Teacher-directed Activities for Toddlers
Teacher-directed activities for toddlers promote and enhance a child's natural development. Teachers should model the activities for toddlers; however, the children should be allowed to actively participate with minimal guidance when possible. Preschool teachers should create a curriculum of teacher-directed activities that promote various types of development: cognitive, physical, social, language and motor.
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Tissue Paper Sculptures
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Gather a sheet of card stock or cardboard, various colors of tissue paper and a bowl containing an equal mixture of glue and water. Help toddlers tear the tissue paper into small pieces of various sizes and shapes. Show them how to crumple the tissue paper pieces into wads, then allow the toddlers to do the same. Have the children dip the tissue paper wads into the water and glue mixture, then stick them to the sheet of card stock or cardboard, creating a sculpture.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
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An easy cooking idea for toddlers is making ice cream sandwiches. You will need graham crackers and any flavor of softened ice cream. For each ice cream sandwich, spread about 1/2 of a cup of ice cream on half of a graham cracker. Put the other half of the graham cracker on top and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Write each toddler's name on the plastic wrap and then freeze the sandwich for about three hours before eating. These will keep in a freezer for up to three weeks.
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Egg Game
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This simple game is designed to help toddlers learn colors and matching. You will need various colors of small plastic eggs and circle stickers that match the eggs' colors. Place a circle sticker on the bottom of each cup in an egg carton. Ask toddlers to place an egg of the corresponding color in each of the cups.
Bear Hunt
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Read "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen to the children. Encourage them to repeat each line back to you as you read through the story. Once you have read the story, lead the toddlers on a make-believe bear hunt around the classroom or outdoors. Recite and act out the poem on your bear hunt, again asking children to repeat each line.
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