At-Home Learning Activities for Toddlers
Times of uncertainty like these disrupt the schedule you’ve established for your toddler, and that can cause some anxiety. But times when you rely on each other for support and form stronger bonds as a family can also be rewarding experiences. We’re here to help you keep them in the learning mode with educational and fun play that makes for great quality time together.
Our toddler classrooms are exploring the theme “Amazing Animals” during the month of March. Furry, scaly, winged, big, little, wild, and tame—animals are truly amazing! This theme gets your toddler learning about these varied and incredible creatures through a variety of fun activities that encourage pretend play, exploration, and creativity. The key to getting the most out of the learning is to verbalize what you’re doing so they can associate words with things and actions.
Here are some activities you can do at home that help develop all the skills we try to build at KinderCare:
Physical development and wellness
Hide a few toy animals in an outdoor space.
Take your child on an expedition to find the animals that are hanging out in their “natural” habitats. Don’t forget to wear an explorer’s hat!
Take your child on an expedition to find the animals that are hanging out in their “natural” habitats. Don’t forget to wear an explorer’s hat!
Walk, hop, crawl, slither, jump, or run like an animal together.
“How can we move like a horse? What should we do to move like caterpillar? What about a bird?”
“How can we move like a horse? What should we do to move like caterpillar? What about a bird?”
Go on a walk together to look for animals that might be out and about.
You might see insects on plants or dogs in their yards. You might see birds in the sky or in a tree. Ask questions about what you see. “How do birds move from one place to another? What do birds like to eat? Why do birds make their nests in trees?”
You might see insects on plants or dogs in their yards. You might see birds in the sky or in a tree. Ask questions about what you see. “How do birds move from one place to another? What do birds like to eat? Why do birds make their nests in trees?”
Take a blanket and a stuffed animal outside.
Hold opposite sides of the blanket with your toddler and give the stuffed animal a ride by moving the blanket up and down and side to side, with a shaking motion. Pretend together that the animal is swimming in water or moving across the land. “How can we move the blanket to make it swim? How can we make it hop?”
Hold opposite sides of the blanket with your toddler and give the stuffed animal a ride by moving the blanket up and down and side to side, with a shaking motion. Pretend together that the animal is swimming in water or moving across the land. “How can we move the blanket to make it swim? How can we make it hop?”
Language and literacy
Read books about animals to your toddler.
While you read, pause at times to point out and briefly talk about the animals in the books. Ask them the names of the animals, the sounds they make, and where the animals live. Introduce names of animals they may not be familiar with yet.
While you read, pause at times to point out and briefly talk about the animals in the books. Ask them the names of the animals, the sounds they make, and where the animals live. Introduce names of animals they may not be familiar with yet.
Have a loved one you can connect with through video conferencing?
This is the perfect time to invite them to be a guest reader for your child, while also staying connected with one another. Any age-appropriate picture book will do!
This is the perfect time to invite them to be a guest reader for your child, while also staying connected with one another. Any age-appropriate picture book will do!
Talk with your toddler about frogs.
What are they like? How do they move around? Stand a few feet away from an open box. Say the following lines and show them how to toss a beanbag (or lightweight ball) into the box when you say the word “SPLASH.”
What are they like? How do they move around? Stand a few feet away from an open box. Say the following lines and show them how to toss a beanbag (or lightweight ball) into the box when you say the word “SPLASH.”
Freddy the frog sat on a log.
And SPLASH! He jumped in the pond.
Retrieve the beanbag and have your child give it a try. You can add variation by changing up the words to the rhyme or creating a new rhyme of your own about a different animal!
Social and emotional
While outdoors with your child, listen for animal sounds, such as dogs barking, cats meowing, or birds chirping.
“What sounds do you hear? I hear a bird singing! Do you hear it, too?” Invite them to mimic the animal sounds with you.
“What sounds do you hear? I hear a bird singing! Do you hear it, too?” Invite them to mimic the animal sounds with you.
Make snack and meal times learning time by talking with your toddler about how different foods taste.
