Educational toys for toddler, make learning fun.
Learning tools for toddlers can be easy and inexpensive to make while proving to be invaluable in helping your child to learn. The following list includes activities that are geared for ages 18 months to 3 years and are not gender specific. These tools are most effective when used with adult supervision and guidance. Positive reinforcement is helps to encourage the learning process. Tell the child he or she is doing well when they accomplish the task. Be sure to praise correct responses without criticizing incorrect ones. Also, laminating all paper cutouts and cards will help make them more durable.
Placing stars or stickers on a child's left hand and/or left shoe will help him/her to identify left from right with a subtle reminder. Children will eventually figure the left and right sides out on their own and not need these memory boosters. Periodically, you can ask the child "Where is your left shoe" or "Can you hold up your left hand" to test him or her. If the child hesitates to answer, remind him or her to look for the star or sticker that you put on the left hand and left shoe and ask the question again. This time the child most likely will answer correctly.
Family photo albums are a great way for your child to learn the names of everyone in his/her family. Take an ordinary flip album with plastic sleeves for holding photos and insert your photos. Most albums come in 3X5 or 4X6 sizes, which are easy for small hands to hold and look through. Be sure to include recent photos of parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, caregivers, neighbors and anyone else the child sees regularly. You can update or change photos as needed. It is best to use photos of individuals as opposed to group photos so it is easier for the child to identify one face with a name. Page through the book with your child and name each person several times then go back through the book and ask the child "Who is that?" Be sure to reinforce correct answers and repeat corrected answers. With practice the child will soon be able to recognize and name friends and family members when they visit.
Sandpaper letters and numbers are a great way to teach your child to write. Cut out numbers and letters from sandpaper and attach to poster board or other sturdy backing. You can even spell your child's name and attach it to a toy box, wagon, or highchair tray. Help you child trace the letters or numbers with his or her finger. Repeat the name of the letter or number as you do this and ask the child to repeat it as well. You can also lay the letters out to spell short words like cat, dog, boat, etc. and ask the child to tell you how to spell the word and what it is.
Putting letters, numbers, animals, daily objects, people, food, colors, shapes or other things onto small cards and having them laminated is an easy way to make your own flash cards. Be sure to write the name of the picture on the back of the card as well. Show the card to the child and ask him or her to identify it after you have already named all of them first.
Memory games can be made using sets of homemade flash cards. Choose about six pairs of objects for each game and lay them out in a block. Ask the child to turn over one card at a time and then search for the matching card. No more than two cards should be face up at a time and be sure to cover the name on the back of the cards before playing. When the child finds a matching pair take those out and put them off to the side until all matched pairs have been located. When non-matching cards are turned up try to name them and help your child to remember where they are so they can have a match when they find the second card.
Number cups can be made using frosting cans with specific numbers written on or attached to the cans. Fill the cans with that specific number of objects inside.
Toys, blocks, crayons, pictures, balls, truck, cotton balls, dishcloth or washcloth, socks, spoon, felt cutouts of different shapes (square, triangle, circle, star) may be good things to fill the cans with.
Color cups can be made using frosting cans with colored labels on them. Objects of just that color should be placed inside. Fill the cans with that specific number of objects inside. Toys, blocks, crayons, pictures, balls, truck, cotton balls, dishcloth or washcloth, socks, spoon, felt cutouts of different shapes (square, triangle, circle, star) may be good things to fill the cans with. Start with primary colors like red, blue, green, and yellow. Then you may want to add black, white, brown, purple, orange, and pink.
Homemade puzzles can be made from enlarging family photos or other familiar pictures. Print them on heavy paper of attach them to cardboard. Cut in no more than 12 pieces (fewer pieces for younger children). Show the child a picture of what the completed puzzle will look like and then ask him or her to help you arrange the pieces to form the picture.
Match games can be made by creating a board on one page or sheet of poster board and cutting out objects to lay on top of it with another page. Some possible ideas for game boards are food, toys, people, shapes, etc. Have the child name each object placed on the board.
You can make a clock face on a paper plate and attach paper hands with a clasp. You can start out with times like 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock before moving to half and quarter hours. By being able to position the hands you can teach your child a variety of times. You may also want to try lunchtime, naptime, bedtime, etc.
Draw basic body/face outline then cut out eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arms, legs etc. for child to place in appropriate spots. Ask the child to name each part and place it in the proper location. You can expand on this later by adding clothing pieces like a hat, coat, shirt, pants, mittens, etc.
Cut out or print computer pictures of a knife, fork, spoon, plate, napkin, cup, plate, and bowl. Attach the pictures to sturdy paper or other backing material. Give the child a placemat and ask him/her to help you set the table using the cutouts. Later you can expand and add food bowls, butter dish, pitcher and other objects so the child can pretend to make the whole meal and lay it out on a bath towel or small table.
