition, sorting skills and more. Best of all, these and other simple activities promote a lifetime love of learning that will prepare a child well for school and beyond.
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