Instruction: Children sit in a circle of chairs or on the floor with the teacher. The teacher starts the chant. The children listen first to the chant and then add their creativity and thoughts into the concept chants. At first, the children copy the thoughts from one child but by repeating the concept chant over and over, the children Continue Reading
THE BENEFITS OF PLAY Play allows children to use their creativity while it develops: Their imagination, Their dexterity, Their physical, Their cognitive and Their emotional strength Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood. Here are Continue Reading
SIMON SAYS, “HEAD and SHOULDERS and KNEES and TOES”: Goal: Identifying body parts and increasing listening skills. Procedure: As the leader says and touches the body parts of head, shoulders, knees, and toes, the children copy the actions of the leader. Whenever the leader says “head” but touches the knees and the child does it, Continue Reading
Popcorn: Place a number of beanbags, small balls, or cotton balls onto the parachute. Shake to make them pop up like “popcorn”. Ball Roll: Have the children try to roll balls into the hole in the middle of the parachute. (Or have children try to keep the balls from going into the hole in the Continue Reading
Gross motor skills are defined by the mastery of large muscle movement (i.e legs and arms). Toddlers between 12 to 18 months should be able to walk, walk backwards, crawl up stairs with support, throw a ball overhand, kick a ball with support, roll a ball with hands, imitate more complex motor skills (lifting objects), and Continue Reading
Game #1-Dress the Mummy Required: Rolls of toilet paper Players: Small to large groups Set up teams with 2-4 players on each team. One child on each team will be the “mummy” and each team will be given 2 rolls of toilet paper. They will have 5 minutes to complete the game. The team players Continue Reading
Keeping it light for the Christmas season, here are some activities for teachers to try out with toddlers. These are activity ideas for toddlers from A to Z. Remember, toddlers learns through play. Play is a way to explore the environment and gain some kind of knowledge, whether it is social, physical, emotional, or intellectual. Continue Reading
These are easy games for children to increase their dexterity, sharpness, coordination with their body movement with objects: a. Rolling – Rolling objects at different speeds – Rolling objects with accuracy – Keeping eyes on the target – Maintaining rhythm and continuous movement of rolling Activity: Bowling Chair– Use a chair and roll the ball Continue Reading
Relay Games a. Bounce-A-Ball Relay — This activity improves coordination and exercise. Two-teams are selected with 5 on each team. A large ball like a beach ball is used that can bounce. At the start of “go,” each child will bounce the ball, catch it and is allowed to take a few steps but Continue Reading
Paper Plate Disk Toss — This activity promotes group cooperation, competition and
hand/eye coordination. Each child has paper plate and they put their name on it. The class forms a circle with a garbage can placed in the middle. The child at the sound of “go,”
tosses the paper plate into the garbage can. If the child misses, the child goes and gets his named paper plate until all the names are in the garbage can.
What A Drag — This activity promotes cooperation, develops strength and endurance.
Using 2 old bed sheets, a child is selected to lay on the sheet (usually the smallest one). There are 2 groups selected. Each group holds on the sheet but does not lift it up.
Use a large area with no obstacles in the way. The teacher says “go” and the groups drag the sheets around the room. A gym floor would be excellent for this activity. The children
have fun and not go fast. It is the overall experience.
Blanketball — This activity also promotes group cooperation and just enjoying the
activity. Two sheets are used. A sheet is held by one group and lined up next to the first sheet of players is a second sheet of players. A nerf ball is placed on one sheet and when
the teacher says “go,” the ball is rolled or shaken to go on the second sheet. It is like volleyball as the ball goes back and forth sheet to sheet.
Group Juggling — This activity promotes group cooperation, improves hand/eye coordination and throwing accuracy. The class stands in a circle. Several (about 5 or 6) nerf balls and soft balls are randomly
handed out to the children. The children at “go” toss the balls to other children at the same time as if juggling.
Great Shoe Strip — This activity improves group cooperation,