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Giant Connect-the-Dots

Sweet Pea is 39 months old.

From: I found this fast and fun idea at What Do We Do All Day?

Material:

  • Large sheet of paper.  (We used a big roll of butcher paper from Sam’s Club.)
  • Washable markers.

Procedure:

  • Make sure you are on a hard washable surface.  Vinyl is good.  Carpet is bad.  🙂
  • Draw about 10 dots on the piece of paper either randomly or in the shape of something.
  • Label the dots with the numbers 1-10 (or even higher).
  • Give your tot a marker and ask him to find the number “1” on the piece of paper.
  • Next have him find the number “2”.
  • Instruct your tot to draw a line between the number “1” and the number “2”.
  • Help your tot find the number “3” and draw a line to it.
  • Continue helping your tot draw a line to the next higher number until all of the numbers have been connected.

Observations: Sweet Pea really enjoyed this, although she needed quite a bit of help with the order of  the higher numbers.

This was quick to set up and I could easily create another one while Sweet Pea waited.  We probably only spent about 15 minutes on it total, although I think I’ll bring it out again soon.

Notes from the Trenches: The blogger who originally suggested this idea did not like creating representational pictures (i.e. Elmo) with the dot-to-dot, and I started off by making them random, but to maintain Sweet Pea’s interest I quickly starting putting the dots into shapes.  I found that Sweet Pea liked  this activity much more when I made a connect-the-dots picture that she could recognize.

Rating: 3 Stars * (Fun, Easy, Frugal)

6 comments to Giant Connect-the-Dots

  • I love all of your ideas! I have just added your button to my Tot School site!

  • I found your blog while I was looking around the Totally Tots: Cute Tots posts. I will be following your blog. I really like the look of the butcher paper connect the dots. Now I just need to see where I can find some paper around here. My one daughter is close to your daughters age (she is 42 months old) and we implement some Montessori. If you have the chance I invite you to visit my blog.
    Blessings

  • Michelle T

    I just found your blog from 1+1+1=1 and am so excited! My daughter is the same age as yours and we’re preparing to start tot school next week. I love finding great ideas and you are a plethora of them! I can’t wait to look through more 🙂 Thanks!

    Michelle

  • Great blog! I love your ideas!

  • Great beginning Dot to dot activity! Even without the numbers – for a child with significant challenges (such as severe autism) just big dots alone and/or colorful dot stickers would work too. Once they get the idea of connecting dots you can always add in numbers 🙂 Sometimes its fun to see what shapes come out just by connecting random dots! Glad to find your blog

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