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Fingerprint Animal Note Cards

Sweet Pea is 39 months old.

From: I found this idea for cute fingerprint animals in Family Fun magazine and also on Teach Mama and paint cut paste.

Material:

Washable ink pad. About 10 Note cards or pieces of sturdy paper. Damp towel for wiping ink off fingers, hands, arms and everywhere else. Fine […]


Button Outline Matching

Sweet Pea is 39 months old.

From: I found this great post full of ideas for buttons at The Activity Mom.

Material:

A bag of plastic craft buttons. (We got ours from Micheal’s.) A thin tipped marker A piece of paper.

Procedure:

Select several different shaped buttons. Use the marker to draw […]


Penny Drop Game

Sweet Pea is 39 months old.

From: I was inspired by this penny drop game at Tired, Need Sleep.

Material:

10 Muffin tin liners, coffee filters or paper circles. 2 Crayons. 10 Pennies.

Procedure:

Let your tot color half of the circles one color while you color the remaining ones a different […]


Rubbing Plates

Sweet Pea is 38 months old.

From: A couple of months ago, we tried to make our own rubbing plates out of hot glue and cardboard, but they did not work very well. When I saw a set of Roylco ready-made rubbing plates at Hobby Lobby, I thought we would give them a […]


Hole Punch

Sweet Pea is 38 months old.

From: This is another very simple idea from Teach Mama.

Material:

Paper. Hole Punch.

Procedure:

Show your tot how to carefully line up the piece of paper into the business end of the hole punch. Demonstrate squeezing the handles together to punch the hole. Next give […]


Sidewalk Water Painting

Sweet Pea is 38 months old.

From: This is a very fun and easy outdoor activity that I saw on the excellent Teach Mama blog.

Material:

Pleasant weather. An old paintbrush. Bowl of water. Concrete, wood, rocks or any other object that can be “painted” with water.

Procedure:

Bring your materials […]


Sticker Number Line

Sweet Pea is 38 months old.

From: This really fast activity is from Life with My Giggly Girls, who originally got it from No Time For Flashcards.

Material:

Stickers. Sheet of paper. Marker.

Procedure:

Fold the paper into 3-10 sections, depending on your tot’s counting ability.

Unfold the paper and […]


Matching Color Shades

Sweet Pea is 37 months old.

From: I saw this on Giving Up on a Clean House, Crunchy and Green, and Chasing Cheerios. Also, the Montessori Color Tablets, Box #3 exercise is a somewhat similar activity.

Material:

Paint sample cards. Select 2 identical sheets for each color you want to use. Clothespins. Scissors. Glue. […]


Insert a Poker Chip

Sweet Pea is 37 months old.

From: I found this quick activity on Counting Coconuts.

Material:

Clean plastic container with a tight fitting lid. (I used an old Gerber Puffs container.) Box cutter or knife. Poker chips or fake coins. Bowl or basket to hold the poker chips.

Procedure:

Carefully cut […]


Gem Balance on a Popsicle Stick

Sweet Pea is 37 months old.

From: I found this quick little activity on ABC and 123 and The Shafer Family.

Material:

Popsicle or craft sticks. Flat glass gems (We found ours in the floral section at Micheal’s) Bowl (to hold the gems). Tray (optional).

Procedure:

Put the gems in the bowl […]