Toddler Activity Calendar - Alberta Health Services

[Pages:28]Toddler Activity

Calendar

Ideas for children from 18 months to 3 years old

References

Moving and Growing: Exercises for the First Two years; Fitness Canada and the Canadian Institute of Child Health Moving and Growing: Exercises and Activities for Twos, Threes, and Fours; Fitness Canada and the Canadian Institute of Child Health Play Calendars: Weekly Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; Rachel B. Diamant M.S, OTR/L Therapy Skill Builders 1996 Growing Together: Communication Activities for Infants and Toddlers (12-24 months) (24-36 months); Monica Devine, M.A CCC-SLP, Communication Skill Builders 1990 Amazing Good Ideas (for nothing); Alberta Health Preschool Activity Calendar? Family activities for every day of the year; Rolling River School Division FEYAI project 2006/2007 Decreased language with TV; ; copyright 2009 Merion Publications Screen time and Young children: promoting health and development in a digital world. Canadian Pediatric Society 2017 cps.ca Eye See-Eye Learn; The Alberta Association of Optometrists handout First Impressions; The Canadian Association of Optometrists pamphlet Fight the Bite; News release Government of Alberta 2003 Children's safety seats : or albertaseatbelts.ca Healthy Eating and Active Living (for your 1-5 year old); Alberta Health and Wellness publication Feb. 2008 Sleep Problems and your Preschooler; Children's Health and Developmental Services, Alberta Health Services, Medicine Hat Will I Grow out of it (Milestones and warning signs for Speech and Language development); Alberta Health and Wellness SP00005 (2004/08) Healthy Parents Healthy Children The Early Years; Alberta Health Services (2013) healthyparentshealthy children.ca

Special thanks to the following people for their recommendations and edits: from Alberta Health Services, Nutrition Services: Vanessa Restivo, Danielle Wohglemuth, Emily Burt, Marissa Salon and Martina Sung; from Alberta Health Services Provincial injury Prevention Program: Valerie Cook; and from Alberta Health Services Public Health : Kathleen Barker

Copyright ? (2011, revised 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017,2020) Alberta Health Services. This material is protected by Canadian and other international copyright laws. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied, published, distributed or reproduced in any way in whole or in part without the express written permission of Alberta Health Services (please contact Kim Nowicki at Early Childhood Intervention program at 780-623-6227 or kim.nowicki@ahs.ca. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the Information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.

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Dear parents and caregivers,

You are your child's best teacher. They will learn the most about the world from you. This calendar has been created to provide you with an activity to try with your child every day.

These activities do not require a lot of time, materials or preparation so you can fit them into your daily routine.

Activities are designed to encourage development in the areas of: communication- the language they understand and the language that they express gross motor skills-how they move their bodies in physical activities fine motor skills-how they use their hands self-help skills and further independence social skills problem solving skills-with focus on both auditory attention, visual attention and memory

building

Recipes, rhymes and parenting tips are included also to inspire and encourage. Please use caution and supervise all the activities.

Take time to play and enjoy creating special moments with your little one. Your impact on their overall development will be significant and will last a lifetime!

J A N U A R Y

Ideas for toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old

Recipes:

Toasted Egg Smiles

Take a bread slice and cut out 2 circles for eyes and mouth. Spread nonhydrogenated margarine on one side of the bread and place in a frying pan on low. Scramble one egg with 1/4 cup with milk. Pour scrambled egg over the bread. Flip bread/egg when the egg showing through the "eyes" and "mouth" becomes firm. Cook until egg is no longer runny . Enjoy!

Parenting tip: Sleep and your toddler

A toddler (18 ? 24 months) needs on average 13 hours of sleep, with 11 of those hours occurring through the night and the remainder during 1-2 daytime naps. Usually in their second year and by the age of three they are beginning to not need as much sleep during the day, and may sleep longer at night.

When your toddler starts to slow down at night, and seems physically tired, then provide them with some quiet activities to wind down further. Consider establishing a bedtime routine at roughly the same time each night. If they get overtired or past the point of no return and they get their "second wind" it will be more difficult to put them to sleep.

Make their bedtime special with good loving interactions, read a story or sing a song, in a darkened room. Tuck them in, give a kiss and a hug, and turn out the lights, and say "it is time to go to sleep". Ensure their bedroom does not have any electronics such as screens, as it provides extra distractions which could lead to more night waking or difficulty settling to sleep.

Rhymes:

Where is Thumbkin?

Animals on the farm (tune: Wheels on the bus) The cows on the farm go

Where is thumbkin, where is thumbkin? Here I am, here I am How are today sir/girl? Very well I thank you Run and hide, run and hide!

moo, moo, moo, Moo, moo, moo; moo, moo, moo The cows on the farm go moo, moo, moo all around the farm

(Continue with "pointer" ,"middle," "ring man"

(Continue with: the pigs go oink, the dogs go woof, the goats go

and "pinky" fingers)

maa, the cats go meow...etc.)

