Tot School Snippets Week 1: Ice

I was reading my old blog the other day (private) and I am amazed on how I recorded Mavi’s learning curve week by week. Mavi enjoys reading that blog now! I just have to say that it is quite different when you have one child, you have focus, you have MORE time  and well,  I was organized.  Now, I’m managing and engineering a bigger household, with a school boy and a hyperactive toddler, I barely have time to blog. 

So  now, I will start writing about Vito’s activities in a week. I have to put a little effort on this, for keeping memories and for Vito to read someday.  Currently, we’re not following schedule of doing totschool weekly.  There are days when we do a lot of activities, and there are times when I just whip anything that goes into  my mind. 

Vito is 26 months old.

Practical Life Activities for Toddlers (24 Months) and {Learn & Play Link Up}

Vito turned 2 years old last month.  Aside from the letter t sound and tree themed activities, here are the practical life activities Vito worked on:

Exploring Fruits for Toddlers

Vito is 23 months old. 

** Contains affiliate links **

After, the zoo, farm animals and parts of the body, I decided to do a fruit unit for this little boy as he loves to name fruits whenever we are in the supermarket.  I like to come up with themed activities as it helps the child to expand their knowledge of certain objects and occasions, practice communication skills and improve their vocabulary.

 

Beginning Sounds. We’re using Hape Lowercase Puzzle.

Apple Prints. Color recognition and sensorial activity.

Bagging Fruits. A practical life activity that develops hand/eye coordination, concentration plus helping Mommy tidy up!  We’re using Learning Resources Fruit Counters.

Matching Real Objects with Pictures. Developing early discrimination skills (difference between objects), hand/eye coordination and concentration.  I made the fruit cards and you can get a copy from here or here.

Fruit Color Sorting using a Tong. Improving fine motor skills, pincer grasp, concentration and color recognition.

I love this tong from Ikea. 

As of the moment, our color sorting activity involves two colors, but I introduce one (new) color at a time.

He’s seriously concentrating.  Goodness!

Slicing a Banana. I was with him the whole time he’s doing this, reason why I don’t have an actual photo of the activity.  Another great practical life activity to introduce to kids.  This is an introductory activity of actual “slicing”, though we’ve done a lot of this using playdough.  He still has difficulty coordinating his hands.  We’ll get there though… need to practice more

And that’s about it! Thanks once again for taking time to read through the post.  Don’t forget to PIN this for your reference.

Check me out on Pinterest for more toddler and themed activities.

Collection of Practical Life Activities for Toddlers (21 Months)

Last week I shared the learning activities that I prepared on Vito’s shelf.  Learning activities are usually done in the morning, after reading books.  It would about 15 to 30 minutes of play, depending on his interest.  Practical life activities are done in the afternoon, after se pick up big brother from school.  All our practical life materials are stored in kitchen, stored in the shelf but I can’t share it because it is a sight to behold.

So for this month, here are the practical life activities Vito is working on.  These are rotated once in a while.

Stringing 

Scooping (hands) & Pouring Corn Kernels 

Shape Stamping & Wiping Afterwards 

Shape Sorting 

Using a Columns

Button Slots

Using left and right hand

Spooning 

He loves touching the kernels!

Look at the chubby hand.

And that’s about it!  I am sure your kids will love these activities as well!  Don’t forget to pin this for later!

Don’t forget to check out our collection of Practical Life Activities, click the images below for more information
                       

Ultimate Collection of Practical Life Activities (Part Two)

I’m sharing another set of practical life activities that we do at home! If you enjoyed the first part of my post, well, here are more exciting stuff to do with your kids.

Ultimate Collection of Practical Life Activities (Part One)

“Practical life or real work activities, along with the development of language, may well be the most important work in the first six years of life.  By means of these activities the child learns to make intelligent choices, to become physically and mentally independent and responsible.  He learns to concentrate, to control muscles, to act with care, to focus, to analyse logical steps, and complete a cycle of activity.  This lays the groundwork for sound mental and physical work throughout life.” – Susan Mayclin Stephenson, CHILD OF THE WORLD

Scooping Pasta

Materials:

• bowls
• pasta
• spoon

Essential in practicing the small muscles in the hand.  Practiced by younger children to develop skills essential in feeding.

Spooning Rice

Materials:

• bowls
• rice
• tablespoon

Essential in practicing the small muscles in the hand. Practiced by younger children to develop skills essential in feeding. This can be a little bit tricky for smaller children as rice grains are much smaller than the pasta.

Whisking

Materials:

• bowl
• whisk
• something to whisk (liquid or powder)

Essential in practicing the hand and arm muscles. For Developing motor skills as well.

Latches

Materials:

• Melissa & Doug Latches Wooden Activity Board
• Melissa & Doug Locks and Latches Board Wooden Educational Toy

To develop the skills in opening and closing different kinds of latches. For hand-eye coordination, concentration and motor skills.

Wooden Puzzles for Toddlers

Materials:

• Melissa & Doug Farm Wooden Chunky Puzzle (8 pcs)
• Melissa & Doug Farm Animals Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle

Recognition of farm animals, able to match them to the board, develop problem solving skills and enhance memory. Develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity and concentration.

