Theme Ideas for Toddlers
Toddler-aged children benefit from learning theme activities by incorporating the idea into all facets of learning. Use hands-on activities to engage each child into the lessons that revolve around one specific concept. Introductory mathematics and science facts may be integrated into each theme and allow the toddlers to use creativity when constructing thematic art projects and within the dramatic play learning center.
Other People Are Reading
-
Bubbles
-
Blowing bubbles is a well-liked activity for toddlers. During the time spent outdoors, blow bubbles for the children and encourage each to attempt to catch them. With a straw and some milk, toddlers can create bubbles by blowing into their snack-time beverage. Draw and count bubbles onto a piece of construction paper to reinforce and recognize circle shapes and mathematical concepts. Make a special bubbly food project for the toddlers through sparking finger gelatin by adding carbonated water or a sugar-free clear soda to a store-bought fruity gelatin mix.
Community Helpers
-
A community helpers theme is often used in a toddler classroom to discuss the ways that adults help children in our town or community. Include a mail bag, some envelopes, a white medical coat and a play stethoscope in the dramatic play area for toddlers to pretend to be a letter carrier and a doctor. Invite a dental hygienist to visit the toddler classroom and instruct each child in the proper way to brush and floss teeth. Study how police officers help the community and create a hand-held stop sign to direct traffic as an art project with a small octagonal piece of red construction paper and a wooden craft stick.
-
Puppets
-
Puppets are an interactive way to discuss facial features, differences in student hair and eye colors and to read or create stories and plays. Use a paper bag, construction paper and yarn to create a bag puppet and encourage toddlers to put on a puppet show. Send a note home to each family asking students to bring in an old sock to make sock puppets with various art materials and use in the reading area for toddlers to describe the pictures in a story book to figure out the narrative's plot.
Frogs
-
The life cycle of a frog is an interesting concept for toddlers. At your local pet store, adopt two tadpoles as classroom pets and observe daily the change in the creatures sprouting legs and losing tails. Compare the changing tadpoles to the way that toddler bodies change into preschoolers, school-aged children and on to adults. Create finger play puppets by tracing and cutting a frog out of green construction paper and attach a paper strip loop. Create a paper plate frog by attaching green paper legs and facial features and reinforce counting to four and the concept of pairs when adhering legs and eyes to the green-colored paper plate.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bubble blowing boy image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