If you have any concerns with your child's development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.

Sunday

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Create an obstacle course for your toddler, scatter pillows and stuffed animals around a room and play a "chase" game, make sure hard furniture is out of the way.

With two cups, hide a small toy underneath and let your child watch. Ask them to find the toy. Move the cups around for further challenge.

While having breakfast hide your face behind a cereal box and peek a round it for a game of peek-a-boo. Let your child hide and peek also.

Place some snow or ice cubes in a bowl and let them explore, if they do not want to touch, allow them to wear mittens to play or use a spoon. Talk about how it feels.

Crawl with your child on the floor and play "hide and seek" games around the furniture.

Sing a finger play like In a empty spice

"Where is

bottle or baby food

thumbkin?", or the jar, place some bite

"Itsy-bitsy spider"

size cereal or raisins

with your child.

inside. Show your

child how to turn it

over to get the

snacks out. Say

"shake it out!"

When taking toys out of a toy box, label them and place in front of your child. "Block, ball, cow," etc.

While you and your child walk up or down stairs. Count them as you go, "1,2,3,4,5 etc."

Give your child a bubble bath. Let them grab and scoop bubbles and place in a container. Hide a bath toy underneath, and say "where is that toy?'

With several cardboard boxes cut the ends out and allow your child to crawl through. Drape blankets over the ends, place cushions inside also for them to crawl over.

With two different colored towels, hide a toy underneath while your child is watching and then ask "where did it go? Is it under the blue one? "

Talk about talking loud and soft with your child. Show them how to whisper, and tell them a secret. Whisper to them when you need them to attend and listen.

Go to your local library, check out children's programming for a rhyme time or storytelling group. Check out the board book section and take some home!

With a puppet or stuffed animal, act out scenarios. Talk about being hungry and what to eat and not to eat, or about losing something, and trying to find it etc.

With a box or a laundry basket, help your child balance to get in and out of the container. Say the words "in" and "out" while they move so they learn about directions.

With pieces of masking tape, place a line on the floor and have your child walk heel-toe on the lines, or try jumping over the tape.

With two flashlights, Make up a song

give one to your child together like "bee-bi-

to hold and see if

oh, bee-bee, bi-bi oh,

they will imitate and bee bi bo, I love you

move the flashlight oh..."repeat. See if

around a dark room. they will copy you.

Color with your child, allow them to scribble, show them how to draw circles, and lines. Color on paper and in coloring books.

With some stickers, place on your child's and your index finger and thumb. Show your child how to wiggle the stickers, and how to pull them off.

Say each vowel sound "a, e, i o, u" And see if your child will copy these sounds. Then try pairing two sounds together like "uh-oh", "ee-oh" and "i-ee" etc.

Copy your child's

Play blowing games Let your child try on

movement get down with your child.

bigger shoes or

on the floor, and roll, Show them how to slippers and try

crawl, stand, squat blow tennis balls

walking around in

etc. with them. Talk across a table, blow them. Say "look,

about your actions as feathers up in the air, what a big girl/boy"

you go through them. or later blow a candle

out.

Place some toys in a bag, and when your child reaches in and pulls them out, ask "What's that? wait a moment and then label the item ..."Ball" Continue and repeat.

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F E B R U A R Y

Ideas for toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old

Parenting tip: Toilet teaching

Help your child learn to use the toilet : Show the child the process of toileting: let them see you empty the contents of their dirty diapers into the toilet then flush and wash your hands

together and talk about and repeat! Take your child to the toilet right after they wake up, before and after naps, after meals, and right before they go to bed. Watch for signs that they are about to go and then take them to the bathroom for the process? even if they do not make it? talk about the

process and use words that are familiar to your family. Help your child learn how to pull clothing down and up as well as following simple directions Try to make sure that your child's feet touch the floor if using a potty chair, or if using an adaptive seat on a toilet use a stool for their feet? this

will help them to feel grounded which will allow their muscles to work.

Recipes:

Peanut butter and banana sandwich Spread peanut butter and thinly sliced bananas on 2 slices of whole grain bread. Cut into fun shapes (triangles, squares, rectangles) and serve.

Salsa and potato: Bake a potato, in the oven or microwave. Cut open and scoop potato out of skin. Serve with plain yogurt and/or salsa, mix and mash until cool.

Healthy quick snack ideas Hummus dip and veggies Hard boiled egg Chopped and peeled fruit Whole grain crackers and cheese Yogurt

Rhymes:

Number Rhyme 1,2,3,4, 5,6,7,8,9,10 and 1 makes 11 Cats and dogs and baby sheep When I count I go to sleep 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 1 makes 11

Skin-a-mer-ink Skin-a-mer-ink-e-dinke-dink Skin-a-mer-ink-e-doo I love you (point to eye, cross arms over heart, and point to "you") Repeat I love you in the morning and in the afternoon I love you in the evening, underneath the moon Repeat chorus and add : I really mean it I love you too, boo, boo, be doo!

