Playing with ice is a low-cost, sensory-rich, and open-ended learning activity. Plus, playing with ice is a wonderful way to support development in learning areas like fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and language development. This blog post will share over 100 different ways to play with ice. I’m also sharing instructions for making different types…
Updated: October 21, 2023 Instill bravery, kindness, pride, and open-mindedness from the beginning with these incredible feminist board books. These books feature strong protagonists, diverse authors and illustrators, empowering messages, and inclusive representation. Read the guide to feminist board books to learn how to select empowering children’s books for your baby, toddler, or classroom. Feminist…
Updated December 23, 2023 Water activities are a wonderful way for babies and toddlers to explore and learn about their world. These sensory-rich experiences support development while fostering creativity and cognitive skills in the early years. Below are some of my favorite tested activities from my time as a toddler teacher. Water Activities #1 Sponge…
I’m sharing 12 fun play dough activity ideas that your toddler will adore. These activities are open-ended, so toddlers can play and explore as long as they want. Do you have a toddler who seeks out creative and sensory play? Play dough is the perfect way for them to explore their creativity. It helps with…
Updated April 5, 2025 Some parents and teachers love messy play—others prefer low-mess, easy-to-prep activities for two-year-olds. As a developmental therapist, I’ve learned how to strike a balance. In this post, I’m sharing my favorite toddler activities that are low-mess and quick-prep. You’ll also find simple ways to extend or adapt each activity to add…
Parents and educators often wonder how to play with an 8-month-old baby. These are 18 of my favorite play-based ideas that I use in developmental therapy sessions. Discover interactive and sensory-rich learning experiences to promote babies’ cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical development skills. Activities by Learning Domain Gross Motor: Lumpy Bumpy Obstacle Course Create…
Outdoor cognitive activities for toddlers are engaging, sensory-stimulating ways to build essential thinking skills. Here are dozens of outdoor cognitive activities based on the cognitive skills: Types of Outdoor Cognitive Activities: Outdoor play has a significant impact on cognitive development for early learners. Toddlers begin learning about the relationship between themselves and the natural world….
From water games to sensory activities, there are so many ways to extend the fun of the kiddie pool! This blog post will share 15 different kiddie pool activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The kiddie pool is a summertime staple. The perfect hot day activity to stay cool. If you’ve ever wondered, “how can…
For babies, almost everything is sensory play. That’s because, at this stage of play development, they constantly learn about their bodies and environment through the senses. Small changes to tummy time or an extra few minutes at a meal can turn into sensory play. You don’t need to spend too much time planning or setting up sensory…
Updated: March 17, 2024 Nature scavenger hunts are an excellent way for children to learn and explore their natural surroundings. I’m sharing my favorite nature scavenger hunt ideas for kids, along with resources to create your own. How to Make a Nature Scavenger Hunt Creative Nature Scavenger Hunt Ideas More Ideas Free, Printable Templates Download…