Shape Punching

Materials:

• SiCoHome Paper Punches,Pack of 3,Heart,Circle,Star
• Paper Punch Hole Puncher -- (3 PACK Circle Maple Leaf Retro Flower)

To strengthen the small muscles of the hands. Develop shape recognition as well.

Roller Painting

Materials:

• paint rollers (Rimobul Artist Studio Sponge Painters - Set of 6)
• non-toxic washable paints (Crayola Kids' Paint Washable, Assorted Colors 6 Bottle,  Crayola 6 Count 8 oz. Washable Kids Finger-paints features 3 Bold Primary colors & 3 Bright Secondary colors)
• painting paper

Develop fine motor skills, encourages the child to use his arms, hands, wrist and pincer grasp to paint on a paper or easel.

Sharpening Pencils

Materials:

• pencils
• handheld pencil sharpener

To develop in-hand manipulation skills.  This is the ability to move objects using one hand.

Spooning water

Materials:

• bowls
• liquid medium
• spoon

Develop hand-eye coordination and concentration when transferring water from one bowl to another.  Essential skill in feeding and food serving.

Garlic Press

Materials:

• garlic press
• garlic (or foam)

Enhance the skill of grasping objects of various sizes and hardness.  To improve thumb stability, which is essential in holding things and drawing.

Paper Clips

Materials:

• paper clips
• bundles of paper

Another simple and feasible activity that allows kids to develop their pincer grasp and concentration.

Lacing

Materials:

• Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads with 30 Beads and 2 laces
• Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Lacing Beads with 27 Beads and 2 Laces

To develop the skills of using both hands in a controlled and organized manner.  Having a good bilateral coordination will allow both side of the brain to work.

Nuts and Bolts

Materials:

• nuts and bolts (Melissa & Doug Take-Along Tool Kit Wooden Construction Toy, Jumbo Nuts and Bolts Set with Backpack by Skoolzy)

Develop hand-eye coordination, and in hand manipulation (allow using of one hand to manipulate object). 

Clamping using Pegs

Materials:

• clothespin
• bowl/s

Practice pincer grasp, a skill that is essential in feeding, pick up small objects, writing, drawing, scissors and more.

Color Sorting using Chopstick

Materials:

• chopsticks (Training chopsticks for kids, adults, and beginners)
• sorting tray (Learning Resources Sorting Muffin Pans)
• counters (Bug Counters Set of 72)

Chopsticks enhances hand-dominance, pre-handwriting/handwriting skills, and improving pincer grasp in a fun and exciting manner.  Associating colors.

Sponge Painting

Materials:

• sponge
• non-toxic paint (Crayola Kids' Paint Washable, Assorted Colors 6 Bottle)

Develop fine motor skills,  encourages the child to use his arms, hands, wrist and pincer grasp to paint on a paper or easel.  Color recognition.

Painting using Brushes

Materials:

• paint brushes (Crayola Paint Brush Set)
• non-toxic paint (Crayola 6 Count 8 oz. Washable Kids Finger-paints features 3 Bold Primary colors & 3 Bright Secondary colors)

Develop creativity, artistic skills and hand-eye coordination.

Gluing

Materials:

• papers
• different glue types (Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue, Elmer's Liquid School Glue Washable)

Develop creativity, hand-eye coordination, control of hands, pincer grasp and ability to strengthen hands through squeezing.

Glitter Glue

Materials:

• glitter glues (Elmer's Liquid Glitter Glue Washable)
• paper with lines

Develop creativity, hand-eye coordination, control of hands, pincer grasp and ability to strengthen hands through squeezing.

Using a Fork

Materials:

• fork
• package foams

Practice picking up “objects” using fork. Essential in feeding.  This also develops hand strength with a pinching activity.

Transferring using a Chopstick

Materials:

• chopsticks (Training chopsticks for kids, adults, and beginners)
• sorting tray (Learning Resources Sorting Muffin Pans)
• pompoms (Creativity Street Bright Hues Pom Poms)

Chopsticks enhances hand-dominance, pre-handwriting/handwriting skills, and improving pincer grasp in a fun and exciting manner.  Associating colours.

Transferring using a Tweezer

Materials:

• pom poms (Creativity Street Bright Hues Pom Poms)
• tweezers (Learning Resources Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool Set)

Enhances hand-dominance, pre-handwriting/handwriting skills,pincer grasp, hand control and concentration.

Transferring Glass Beads using Jumbo Tweezer

Materials:

• jumbo tweezers
• glass/crystal beads

Enhances hand-dominance, pre-handwriting/handwriting skills,pincer grasp, hand control and concentration.

Transferring Glass Beads using Tweezer

Materials:

• tweezers (Learning Resources Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool Set)
• glass/crystal beads

Enhances hand-dominance, pre-handwriting/handwriting skills,pincer grasp, hand control and concentration.

Sticking

Material:

• assorted stickers
• paper

Skills developed in sticking activities:  fine motor skills, sorting skills and creativity.  Develop motor skills and concentration as well.

If you are looking for more ideas you might want to check the Ultimate Collection of Practical Life Activities (Part Two).