Morning Activities with your Toddler
Turn routine activities at the beginning of your child’s day into learning moments.
Are you looking for fun home-learning activities to do with your toddler? Our team of early childhood curriculum experts thoughtfully curated these home-education activities from our proprietary Life Essentials® curriculum to help your family Learn On® when away from the Academy. Whether it’s during mealtime, playtime, clean up time, bath time, or bedtime – our at-home curriculum is built so you can easily integrate school-from-home learning opportunities in seamless, easy, and fun ways.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Level of instruction: Easy
When: Getting Ready for the Day, Bedtime, Outdoors, Playtime
Time recommendation: 5 minutes
Participants: One-on-one, Siblings
Learning Domain: Physical Development
Learning Standards: Develops control and coordination of body movements, Seeks to be active and participate in active play for a short period
Materials: N/A
Instructions:
Invite your child to play a version of “Simon Says”. Ask him or her to watch you perform a simple motion, and then imitate the action. Relate your examples to jungle animals, for example, Pound your chest like a gorilla! Hop like a tree frog! Slither on your belly like a snake!
Observe your child, imitating the suggested action. Was your child able to mimic the animal sounds and motions?
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Level of instruction: Moderate
When: Playtime, Getting Ready for the Day
Time recommendation: 15 minutes
Participants: One-on-one, Siblings
Learning Domain: Cognitive Development
Learning Standards: Participates in activities that compare, match, or sort objects
Materials: Shoes from each family member, Nursery Rhyme “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe”
Instructions:
Place the shoes in a pile on the floor. Recite “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” with your child and encourage him or her to join you in the movements. Count the shoes you collected with your child. Invite him or her to match the pile of shoes. Talk with your child about the colors, features, and how the shoes are the same and different. Invite your child to identify the owners of the shoes.
Observe to see if your child can find his or her shoes with or without support. Is your child able to match the shoes?
Drop Dance
Level of instruction: Easy
When: Getting ready for the day, Playtime, Outdoor
Time recommendation: 10 minutes
Participants: One-on-one, Siblings
Learning Domain: Physical Development
Learning Standards: Demonstrates balance, Moves body to music, Demonstrates a basic understanding of instructions
Materials: Music, music player
Instructions:
Demonstrate for your child how to bend and squat. Tell your child that when you turn on the music, he or she will do the “drop dance.” Turn on the music and bend and squat slowly for the child to see. See how I was dropping my knees. That is what you will do. Your turn to “drop dance” too! Turn the music on and encourage your child to practice bending and squatting. Pause the music occasionally encouraging your child to freeze. Continue for as long as your child is interested.
Observe to see if your child can balance while squatting and bending. Did your child respond to the music?
Looking for more activities for you and your toddler?
- Playtime: Playtime is a great way to teach your toddler without it even feeling like learning.
- Outdoor time: The great outdoors can be the best classroom of all.
- Mealtime: Learning can happen at any time – even while eating.
Or return to the Life Essentials® At Home page to find activities to explore with other age groups.
Find an Academy Near You
Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care helps children make the most of learning moments in locations across the country. Discover one near you.
