POURING WATER - A TODDLER BUSY ACTIVITY

POURING WATER

When we give our toddlers to pour water, our fear is they will spill it. Yes, they will spill it and only when they spill, it they learn how not to spill. So it's a learning process. 

Set up time is less than two minutes with the material that's available at home. I like to add a little food color in the water to regain interest and teach colors too. 

 

A simple pouring activity helps in so many ways 

💧pouring helps improve their fine motor skills and hard - eye coordination

💦increases their ability to concentrate on one activity when presented as a tranquil and repetitive activity (scooping, pouring and running their hands through the water)

💧Gentle water play allows toddlers to unwind, order their thoughts and relax.

💦Pouring encourages them to use their imagination, develops creative thinking which plays an important role in problem-solving.

💦Develop the understanding of cause and effect. 

Pouring water develops Motor skills

Water Play gives many opportunities to develop fine and gross motor skills. Toddlers increase their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through actions like pouring, squirting, scrubbing, stirring and squeezing.

Problem solving skills 

Water play allows toddlers to explore a substance and make discoveries about it.

Observing a toy or paper float or sink will teach them, in a very practical way, how and why things happen.It encourages them to use their imagination, develops creative thinking which plays an important role in problem-solving.

Science and mathematics learning 

Water Play builds the foundation for understanding various scientific concepts.  It will introduce children to terms such as Full, Empty, Half, Less. We will measure, compare volumes and observe motion which is the basic foundation for Math.

At home, encourage to take buckets, cups, sifters, empty bottles … in a shaded area out in the garden or on the balcony and participate with your children to their pretend play, they are learning as well as enjoying our participation! 

Never leave children unattended during Water Play.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.So let our children enjoy and learn the magic of water. We also need to teach them the importance of water and not waste water.

Learning to count

Importance of learning to count

Counting is important because the key conceptual idea on which all other number concepts are based.  Toddlers need to learn the meaning of counting by using counting skills in a different and a huge variety of meaningful different situations. At home you can start with counting small numbers, up to three objects. Once you feel your toddler has understood the concept of counting to three, move up to counting 5 objects. We are not in a hurry and it's not a race. The toddler must understand the concept of counting objects. 

My toddler is 3 years and I'm teaching him counting upto 3 objects and I'm happy he can count 3 objects. I'm in no hurry

Between the ages of two and four, children's ability to understand the l concept of numbers and counting improves dramatically. Most children are counting up to ten, or even beyond, by the age four.

Its a matter of time and I'm teaching one number a day. Sometime we count till number 10.learn the concept of big and small, few and many. 

Introducing creativity and learning to count will accelerate the learning process. 

It's important to let them enjoy, let them have fun and let them learn.

Here are some fun, easy, and exciting ways to teach numbers to toddlers and preschool children.

❤Number songs. 

❤Counting objects from the kitchen. 

❤Counting while climbing up and down the steps

⛱️Matching numbers with the correct number of objects

⛱️ Wrinting numbers on the sand 

⛱️ craft and getting creative with numbers

BEACH TIME FUN

After 7 long months of lockdown we took bunny to the beach and bunny was totally out of words with but his smile and expressions said it all. 

The Ocean Sound is calming.

Walking and playing in sand improves body awareness.

The salt air boosts learning.

Water play builds thinking skills.

In addition to general enjoyment, there are also major health benefits to spending time at the beach.

🏖️Getting rid of stress, even children are stressed and a trip to the beach helps them de-stress

🏖️Soaking up tons of natural Vitamin D which is very much required for growing children

🏖️The Beach offers exercise and walking on the sand improves a child's sense of balance

🏖️Sand Is A Natural Exfoliant and this makes your child enjoy sound sleep at night.

