WELCOME!

Welcome to Toddler FUNdamentals! I’m so glad you are here! I can't wait to share all of the fun, developmental activities I've been doing with my 2 year-old son. I like to say that we follow a laid back, tot school program here at our house. On this blog you can expect to see all of the photos of the activities we've done, as well as the FREE weekly themed calendars and materials lists for each. 

A little about myself, I worked in the field of education for 10 years. I was an elementary classroom teacher, technology facilitator and intervention specialist. So I understand the importance of building a solid foundation in these early years. 

For each week, I round up some of the best developmental activities on the web and compile them into themed calendars. I gather activities that improve his fine motor and gross motor skills, activate his creativity with art projects, stimulate his senses with sensory play and support his independence with practical life experiences. Oh, and we love food so we do themed snacks at least 3 times per week! 

Like I mentioned above, will find all of the FREE, interactive lesson plans and materials lists I organize for each theme. I also do quick weekly highlight videos on my YouTube channel, so be sure to click the photo below and check them out! The lesson plans are easy to navigate with direct links to the blogs and resources where I found them. The materials lists include everything you will need for that week. 

*Please note that some of the links are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link.*

You can follow me and tag me on Instagram @toddler_fundamentals. This is where I'll share all of the daily activities we do together! Also, be sure to check out my YouTube channel for the quick weekly highlights (and don't forget to subscribe to the channel!). 

Thanks for stopping by! 

IMPORTANCE OF INDOOR PLAY

Unpredictable and seasonal weather can force us to stay indoors. It may seem like a drag but staying indoors to play can really have a positive impact on your child’s development. In the 4th video of this "Children and Play" series I am talking about the Importance of Indoor Play. I’ll be sharing a few of the benefits and some of our favorite activities to do indoors.

You can check out the other videos {the 6 Stages of Play, the 4 Types of Play, and the Benefits of Outdoor Play} at the bottom of the post.

To watch today's video, click the photo below. 

Please share any fun indoor activities you and your little one do together. 

Click the photos below to be directed to my YouTube channel. 

Come follow us on Instagram @toddler_fundamentals for toddler activities and remember to always make learning fun! 

BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR PLAY

Today's Tot School Tip video is the 3^rd one in the 4-part series I am doing on CHILDREN AND PLAY. The first video I did was on the SIX STAGES OF PLAY and the second video was about the FOUR TYPES OF PLAY!

Today's video is titled, the BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR PLAY {click the photo below to be directed to my YouTube channel}. I’ll be sharing some of the benefits {I'm sure you can probably name a few of them already, but some you might not be aware of} and then I’ll share some of our favorite items to play outside with. 

Here’s 4 benefits of outdoor play I talk about in the video:
1. PHYSICAL BENEFITS

2. WELL BEING BENEFITS

3. ACADEMIC BENEFITS

4. SOCIAL BENEFITS

Here's the 10 items we love for outdoor play {please note that these links are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission when you click through a link}: 

Scooter                                                    

Outdoor Climber or Slide

Bike                                                                

Balls

Ride on toys - Battery Powered and Not Battery Powered

Trampoline

Outdoor tool sets - Raking and Gardening      

Sand Table or Water Table 

Sidewalk Chalk                                            

Bubbles

Please remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel for tot school tips every Tuesday and new weekly themes every Friday!

Come follow us @toddler fundamentals for toddler activities and remember to always make learning fun! 

Thanks for stopping by!

TOT SCHOOL: UNDER THE SEA

This has been one of my favorite themed weeks so far, Under the Sea! And I'm pretty sure my son can agree. He is very into sharks right now! He enjoyed reading our ocean themed books, watching a few educational videos on YouTube and making some fun crafts and snacks. Here's what we did!

You can grab your FREE weekly plans and materials list at the end of the post. Click the photo below to watch the highlights from our week.

GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES

I used a large piece of cardboard and cut out a shark head. I cut a whole in the middle for the mouth and taped white triangles to the back for teeth. I grabbed a few colored balls from our ball pit and placed them in a bowl. I called out a color and he had to toss that colored ball into the shark's mouth. 

FINE MOTOR & ART ACTIVITIES

Source | Toddler Approved

We started by reading, Rainbow Fish and talking about how colorful and shiny he is. Then we got into this activity. To prepare, I cut out fish from construction paper and then cut out the centers to make an outline. (Tip: If you gently fold the fish over and make a snip in the middle and then make an X with a few more snips, it makes it easier to cut out the center). Then I used those scraps to make some basic shapes and added those to a bowl with some colored sequins. Finally, he decorated his fish. 

I printed out these starfish from TPT {link on my weekly plans below} and wrote the letters in his name on each arm and leg. On clothespins I wrote the same letters and he matched. You can do this a few different ways. You can do a simple letter match (r/r, s/s, etc) or you can have them match upper and lower case letters (R/r, S/s, etc.).

