Keeping a toddler/preschooler engaged in activities for short periods of time now, helps to maintain their attention for longer periods of time in the future. Here are some activities that we did this week….
We started off with a little bit of cutting, because she LOVES to cut things!! I am just hoping she doesn’t cut things she is not supposed to cut…like hair!
I did help her hold the paper at times, while trying to show her how NOT to cut her fingers:)
She loves to say, “No, Mommy! I do it!” Very independent little honey:)
She wasn’t really interested in lacing until she recently saw Audrey sewing her Valentine Tic-Tac-Toe. Sophia felt like such a big girl.
Sewing sisters…
Play-doh is such an fun and educational learning exercise. Sophia likes to do what her big sister does, so I try to include her in the activities. Here she is actually playing with the play-doh from Audrey’s Ready2Read activities.
Play-Doh is super easy to make! Get the recipe {HERE}.
Something as simple as cutting bits of play-doh can be fun for little ones. It is also helpful for building up those fine motor skills needed for writing.
Painting…I think both of my girls would paint all day long if I would let them. I usually just print a coloring page from the internet and let them paint it. Today it was Jessie from Toy Story.
This is a super easy, inexpensive, fun activity.
Since she likes to cut, I drew a circle around the picture and asked her to cut on the lines. I can really see her cutting skills improving.
So proud…
She worked on some simple CVC puzzles. She really wants to read the words, so we worked on sounding out each letter and then started blending them together.
She also wanted to trace the letters with her fingers…
These were the 3 letter puzzles that Sophia worked on the other day. However, I didn’t want to overwhelm her so I put the 3 pieces for each matching puzzle on top of each other and then she assembled them. I want her to feel successful and build her confidence.
Next, we worked on our color matching puzzles, which Audrey had colored awhile back. I am a little obsessed with magnets, so we added magnets and used them to sort by color on our oil pan.
We also worked on patterns, which proved to be a little more challenging for her, but super fun!
Our pattern: Frog, cat, teddy bear
Like I said, she insists on do some of Audrey’s Ready2Read work. Here she is tracing the letters on a Read it, Trace it, Paste it page.
I love her intensity…
Our ABC Caterpillar Printables was a blast for Sophia!! Again, we printed them, laminated them and used magnets to make it FUN!
If you like our FREEBIES, we would be so grateful if you added us as one of your favorite shops on Teachers Pay Teachers:)
Audrey really wanted to help her and it was so much fun to watch! They would sing the ABC song and then look for the next letter. Audrey would say, “Where is the D, Sophia? It is green. Do you see the D?”
Such a good helper:)
Then Sophia said, “No, Audrey…I do it!”
After she finished the puzzle she was jumping up and down with joy because she put them all in order:)
Again, so proud of her accomplishments…
Then she ended the day/week, by reading books in her book basket:)
Annie Moffatt is a former elementary school teacher and homeschool mom with a passion for helping young learners thrive. With a background in early education and a heart for making learning fun, Annie designs engaging, low-prep resources that build confidence and success in the classroom. Her hands-on, kid-friendly approach has supported thousands of teachers and parents around the world in creating joyful learning experiences for their students.
The last picture is too cute! 🙂 Love all of these activities — I think you should start your own preschool. I am obsessed with magnets, too. I understand completely! A Teeny Tiny Teacher
What a great post! LOVE all of the pictures! Love her concentration when cutting! Her smile is priceless! Baskets are just perfect for little honeys to read books in!
Hi Moffatt Girls, I have been following your blog for a while and am so excited to share with you my newly finished blog! Come check it out: http://kristinlynnsworld.blogspot.com/
I discovered your blog yesterday on accident while blog reading on my Kindle Fire. Now I'm addicted. Your printables and more. Your Sophia (I think?)is right around my AppleBlossom so I'm sure I'm going to be getting plenty of good ideas from you! I also have two girls, although my young one is 6 months old. http://www.CreativeMadnessMama.com
The activities are terrific and the girls are cute as a button!! =)
Jennifer
First Grade Blue Skies
Too cute!
The last picture is too cute! 🙂
Love all of these activities — I think you should start your own preschool.
I am obsessed with magnets, too. I understand completely!
A Teeny Tiny Teacher
What a great post! LOVE all of the pictures! Love her concentration when cutting! Her smile is priceless! Baskets are just perfect for little honeys to read books in!
❤ Julie
Little Literacy Learners
Hi Moffatt Girls,
I have been following your blog for a while and am so excited to share with you my newly finished blog! Come check it out:
http://kristinlynnsworld.blogspot.com/
Kristin
I discovered your blog yesterday on accident while blog reading on my Kindle Fire. Now I'm addicted. Your printables and more. Your Sophia (I think?)is right around my AppleBlossom so I'm sure I'm going to be getting plenty of good ideas from you! I also have two girls, although my young one is 6 months old.
http://www.CreativeMadnessMama.com