Coaching toddlers

  CAMPING ART FOR TODDLERS Supplies: - 1 black construction paper per child - 2 construction papers cut in triangle (color of choice)  (I like to give each child the choice if the atmosphere of the classroom allows it) - a bunch of brown paper strips - at least 3 evergreen trees per child. It was a week project for our class. First we peeled and applied star stickers on a black construction paper.  It is such a good and appreciated fine motor activity for toddlers.  Then I took a picture of them sitting in front of me.  It was a little bit of a challenge to make them looking at me and not move, then figure out the size of the picture. It has to be on the smaller size. The child on the picture is not 2 yet and was not interested in making the tent so I made it for him.  When I showed him he gave me a beaming smile.  The goal of art at that age is more the appreciation of it so I knew my goal was met when I saw his reaction.  The other children love...

 S'more book for toddlers A print concepts activity I had so much fun doing this project during nap.  I'd like to encourage you to draw even if you think you are bad at it.  Most of us draw like a 12 years old because it is when we stopped. I saw on pinterest a similar book but it was for preschool therefore too advanced for my kids so I came up with this one.  I Google hazelnut drawing and to my surprise I found something and same thing with marsmallow fluff.  I chose the simplest one and tried to replicated it.  Well I'm happy with the result. The coloring part was fun too.   

  THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE ME TO MANAGE A GROUP OF TODDLERS 1. The group as a whole is the priority at all times. That means I try not to focus too hard or too long on anything else.  When I clean or put the shoes on one child for example, I keep an eye on the group.  I position myself in a way that I see everyone.   And if one child gets bored or disruptive, I drop whatever i'm doing and discreetly direct him/her to a safe and acceptable activity.  If I cannot drop what I'm doing, for example if I'm changing a diaper, I sing an action song or direct verbally.  The tone and the words have to be positive and enthusiastic as opposed to negative. I try to not turn my back on the children.  If I ever do, for example to open the shed in the playground,  I count them first and acknowledge that they are safe and behaved, if not I take care of that first.  Then I am quick at opening the shed or whatever else and then I count them again and see ...

BEACH ART FOR TODDLERS This is a two weeks art project. Inspired by the book Sea, Sand, Me!  by Patricia Hubbell and Lisa Campbell Earnst. Supplies :  - Light blue construction or copy paper - Dark blue tissue paper  -  White tissue or copy paper - White glue diluted on about 1/1 ratio - Sand First step :  First step, which is a great fine motor activity, is tearing the dark blue tissue and white copy paper into strips.  I demonstrated the technique as a group then provided large strips of paper.  I didn't expect any strips coming out of this activity.  I just wanted my students practiced their fine motor skills when I was making them.  At my surprise, one of the oldest got  the the pointer and thumb pinch on an opposite motion perfectly.  All the "strips" went in a bag for the next step. Step 2 : This year  my class is very young so that step was made one student at a time.  I diluted white glue with the same amount of wa...

  SEAL PUP CRAFT FOR TODDLERS Supplies: - White tempera - White glue - 1 paint brush per child - 2 little black circles for the eyes per child (googly eyes are a choking hazard for children under 3.) - 1 purple circle with nose and mouth drawn per child - 1 cut out seal pup silhouette per child (I'm not an artist, if I can do this so can you.  Don't try to be perfect, your toddlers are not asking you that) Activity It can be done as a group or one by one, it all depend on the atmosphere of your class at that moment.  Here how I did it : I mix white paint and white glue in a bowl.  I wrote the name of one child on a piece of purple paper and gave him/her a paint brush right away that I dipped in the white mixture.   So they have something else to do than waving and destroying the paper. When everyone has their paper I gave them the seal pup silhouette and dipped  again the brush instructing them and modeling painting on an inside out motion to create th...

    CURLING  Winter Gross motor and Social activity for toddlers Supplies : - Empty bleach container -Utility knife  - Duct tape - Long piece of white paper - Red and blue construction paper - Glue stick  Preparation : Wash the bleach container, cut off the middle part with an utility knife.  Keep 1 to 2 inches from the narrower part on top and cut at the bottom line of the bottom part so you can insert the top in the bottom.  Insert the top part in the bottom part and tape with duct tape. Cut 2 big rings of blue construction paper (as big as a 8 x 11 piece allows you) then 2 smaller red ones. Cut a long piece of white paper from a roll ( about 6 feet long).  Glue the rings at each end of the paper. Cover with a slightly bigger contact paper. How to play curling with the 2 years old : Just show them how to push the "stone" across the "ice" and try to make it go in the house (on the rings).  Give one a stone and one a little broom.  Let t...

  Hockey Gross motor activity for toddlers Supplies : - paper towel tube - toilet paper tube - spice container top - gold duct tape - Grey duct tape Directions:  I think the picture is telling you how to make it, am I right?  Tape the tubes together and wrap the spice container top.  Show the kids how to hit the puck and encourage them to shoot and score. Have fun! P.S.  if you don't have time to make those sticks your toddlers will have as much fun with a simple paper towel tube and a crumpled piece of black construction paper.