I am a SAHM to a wonderful one year old boy. We go to the gym a couple of times a week (he plays in the nursery) and I take him to My Gym once a week. At home he usually just plays with his toys. I do interact with him a lot while he's playing, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest specific activities that I could do with him at home. I just want to make sure I am teaching him the skills he needs to learn. I would love to hear about some of the activities they do with one year olds in daycare. Thanks for your help!
How about getting some signing DVD's and teach im to sign!
It helps eleviate communication problems, and is fun!!!
I think Teresa had a bunch of great ideas for you, but in addition, I wanted to mention one thing:
Don't underestimate the value of letting your son learn to play on his own.
Yes, it is good to do things with him, but letting him play by himself with his toys or coloring at the table while you read a magazine nearby or do kitchen chores (wash dishes, empty/fill dishwasher, prep food, etc.) is a GOOD thing, especiallly if you plan to have any other children or to ever have a decent phone conversation while he's in the room again. = ) Crayola's Color Magic stuff is great for when kids are learning boundaries around what is ok to color and what is not - they make markers and finger paint stuff. I advise only letting him do 'art' at a table, helps to keep the mess contained and easy to clean up.
Having said that, some other good activities for this time of year are going for walks outside or to a local park, blowing bubbles outside and encouraging him to catch them (or to blow them as he gets older), writing with colored chalk on the driveway and sidewalk (you can draw a game and then play it - hopscotch or make colored circles and then play a jumping game from one circle to another, teaching him colors), supervised 'gardening' or digging around (especially if you have a sandbox), and watering your outside plants with a kiddie watering can. You can also look for some arts and craft activities suitable for his age group - ACMoore, JoAnn and Michaels all have a bunch of stuff, check them out. He can make craft projects to give as gifts to cousins or grandparents - anybody have a birthday coming up? Decorating gift bags with special drawings are always a plus (buy the plain ones at the dollar store or craft places.)
Have fun and good luck!
These cards are filled with GREAT ideas!
Hi M.,
In my experience working with one year olds, there are a lot of activities that you can do with them. One that the children I have worked with loved was pudding paint. We used chocolate pudding (outside of course) and would give them some paper or a sidewalk. They loved it! They could get dirty and be creative, and it wouldn't hurt them if they ate it.
Another good thing that we do in the day care is circle time. This is just time spent with the children singing and talking about shapes and colors. This is especially fun for them if you use flashcards or wall posters (but my classes liked the flash cards better).
Reading books is another great activity for them. It helps them learn words and you can point out the colors and letters too.
Just to give you an idea of what our center looks for as far as skills that one year olds need to learn, we looked for these things before we could let them move to the two year old class:
can they recognize several colors and point to them when asked (I used red, yellow, green, and blue).
can they ask for things that they need in some way (I taught sign language to my classes).
do they recognize and attempt to sing songs that they hear on a regular basis (like ABC's).
I hope this helps a little!
M.,
I do work in a preschool. I work with children ages 15-24 months but we do have 4 infant rooms in our center and I do know some of the activities that the infant teachers do with the children.
Here are some suggestions:
singing
doing simple fingerplays (such as Itsy Bitsy Spider, Row Row your Boat, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
simple art projects (such as painting with a brush, scribbling with a crayon, making handprints)
Two great books of ideas:
*Things to do with toddlers and twos
*Slow and steady: get me ready
hi M.,
i think that teaching skills to tinies is highly overrated. at that age they're learning skills all the time. enjoy your time with him! do things you both love to do. don't worry too much about whether or not they're educational. every single interaction with him teaches him something, good or bad. if you fill your time with love and laughter, you'll be 'teaching' him (and yourself) skills beyond price.
:) khairete
S.
Hi M.,
Call your local day care provider and ask them the kind of activities they do with their one year olds.
Get in a support group for SAHM's and take some parenting classes.
Hope this helps. Good luck. D.
