Simple Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Keeping with the theme of Toddlers and Preschoolers, I wanted to give you just a few ideas for you to use with your little ones to keep them busy while you are working on school or house work, that you can make at home.....

1. Take individual pictures of each member of your family (or gather them together if you already have them) and organize them in a photo album. Kids love to look at pictures and they will enjoy looking at the people they love. I used to use this in church for my daughter to look at and she enjoyed it a lot. You could also make an album of their baby pictures. Kids love to see pictures of themselves when they were babies.

2. This is a small craft I remember my mom doing with my brother: Take an empty egg carton and, with markers, fill in a different color in the bottom of each "compartment" in it. Then, fill a box or container or bowl with miscellaneous buttons. Have your preschooler organize the buttons according to the color in the egg carton.

3. Allow your child to "wash dishes" My little girl LOVES to do this. I fill up the sink with warm water and soap and give her some plastic bowls, cups, etc. to wash for me. And, if needed, just place a large towel under the chair or stool they stand on, to keep your floor dry in case of any spills! = )

4. Give your preschooler some child-safe scissors and allow them to cut pictures out of old magazines

5. Buy some macaroni and string and let them make necklaces out of the macaroni.

I realize none of these ideas are probably anything you have not seen or thought of before. But I hope one of them will spark your own creativity and give you some helpful ideas as you parent and/or teach with little ones!

Kari