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Fun
Activities for Toddlers
from ChildGuide.com
Introduction. The first year of
your child's life has gone by so quickly! It
seems like she was born just yesterday, but
she is already a year old. She is now a
toddler and is interacting with the world
around her more independently since she has
started crawling and walking. During this
stage of her life, she will be very active
and it will be hard to keep her occupied at
home. She has an insatiable curiosity about
the world around her and you should do
everything in your power to encourage this
enthusiasm.
You are more than willing to take your
toddler places that will stimulate her
desire to learn, but you're not sure where
to go. ChildguideSM will provide a list of
some recommended activities. These
activities will be discussed as they pertain
to toddlers. Below you will find a list of
recommended activities to do with your
toddler. Go ahead and venture out of the
house and have fun with your toddler!
Go For a Walk. Once a toddler learns
to walk it seems as if they never sit down!
So why not take your toddler for a walk. Be
sure to bring the stroller along in case she
gets tired, so you don't have to carry her
home.
If the weather is nice, go for a walk in
your neighborhood. Early morning is a good
time to see the wildlife, such as birds and
squirrels, that live in the area.
For a change of scenery, walk along a forest
preserve trail in your city. It doesn't
necessarily have to be the one in your area.
Now that your child is older, make it more
of an adventure by driving to another forest
preserve for a new setting.
If the weather is not conducive to walking
outside, go for a stroll in the mall. Your
toddler will be able to release some of her
energy and you'll be able to people watch or
shop at the same time!
Go To The Park. Visit the
neighborhood park with your child. At this
age, she will enjoy testing her newfound
mobility on the playground equipment. This
will also allow her to interact with other
children, improving her social skills. In
fact, you may make some new friends with the
other parents!
Join A Playgroup. Interaction with
other children is an important part of a
toddler's development. Social maturation
during this stage starts with a parallel
play pattern and evolves into physical
exploration and then imitation of one
another. Providing opportunities for
interaction with children her own age will
allow your toddler to learn to communicate
and cooperate with others. Let ChildguideSM
help you find a playgroup in your area.
Simply visit our Playgroup Postings section
and fill out the form.
Take A Parent/Child Class Together.
Many organizations offer classes for
toddlers and their parents. For more
information, see ChildguideSM Parent/Child
Classes article within the member Resource
Center.
Participate In Story Time. The best
time to instill a love for reading in
children is when they are young. Even if you
are not much of a reader, your child can
learn to love it. Take your toddler to your
public library to check out books and
participate in the toddler story time and
other activities they offer. Many bookstores
also have story telling and other activities
for children.
Visit A Museum. This is the time to
encourage your child's natural love of
learning. Museums are great places to learn
and explore. Take her to one of the museums
in your area. Even if you have been there
before, museums constantly change their
exhibits and have special events. Many have
hands-on exhibits and special events
designed especially for children. Call and
find out what new things are happening. You
may even learn something new!
Visit A Farm, Ranch Or Zoo. Children
love animals! Farms and ranches are perfect
environments for children to see how animals
and humans work together. Zoos allow
children to see animals that are not
indigenous to the area. Trips to these
settings can help cultivate your child's
love of and concern for animals. Many farms
actually allow you to pick your own crops
(fruits and vegetables), another fun
activity for toddlers. Many of these
locations have special seasonal events for
the whole family to enjoy.
Visit A Nature Center Or State Park.
It is important to instill a love of nature
in children so that as they grow older they
will learn to live in conjunction with the
environment. Many nature centers have many
enjoyable activities designed to promote
environmental awareness.
Teach Your Child To Swim. This is a
good age for children to learn to swim. Once
your child knows how to swim, she will spend
many hours of enjoyment splashing in the
pool. Call the public pool in your area to
find out about swim lessons.
Take Your Toddler To The Beach. What
could be more exciting for a toddler than a
huge sandbox that stretches out as far as
the eye can see! There's nothing better on a
hot summer day than visiting the beach. Just
don't forget the sunscreen to protect you
and your child from the damaging rays of the
sun!
Visit A Miniature Golf Course.
Miniature golf is a great outdoor activity
that allows your toddler to test and improve
her motor skills. It also provides an
enjoyable occasion to learn how to take
turns and follow the rules while at the same
time giving her a feeling of accomplishment
every time she gets the ball in the hole.
And it's FUN too!
Go To A Children's Theatrical
Performance. Another good way to spend
the morning or afternoon during inclement
weather is to take your toddler to a
theatrical performance. Many theatres
perform classic fairy tales and contemporary
stories geared for children. This is a great
way to enhance your child's cultural
development.
Visit An Amusement Park. For just
plain fun, visit an amusement park. Your
toddler will enjoy the rides, games, food
and the carnival atmosphere. You will too!
Visit An Indoor Playground. As the
winter drags on, children who are being
cooped up inside are overflowing with
unexpended energy. Unfortunately, outdoor
winter activities may not be right for your
toddler. This is when an indoor playground
is ideal. Your toddler can run around, climb
over, and crawl through the equipment
releasing much of this pent up energy. It is
a great way to spend a cold winter's
afternoon!
Sign Your Child Up For A Class At Your
Local Park District. A great place to
find fun activities for your child is at
your local park district. They offer classes
specifically designed for toddlers (and
their parents) including both indoor and
outdoor activities. Call your park district
today for a brochure.
Go See A Movie. Going to the cinema
can be a pleasant family outing in the dead
of winter or when it is raining outside.
Toddlers are mesmerized as the images flow
across the big screen. But keep in mind that
toddlers should avoid small, grape-like
"choke foods", including popcorn!
SUMMARY. As your child enters the
toddler stage, there are so many new things
he can do. There are so many places you can
take your toddler. Gather up your toddler
and go!
Do you have any suggestions for
activities for toddlers? Send your comments
and suggestions to toddleractivity@childguide.com.
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Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
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