Hi Everyone!
I hope that despite daycare closure’s, you are enjoying your time at home while finding ways to reconnect with your nuclear family. This is a time to take advantage of family time together and remain connected with those you love.
Megan created a wonderful list of some of our the Junior Toddler’s favourite activities. Many of these activities have photos posted to Instagram, and can be enjoyed by children of all ages!
Water bin:
An empty tupperware bin or any empty plastic bin
-
Water and food colouring
-
Some water toys (can be anything, boats, barbies, bath toys) whisks are fun too, to make extra bubbles
-
Dish soap
Add a couple inches of water to your bin then add the dish soap and food colouring. I find it easiest to use a whisk to make it super bubbly. Then add your toys and let the fun begin! The juniors love this one; however it does get messy so it is best to do it on a floor, in the tub or somewhere where it is ok to get wet.
Moon sand bin: 
- 2 cups of flour
-
Food colouring
-
¼ cup melted coconut oil (baby oil, olive oil will also work if you do not have coconut oil!
-
Assorted fish, buckets, shovels, scoops, cups or bowls (you can add anything) Mix the oil, flour and food colouring together. Allow your child to play with toys (making roads with vehicles) or shapes with cookie cutters. Possibilities are endless
Q-tip fine motor:
Things you will need:
-
An egg carton
-
Q-tips
-
Paint
Flip the egg carton upside down and paint each spot a different colour. Then paint the q-tips the same colours. Allow your child to paint a picture on paper. For older children they can dot along the lines of shapes or letters!
Messy Painting:
- Sponges
- Q-tips
- Paint Brushes
- Baby oil
- Shaving cream
- Salt
They love creating their own masterpieces, and it is exciting to see what their minds can come up with. Another fun craft they love is process based art. In the class we tape a big piece of paper overtop of the tables. We then give each child whichever colour of paint they would like. To this even more fun you can add extra colours, things to stamp or spread the paint with!
Colour practice:
In our classroom we use our whiteboard and sticky colour circles; however you can do this with almost anything. It only involves asking them which colour we are holding up and they stick it on the board. You could make this at home by printing off colour squares (or making them) and adding sticky tack, tape or magnets to the back and sticking them on a wall or your fridge. Have your child try to find things that are the same colour as the square you have!
Animal fun:
Our juniors also LOVE animals. We have been working on animal sounds the last couple weeks. They really like when we hold up toy animals and ask “what sound does this animal make”. They also enjoy when we play different sounds and ask them to guess which animal it is. Another suggestion is to add blocks or our favourite, Magnatiles to create a zoo or animal houses!
Dance Parties:
When all else fails, turn off the lights, grab the flash lights and throw a dance party.
We use our “party light” but you could do this in your living room with flashlights or glow sticks!
I miss each and every one of my children! I hope you are all staying healthy and happy and I can not wait to be back with all of you! Hopefully this gives you a few ways to keep busy until we can be back together.
Love,
Megan