I cut out a starfish from construction paper and added some Elmer's glue dots. He added Cheerios for the suction cups. He got in some fine motor practice and hand/eye coordination with this activity. And a yummy snack {wink, wink}!

Source | Toddler Approved

We've been watching the movie, Finding Nemo this week and this craft was the perfect activity to go along with it! I printed off the fish template {found on Toddler Approved website} and made stripes using washi tape {you can use painters tape as well, the washi tape was thinner so I didn't have to cut the painters tape}. Next, he used an orange dot marker to color in his fish. I removed the washi tape immediately after he painted {pull slowly}. Finally, after it dried, I cut it out and† he added a googly eye. 

SENSORY PLAY & ART ACTIVITIES

Source | The Educator's Spin On It

I cut a paper plate in the shape of a shell and let him draw lines on it with a crayon. Next, he used watercolors to paint his shell. The wax from the crayon resisted the water so you were able to still see the lines he drew. 

Source | News with Naylors

I taped a piece of tin foil to a small piece of cardboard. Next, we drizzled some blue and white paint to the front of it. Then, he used a Q-tip to paint his ocean scene. Before it dried he sprinkled on some silver glitter. After it dried, he stuck on some Ocean themed stickers {found some at Walmart for $.97!}. 

THEMED SNACKS

Source | Crafty Morning

I cut an apple in half and used one for the body and thinly sliced the other half. I added four slices {legs} to each side and then cut zig zags out of two more for the claws. Finally, I stuck on some edible eyes {you could use raisins or mini chocolate chips}. 

I made a ham and cheese sandwich and used a star cookie cutter to make our Starfish. I added some goldfish crackers for a fun, Under the Sea, lunch.

 We made blueberry flavored Jell-O together, poured them into glasses and let settle in the refrigerator. When they were ready to eat, I placed a spoon with a shark fin taped to it, right in the middle of the glass. Finally, I topped with some whipped cream. 

Here's our plans for the week! Don't forget to tag me on social media @toddler_fundamentals so I can see what you're up to! Click the photos below! 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

FOUR TYPES OF PLAY

This weeks Tot School Tip Tuesday video is all about FOUR TYPES OF PLAY. The first video was about the SIX STAGES OF PLAY and how your child progresses through each stage as they develop and mature. 

Play is necessary for a child’s development and maturity. Once they hit the Cooperative Play stage, usually around age 3-4 years old, they begin to engage in the following four types of play:

Dramatic Play

Physical Play

Constructive Play

Competitive Play

Click the photo below to be directed to my YouTube channel where you can hear a little more about each one. And while you are there, please subscribe to the channel! 

Come follow us @toddler_fundamentals for lots of toddler activities and remember to always make learning fun! 

TOT SCHOOL: CAMPING

"Let NATURE be your teacher."

This week we talked all about CAMPING! At the beginning of the week we took the tent from his bedroom and set it up in our living room, complete with a sleeping bag, books and a flashlight. We closed all the blinds and turned off the lights and pretended we were camping outside. After we read some books he wanted to hunt for bears (it was very cute!). We kept this up all week and he enjoyed going back to it each day. 

Click the photo below to be directed to my YouTube channel to watch the weekly highlights. Please SUBSCRIBE while you are there!! 

GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES

Set up a tent (or make one with chairs and sheets). Gather a flashlight, sleeping bag (or blanket), books, lanterns, etc. and pretend to go on a camping trip. 

Activity Source | KidsParkz

I printed off animal cards and hid them around the house. We turned off the lights and closed all of the blinds (to give an outdoor evening feel). Give your child a flashlight and have them hunt for the animals. When they collect them all, go through the cards and name all the animals.

FINE MOTOR  & ART ACTIVITIES

Activity Source | From ABC's to ACT's

I printed the cards, cut them out and added to a bin. Next, I added in some brown shredded paper and let him use tweezers or a fine motor tool to find pictures and match to the correct shadow. 

Activity Source | Glued to My Crafts

He painted 3 popsicle sticks and then we glued them together to make a tent shape. Next, we added a piece of construction paper to the back. Finally, he added a tent opening and a little campfire to the front.  

Activity Source | Mama, Papa, Bubba

I printed these on card stock and he used clothespins to match. You can also laminate them and let your child use a dry erase marker to circle the picture. 

Activity Source | No Time For Flashcards

This was a really fun activity! I put out some marshmallows, graham crackers, skewers and toothpicks. At first, we made shapes and then we started to build towers.He really enjoyed this! 

SENSORY & ART ACTIVITIES

On a piece of light brown paper we made flames with his handprit by using red, yellow and orange paint. Once it dried, we add pieces of darker brown construction paper for wood. Finally, we added a cotton ball to a wooden skewer and glued it to the top of the paper as a marshmallow on a stick.

Activity Source | Mama, Papa, Bubba

I printed off these family member cards, added to popsicle sticks and set up a few containers with items they talk about in the book. I used Easter grass as grass, dirt with water as mud, cotton balls as snow, and fake trees as the forest. Then we acted out the story. 

