Learning can be fun, especially when it involves watching Little Ones learn! And each age bracket presents its own challenges, learning curves, and of course, developmental skills and abilities. Looking for activities that not only help Little One learn and grow, but are fun? You’ve come to the right place! Plus, all 5 of these activities are no-prep or low-prep time so you can get right to the good parts – the fun and learning!
To see these activities more in-depth, click the first photo below to watch the video!
2 Ingredient Edible Finger Paint – Great For Dexterity & Hand-Eye Coordination
Super fun. Super easy. And edible, because we all know Littles love to put stuff in their mouths. All you need is whipped cream and food coloring! Mix the two ingredients together in a muffin tin and let them go to town. Use simple colors, mix colors, make them light or dark – have fun with it! A high chair tray or plastic play table make great canvases because of easy clean up. *This project can get a little messy, so make sure to do it in a suitable area (outdoors, on a play mat, etc.) For added fun, let your Little use corks or another tool to make ‘stamps’ with the paint.
Fill & Empty – Great For Hand-Eye Coordination & Spatial Concepts
When it comes to easy activities, I don’t know how much easier it could get than this one! All you need is a container of some sort – think bag, box, basket – and items to fill. It could be toys, balls – heck it could even be leaves! Little One will love to put the items in the container and then empty it. A lot of the Littles I’ve been around will also try to ‘throw’ the object into the container. It’s fun for them to learn that objects fit into other objects, about the work of gravity, and to focus on what they’re doing. For added fun, try using a book or binder to create a ramp for them to roll objects down!
Sensory Bags – Great For Stimulation & Exploration Of The Senses
Sensory play is great for kids of all ages! Not only do they help children learn to use the muscles in their hands and fingers, but to develop fine motor skills as well. There are different types for different age brackets due to safety and other factors, but a wet and dry sensory bag is great for one year olds! Simply fill up a ziplock (or reusable silicone bag) with a mixture of dry (or wet) ingredients, press out the air, and seal. You can tape it to the floor for tummy time for smaller Littles or tape it to a higher surface to encourage standing and movement for bigger Littles! Feel free to tape the edges for added protection too.
Balloon/Rattle Ties – Great For Cause/Effect & Visual Tracking
This one is just as much fun for parents as it is for Littles! All you do is tie a helium balloon to each of Little’s wrists and ankles while they’re lying on their back and watch as the magic unfolds. Each tug or movement of Little One’s body will cause movement in the balloons, catching Little in a trance! You can also use the wrist/foot finders from ETM. Not only is it a more eco-friendly option, it’s a travel-friendly option too! Same concept but with little rattles that velcro to Little for and easier (and safer) release.
When Learning Is Fun
When learning is fun, it encourages children to have a learning mindset or mentality. Sure things may go wrong, but that doesn’t mean that we’re wrong. It’s about experimenting and exploring, about leaning and growing! And when we do activities with our Little Ones that encourage and inspiring learning from a young age, there’s so many possibilities that are created for them! So give these a try a let me know what you think by replying or tagging ETM on social media. And if you have any ideas that you and your Little love, leave them in the comments below for others!
Related: 7 FUN & EASY DIY CRAFTS FOR LITTLE ONES
As always, thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas and others alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:
With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth To Momma
