Winter is a season of excitement with many holidays, gift giving and new years. So many educational opportunities are available during this busy season for toddlers to learn new skills.
Winter Math Idea for Toddlers
There are some fun ways to bring numbers before toddlers in a day by day way. Create paper ring chains counting down to Christmas or New Year's Eve. And of course, the familiar Christmas Carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas” takes preschoolers past the number 10 where most nursery rhymes stop.
Music Idea for Toddlers
“Jingle Bells” is a toddler favorite for winter musical fun. Give preschoolers bells and rhythm sticks to keep time with the song as you sing.
Snowy Science Idea for Preschoolers
The advent of snow provides many opportunities for teaching toddlers about the changes of weather and the different stages of water. Show your preschooler how water is a solid as snow or ice, will melt into a liquid as water, and then evaporate as steam.
Another fun way to use snow as an educational tool is by introducing animal tracks to toddlers. Show how animals (and humans!) can leave footprints in the snow and have fun matching up the animal tracks and paw prints to the animal.
Seasonal Art Lesson for Toddlers
A fun winter artistic activity is to have preschoolers create their own snow globe. You'll need a miniature pine tree, or even a twig off an evergreen; moth crystals and empty baby food jars. Use the lid to create a winter snow scape by gluing the pine tree to the lid – you may use sculpting clay pressed into the bottom of the lid to hold the pine branch in place. Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of moth crystals into the lid (adults will need to do that for the toddlers so no toxic chemicals are touched by the child) and glue the jar into the lid. When the glue dries let the toddler give the jar a quick shake to create their own magical snowstorm.
Winter Food Idea for Preschoolers
Snow cones are an obvious choice for preschoolers and in keeping with the winter theme. Another fun idea is to let the kids have “mini snowballs” for a desert by serving ice cream scooped with a melon ball scoop.
Outdoor Cold Weather Activities for Toddlers
Outdoor winter activities should be carefully monitored to make sure toddlers don't get too cold but letting well-bundled kids play in the snow for 15 or 20 minutes can be a great time to build a snowman or make snow angels.
Winter Themed Indoor Games
A fun indoor toddler game that is good for developing self-control and listening skills is “Freeze!” The preschoolers get to move about the room however they like (being careful not to bump each other) and when the teacher says “Freeze!” the kids must freeze in place. Toddlers who continue to move sit on the “snow pile” until one or two children are left. They become the callers who shout “Freeze!”.
See more Seasonal Unit Studies for Preschoolers.
Angela England - Angela England is a problogger, mother of four (yes I know what causes that), speaker, teacher, labor doula, gardener and so much more.
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