The best part about having a toddler? Watching them explore their world and soak up all the new sights, sounds, and activities around them!
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I loved watching my daughter learn and grow her way through the toddler stage. It’s such a fun age, usually considered years 1 through 3. (Most considered 4 and 5 years old “preschool age.”) These few years are so important for your child’s growth and understanding- and kids are super silly and playful at this age! Here are some educational and fun bonding activities to try with your toddler!
- Baking. My daughter loved baking with me. (She still does!) It might get a little messy, but that’s how memories are made!
- Sorting Items. Find a bunch of items and show your toddler how to sort them by color or shape. If you need ideas, check these out.
- Simple games like Red Light/Green Light or Duck Duck Goose. Lightly structured and simple games like these are fun and help your child learn to follow directions.
- Create a sensory bin. The options are endless- you can use rice, corn, dried beans, or something else to create the bulk of the sensory bin. Then add in different textured items to uncover and bury in the bin. Check out these examples.
- Finger painting. Messy? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. Guaranteed to add a new piece of artwork to your home? Bonus!
- Have a picnic or prepare a meal together. Toddlers love to do new things with you. A picnic on the floor will be the highlight of their week. Making dinner with you for mommy and their siblings? Watch your toddler beam with pride as the family chows down.
- Plan a treasure hunt. Use pictures as clues and help your toddler problem-solve their way to treasure! (Treasure = a cookie or piece of candy, of course!)
- Have a dance party. Toddlers love a dance party! Go Danny Go, Miss Rachel, and other YouTubers have you covered!
- Create an obstacle course or a pillow fort.
- Read books together. Did you know that kids whose parents read to them regularly are exposed to nearly 300,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten? Needless to say, reading to your toddler is a worthwhile activity.
Whatever you do, spending uninterrupted time with your toddler is important to their emotional, mental, and physical growth. This can be difficult in an ultra-connected, super busy world, but remember that you are your child’s world. Take the time to have a little fun with them!
Sources:
- Child Mind Institue. “Why is it Important to Read to Your Child?” [Online] Available at: https://childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/#:~:text=Research%20has%20found%20that%20young,to%20over%20a%20million%20words.
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Audrey Mattevi, Reporting