“That food was (sweet/salty/sour/bitter). Did you like how it tasted? What color is this food? That was a pickle. Some pickles taste sweet and some taste sour. How did that pickle taste to you?”
“That food was (sweet/salty/sour/bitter). Did you like how it tasted? What color is this food? That was a pickle. Some pickles taste sweet and some taste sour. How did that pickle taste to you?”
Place a few stuffed or toy animals in a box or container with a lid. Sit on a blanket on the floor with your toddler and the box or container of animals.
Pull out one of the animals and show it to your child. Talk about the animal and ask questions about its “origin story.” Who gave them the animal? How do they feel when they hug it? What’s the animal’s name?
Pull out one of the animals and show it to your child. Talk about the animal and ask questions about its “origin story.” Who gave them the animal? How do they feel when they hug it? What’s the animal’s name?
Memory and focus
Gather a variety of blocks and other construction toys, recyclable materials, or natural items gathered outdoors.
Challenge your toddler to build a home or habitat for toys or stuffed animals. Talk about the characteristics and natural habitats of each animal as they explore the building materials. “What do you think this animal’s home looks like? Where have you seen this animal before? What kinds of things would this animal need to have in its home?”
Challenge your toddler to build a home or habitat for toys or stuffed animals. Talk about the characteristics and natural habitats of each animal as they explore the building materials. “What do you think this animal’s home looks like? Where have you seen this animal before? What kinds of things would this animal need to have in its home?”
Invite your toddler to flatten some playdough using their hands or a rolling pin.
Give them dough cutters (in animal shapes, if you have them) and encourage your toddler to press the cutters into the playdough to make shapes. To enhance this experience, your child can add craft materials like feathers, googly eyes, or pipe cleaners to their dough creations.
Give them dough cutters (in animal shapes, if you have them) and encourage your toddler to press the cutters into the playdough to make shapes. To enhance this experience, your child can add craft materials like feathers, googly eyes, or pipe cleaners to their dough creations.
Safety first! Always supervise children with small items that can be choking hazards.
Create a chart with your older toddler showing the name and pictures or drawings of different kinds of animals seen throughout your day or week.
You might see them among your child’s toys, in books, in magazines, etc. Each time your toddler sees one of the animals on the chart, have them put a tally mark next to the animal. At the end of the day or week, count together how many types of animals and how many of each animal they saw.
You might see them among your child’s toys, in books, in magazines, etc. Each time your toddler sees one of the animals on the chart, have them put a tally mark next to the animal. At the end of the day or week, count together how many types of animals and how many of each animal they saw.
Who doesn’t love a nice blanket fort?
Gather some cardboard boxes for your child to stack near some furniture, along with plenty of blankets and sheets. Help them drape the blankets or sheets over the boxes and furniture to create a cozy little den. If your child has a stuffed bear, bring it out to join in the fun!
Gather some cardboard boxes for your child to stack near some furniture, along with plenty of blankets and sheets. Help them drape the blankets or sheets over the boxes and furniture to create a cozy little den. If your child has a stuffed bear, bring it out to join in the fun!
Creative Expression
Use some toy animals or toy people to create animal footprints in paint, sand, and playdough.
If you have paint handy, you can also make animal tracks art! Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate. Invite your toddler to dip a toy animal’s feet in the paint and make the animal “walk” on a sheet of paper. Talk about the animal they chose.
If you have paint handy, you can also make animal tracks art! Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate. Invite your toddler to dip a toy animal’s feet in the paint and make the animal “walk” on a sheet of paper. Talk about the animal they chose.
Sing a rendition of their favorite children’s song with lyrics about animals.
Give them a toy instrument or other noisemaking objects, like a pot and a spoon, and set a beat as you sing. “Let’s sing a song about animals. You can shake to the beat and move your body while we sing.” Have fun moovin’ and groovin’ together!
Give them a toy instrument or other noisemaking objects, like a pot and a spoon, and set a beat as you sing. “Let’s sing a song about animals. You can shake to the beat and move your body while we sing.” Have fun moovin’ and groovin’ together!
