Parents are filled with so much stress while watching their toddler grow up. From teaching little ones to talk, ensuring they get enough veggies, and preparing them for school, there can be so much worry!
Instead of worrying, try spending time enjoying fun activities for toddlers since little ones grow up so fast! The Toddler Lab provides 5 important development activities you need to do with your toddler to help ensure they are meeting important milestones!
- Fine Motor Skills and Pencil Control
An essential fine motor skill to practice is pencil control. Adults write all throughout their lives and this skill begins when children are only a few years old.
However, the better children learn pencil control, the easier writing will be as they enter school!
Additionally, practicing pencil control helps to strengthen muscles and teach the brain how the flow of a pencil works. For example, students need time to practice holding their pencil to the page to form different shapes and lines. Furthermore, having strong pencil control will immensely help students as they learn all there is to writing!
Learning this prewriting skill will make writing letters and staying in the lines much easier. Head over to The Toddler Lab’s Prewriting Strips for a great way to practice this skill!
- Color identification
Color is all around the world and is a building block to growing up and entering school. Therefore, practicing colors is so important for children!
Color is also a basis for communication while growing up. For example, a child may express they want a green truck or a blue ball. By knowing colors, children can better communicate with the people and world around them.
In order to learn colors, children need to be visually told the color when they see it. Also, it is important to complete many color activities since repetition is key when learning. Be sure to check out this incredible Color Scavenger Hunt from The Toddler Lab.
- Fine Motor Skills and Numeracy
Numbers are involved in almost every aspect of life. Therefore, learning numbers truly needs to begin at a young age.
Often, fine motor skills and numeracy can be taught together as children learn to count on their fingers. This is great practice as students progress to learning mathematical concepts.
For example, addition/subtraction, greater than/less than, and ordering items cannot happen without knowing numbers. Additionally, numeracy also involves tally marks and progressing to place value. Without practicing numeracy at a young age, children may struggle greatly with anything involving quantities.
Therefore, practicing counting is an activity children should be doing often as they grow up. The Toddler Lab’s Snow Globe Counting Activity provides a great way for children to practice numeracy!
- Fine Motor Skills and Learning to Write their Name
The most important word in the world to each child is their name. Learning how to write their own name is such an exciting skill!
When children learn to write their name, they are also practicing fine motor skills. From holding a pencil to completing crafts, children may work on so many skills at once!
Additionally, when children learn their own name, they feel important, practice capitalization and spelling, and work on pencil grasp.
Furthermore, children build a community as they learn the names of friends. The Toddler Lab’s Mini Marshmallow Name Activity is a great way to help students practice writing their name!
- Reading Books with your Child
There are so many benefits of reading books with your child!
First, studies show that children who are read to know more words and pronunciations due to the exposure. This aspect will greatly help children as they are older and need to read more complex material.
Second, reading books teaches students about important concepts, such as numbers, letters, and shapes. However, these are all taught through fun, engaging stories!
After reading, parents can even point out different shapes and colors in the pictures for their child to name. Third, books help teach vital concepts, such as how to share. Reading books is not only fun but incredibly educational.
Developmental activities are essential to do while your little one is growing up. Additionally, making these activities fun will ensure your child is enjoying learning and practicing fine motor skills. If you do not want to miss any of the upcoming tips, join my email list to be notified of all the exciting updates coming up!