| Is your toddler active in his or her activities? Do they | | | | them. Play roll the ball into a tower of blocks, |
| use their imagination? Can they actually do some | | | | knocking them down, and then let the child restack |
| things for themselves? If you can answer no to any | | | | them. This helps with motor skills and is good for |
| of these questions, then it's time to turn off the tv | | | | hand/eye coordination. |
| and those DVD's and video games, and be a part of | | | | Toddlers/children love to dance and sing, which is a |
| your child's activities. When a toddler/child sits and | | | | great physical activity for exercise. Sing songs with |
| watches television all day or is actively watching | | | | them that require finger, hand, and body |
| DVD's or playing video games to pass the time, | | | | movements, as well as remembering sounds, items, |
| everything is pretty much laid out and done for them. | | | | and words. Three great songs for this activity is: |
| No imagination or much activity required. They will | | | | 'Itsy, Bitsy, Spider'- 'The Wheels on the Bus'- and |
| soon become better know as couch potatoes. | | | | 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes'. |
| A toddler needs some sort of an active imagination in | | | | A sandbox or even a small plastic pool filled with sand |
| order to learn things for themselves. Sure it's okay to | | | | is a great hands on movement activity. It does well |
| have little learning toys such as books with sound | | | | for the imagination plus also helps develop hand/eye |
| buttons and a DVD or two to help with the learning | | | | coordination. There are many sand toys that can be |
| of numbers, the alphabet, animals, and even a few | | | | purchased, plus also, lots of household items work |
| songs. But don't go overboard with these things. A | | | | extremely well. Such things as measuring cups, |
| child needs hands on activity. Sometimes, less really is | | | | spoons, strainers, funnels, plastic bowls and cups; the |
| more. | | | | list can go on and on. Watch, or better yet, play with |
| If you do some of the games, songs, and activities | | | | they as they learn to build a dirt cake and start |
| with your toddler/child, they will get more out of it, | | | | adding sticks for candles or little rocks as decorations. |
| as they also get more of your time. Children are | | | | This is where imagination and learning come together. |
| people too, who in turn need recognition that they | | | | Help them build a sand castle and use plastic cookie |
| exist other than at mealtime, bath time, and bedtime. | | | | cutters to press shapes on the walls. |
| Spend an hour or two actually playing activities with | | | | |