#beach #beachtime #bringingupviaan #onceuponatymee #mommyblogger #MomInfluencer #indianmomblogger #fun #beachtime🌊 #instababy #funwith #bunniesofinstagram #learnthroughplay #creativekids #mondaymotivation #bunnnylove #loveyoutothemoonandback #goraibeach #letsexplore

Benefits of Sand sensory play

SAND SENSORY PLAY FOR TODDLERS

Bunny is really fond of sensory play and I really have to explore so much with him. He is never disappointed with sensory play and knowing the oodles of benefits I cant seem to stop. We go as often as thrice a week to the park where he gets time to play in the sand.

Close supervision is required so they don't put things in their mouth.

The toddler benefits in so many ways with sand play and the main benefits are

🐣Cognitive development - using multiple senses strengthens neural pathways that are being formed in the toddler thus enhancing the memory.

🐣Fine motor skill development - sensory play exercises the small muscles of the hands and fingers

🐣 Pincer grip development - an activity like this helps improve the toddlers pincer grip which later will help him hold crayons and pencils more comfortably.

🐣 Language development - sensory play introduces new vocabulary thus stimulates conversation and curiosity

🐣Curiosity and problem solving skills - sensory play  encourages the toddler to explore and persist in these explorations .

#everydayplayhacks #playislearning 

Benefits of Outdoor play for toddlers

Toddlers learn and explore during outdoor play

It's so much fun watching your toddler explore outdoor play.  Bunny is extremely active and loves exploring everything around him. He loves to be alone and wants to explore things by himself.

This short video in the garden shows how he wants to explore the sea saw . He doesn't want to sit on it but wants to know how it goes up and down.  If you observe carefully he us holding a pebble in one hand. He picks up one thing from the garden that he treasures the entire time he is out and sometimes even brings it home. It may be a leaf, a flower or even a pebble.

Exploring though play helps
🌴 the toddler learn through experience
🌴develop the gross and fine motor skills
🌴improve the hand and eye coordination
🌴the toddler connect with nature and care for people and things around them
🌴Cognitive development - increased neural pathways are formed when toddlers explore their world through concrete materials

IMPORTANCE OF WATER PLAY FOR TODDLERS

WATER PLAY - BATH WITH TOYS

Have you ever wondered what are the benefits of water play for your toddler. Next time when he is enjoying himself and doesn't want to come out from the shower give him some extra time to enjoy since he is learning through water play. 

My bunny loves water and can splash around for hours without a moment of boredom. Since the weather is pleasant in Mumbai decided to give bunny a warm water bath with his animal toys, scoops and shower mug.

He enjoys splashing, grabbing his toys , pouring water and simply has a great time.

Im definitely doing this again since he felt good after his bath and was really hungry and ate well too, this play also builds up the child's appetite. #touchwood 

This activity develops

👣Fine Motor skills 👣Hand and eye coordination 👣Spatial awareness 👣Balance

#montessoribaby #waterplay #babyplay #finemotorskills #onceuponatymee #instasmile #instalike #momblog #babyplayideas #babyplayspace #waitforit #waterplayforkids #bunnyenjoyinghimself #bunnyplays

Ball pit play for toddlers

I was always looking forward to put my bunny in the ball pit and see him enjoy knowing the loads of benefits and most important the happy moments.

The first time we put our bunny in the ball pit , he just sat and watched. I took that as progress since he didn't cry but watched the other toddlers play and was soaking that in. I knew he needed more time and was amazed the second time with his progress. He crawled, jumped , walked around and even interacted with other toddlers.

So if your toddler doesn't respond the first time, don't give up but motivate them to try again. Encourage small movements and picking up and throwing the balls. Small encouraging words will help as well. 

An activity like this helps develop the toddler in so many ways and let me tell you a few.

Hand-eye coordination - grabbing the balls is really hard work.

Motor skills - crawling, reaching, grabbing, sitting, throwing, jumping, falling ....

Doing these things simultaneously is wonderful for both fine and gross motor skill development 

Balance - grabbing the balls whilst balancing  requires bunny to balance his body.

Early language skills - activities like these  encourage babbling which is great for early language development.

Cognitive development - increased neural pathways are formed when toddlers explore their world through concrete materials and live experiences 

Its advisable to supervise closely.