THEMED SNACKS

Source | Fun-A-Day

We added a wooden skewer to a large marshmallow, melted chocolate on the stovetop and crushed graham crackers in a baggie. After the chocolate was melted, he rolled the marshmallows on the stick in it and then in the crushed graham crackers. 

Make some good old-fashioned stovetop s’mores together.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

We made binoculars and used them throughout the week to pretend play and for a few activities. First, I gathered two empty toilet paper rolls. Next, my son helped to add decorative tape to stick them together. Then, I took a small rectangle piece of cardboard and folded the ends, glued to the middle to connect them (eventually it broke off so I just added another piece of tape around the rolls. Finally, I punched a hole in each end and added a string. 

Here's our plans for the week! Don't forget to tag me on social media @toddler_fundamentals so I can see what you're up to! Click the photos below! 

Thanks for stopping by!

SIX STAGES OF PLAY

So as we all know, play, whether its organized or unstructured, can mean loads of fun for our little ones! But play means SO much more than just doing an activity. During play, children are learning and developing important life skills such as problem solving, cause and effect, creativity and risk taking. Letting your child participate in free play everyday is a wonderful way to develop their language and bring their imaginations to life. This is going to be a 4-part series I will be doing all around children and play. 

Click the photo below to be directed to my YouTube channel where you can hear the details about each stage! And while you are there, please SUBSCRIBE to the channel and then head over to Instagram to follow us @toddler_fundamentals!

There are 6 stages of play that your child will go through. As your child matures and develops social skills they progress through these following stages. These are just a typical sequence of stages your child will go through, if you have any concerns at all, please contact your child’s pediatrician. 

STAGE 1: Unoccupied Play (Birth - 3 months)

STAGE 2: Solitary Play (Babies - Young Toddlers, 0 - 2 years)

STAGE 3: Onlooker Play (2 - 2.5 years)

STAGE 4: Parallel Play (2.5 - 3.5 years) 

STAGE 5: Associative Play (3 - 4 years)

STAGE 6: Cooperative Play (4+ years)

That's all the information I have for you on the first part of this play series. Check back next week for more on this topic!

Thanks for stopping by!

TOT SCHOOL: GARDENING

"Every child is a different kind of flower, and all together make this world a beautiful garden."

This week was a great extension to our Flower theme we did last week. We incorporated flowers into our activities along with some fruits and vegetables.

Click the photo below to be directed to my YouTube channel to watch the weekly highlights. Please SUBSCRIBE while you are there!! 

GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES

To setup this activity, I added some dirt and soil to a bowl with some gardening tools. About 10 feet away I placed a planter. He used the tools to transfer the dirt into the planter. I had him try to walk quickly, walk backwards, etc. 

FINE MOTOR & ART ACTIVITIES

I used this tray I found at the Dollar Tree for this easy sorting activity. I opened each seed packet and took a few seeds from each one and placed them into each area. Next, I poured out the rest of the seeds into the middle of the tray. I placed the packets under each area of the tray so we could talk about what those seeds looked like as he sorted. Finally, he chose a fine motor tool {he used his tweezers, fingers, kitchen tongs and fine motor scooper} to sort the seeds. 

I found these perfect vegetable and fruit flashcards online {link in plans} from Teddy & Bee and printed them out. I put them in a bin along with some shredded brown paper aka "dirt" and he used his fine motor tools to find the food, tell me the name of it and then sort by color to make a pretty rainbow of foods! 

For this craft, he painted the bottom half of a paper plate brown for the dirt and the top part blue for the sky. Then I printed out some carrots {link for carrots found on my plans}, cut them out, taped them to his area and he painted them. After they dried, he glued them to his plate.

We've recently gotten into some pre-writing practice by using thin Expo markers on sheet protectors. I made this fun little themed Pre-Writing sheet {found on my plans and in my TPT Store } and placed in a sheet protector. Then he had to get the bunny to his fruits and vegetables by using the marker to trace the lines. 

SENSORY ACTIVITIES

Once he was done with the flashcards, we used REAL food! It was a lot of FUN! And I actually had a lot of the foods already! 

Of course we had to do some sort of planting this week! We planted some green beans, sunflowers, kale and marigolds. We're excited to watch them grow! PS - he got in some fine motor practice by using his spray bottle to water his seeds! 

THEMED SNACKS

I put some hummus in a glass and added mini carrots. For the green tops I used some cilantro pieces I had in our refrigerator. 

To start, I added some cream cheese to a ziploc baggie and added food coloring to make the black dots (my son helped with this part). Next, I spread some cream cheese on a cracker and topped with cherry tomato halves. Then, I piped on the black dots and added a black olive for the head. Finally, I added some greens for the antennae.

Here's our plans for the week! Don't forget to tag me on social media @toddler_fundamentals so I can see what you're up to! Click the photo below! 

Thanks for stopping by!