If you have any concerns with your child's development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.

Sunday

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

When dressing your Help your child to set Give your child

Place your child's

child encourage them the table for a meal. directions in your

snack in a container

to pick out clothes to Give them the

daily routine "Can with a lid. Close it

wear. Name the

spoons, cups etc.

you put this toy in the and give it to your

color of the clothing and direct them to box?" "Bring the book child to open. Be

as they pick it out place them on the to me", " Put the ball encouraging and

and see if they can table. You may need under the couch" etc. show them how if

match colors.

to point and help

need be.

them to reach.

Tape or record your child's voice as they are playing or singing with you. Ask them questions like "What sound does an elephant make?" Or "what makes this sound?"

With some pitted and sliced olives or cherries for a snack, place one on the tip of your finger as a hat and show them how to wiggle. See if they can copy you also. Make sure pieces are small enough for them to eat. Supervise!

Make a tunnel or a tent by draping a blanket over two chairs or a table. Roll a car or a ball in and encourage your child to go in and get it.

Make a car out of a With some rolled up After your child's

Sing this month's

box or a basket and sock "balls",

bath, when drying featured rhymes: "A

give your child a ride, encourage your child them off, name their Number rhyme", and

go side to side,

to throw them into a body parts as you dry "Skin-er-mer-rink"

bumpy and smooth, basket or a box. See them. After, wrap

tip it to the sides, go how far they can

them up and give

fast and slow.

stand back to hit the them a big hug and

target.

carry them to dress

them up.

With plastic knives or "heart " cookie cutters, roll out play dough and cut out hearts. Place on the table, tray or lid.

If your child receives valentines let them tear open the envelope to retrieve the card inside.

While your child is playing, hide behind some furniture and then call out to them to come and find you. When they find you describe where: "you found me behind the couch".

Listen to music together and allow your child to "tap" a wooden spoon to a pail or bowl in rhythm to the music.

Give your child a blanket ride. Place them in the middle of a large blanket, hold two corners and drag them across the floor. Whee!

With a box, cut three sides of a square for a door. With a small animal or car, make a game of going in and out of the barn/ garage. Ask "Where did it go?"

Make cookies with Cut a card or a

your child. With the cereal box picture

dough allow them to into three or four

explore it by

pieces and see if

squishing it, and

your child can put it

poking it. Try to make back together.

sure they do not eat

the dough however.

With a ring toy, encourage, your child to stack the rings in the correct order from biggest to smallest on the peg.

With some pudding or some yogurt allow your child to finger-paint with it on a tabletop or on their highchair tray while they eat it.

To learn body parts, Play "Ring around

use lotion with your the Rosie" with your

child and ask them to child.

rub it in on different Hold them or walk in

body parts? yours a circle together,

and theirs. "Let's rub then fall down

it in my arm, your leg together on a couch

etc."

or a bed.

Place a pair of your Dance the "Hokey Attach a string or

child's socks on a Pokey" with your

rope to a toy with

stuffed animal or doll child encourage them wheels. Help your

and encourage them or show them to put child pull it and say

to take them off. Say the different parts "in" "Come here (toy) or

"sock off" or "take it when you sing the pull!'

off".

parts.

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M A R C H

Ideas for toddlers from 18 months to 3 years old

Parenting tip: Exercise and your toddler

Include daily physical activity into your regular routine and be active with your child. Model and practice being active together.

Kick balls to learn about balancing. Listen to music and dance. Play walking and running games (tag, "red light green light" etc.) Play follow the leader. Set up obstacle courses. Try ball play, hitting and batting, throwing and catching. Teach them how to ice skate with assistance. Involve them in water play and swimming. Try hopping and jumping activities together.

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that children 1 to 4 years old need to be active for at least 180 minutes (3 hours) at moderate intensity spread throughout the day. Your toddler needs time and space for active play!

Rhymes: Clap, clap, clap your hands

(tune: "Row, row, row, your boat") Clap, clap, clap, your hands Clap your hands together La,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la,la Clap your hands together Stomp your feet, nod your head etc.

I saw a little bird I saw a little bird go hop, hop, hop (hop) So I said "little bird, stop, stop, stop" I was going to the window to say "How do you do?" But he shook his little tail and way he flew!

Recipes:

Pancake power: Add 1 mashed banana and 1/2 cup of iron fortified infant cereal to your favorite pancake recipe.

Tomato pita: In half a mini pita, place diced tomato, (mixed with diced cucumber and avocado? optional), with feta cheese crumbles or grated cheddar cheese.

Cantaloupe supreme: Cut cantaloupe in bite size cubes into a bowl, Mix with vanilla or plain yogurt.

Snacking tip: Children's stomach are small. Provide 2-3 healthy

snacks between meals. Remember one cup of milk or water could fill them up so try to balance between offering food and liquids at snacks and meals.

If you have any concerns with your child's development, please contact your local Community Health Services office.

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