Find-It DIY (This contains small objects that a child could choke on if it breaks. Please do not leave your child unattended with the Find-It bottle.) STEM Concepts: Science (physical science), Math (classification, measurement) Materials: An empty clear bottle with a lid, rice, super glue, little objects that can fit through the bottle’s neck (examples:...
Mirror Play STEM concepts: Math (symmetry, counting), Engineering (building), Science (observations, reflections) Materials: A shatterproof mirror, small toys, small blocks. What to do: Lay a mirror on the floor where your child plays. Encourage her to build and play on top of the mirror. As she does so, have her look into the mirror and...
Cup Stacking STEM concepts: Engineering (building), Math (grouping, sizes, counting), Science (observing, colors), Technology (the use of objects) Materials: Plastic cups of various sizes and color (could use toy cups or cups from your kitchen) What to do: Place the cups around your child. Allow her to explore the different cups and hold them in...
Eye Spy Jar STEM Concepts: Science (observation) Math (counting objects) Engineering (Figuring out how to manipulate object to find treasures) Materials: A clear empty bottle with a lid, rice or beans or birdseed, super glue, little objects that can fit into the bottle top. (puff balls, marbles, buttons, a small toy animal, etc.) What to...
Block Play/Construction STEM Concepts: Engineering (building, problem-solving), Math (counting, measuring, one-to-one correspondence) Materials: Foam blocks, wooden blocks, alphabet blocks. Any kind of building block or something that stacks will work! What to do: Dump out the blocks on the floor next to your child. Begin to build a tower, showing him that putting one block...
Nature Play STEM Concepts: Science (nature, collecting data), Technology (the natural world), Math (counting, patterns) Materials: Leaves, sticks, construction paper, and glue. What to do: Go on a nature walk with your child. This could be at a park, around the playground, or in your own neighborhood. Let her explore the world around her....
They look little adults, but their brain does not work like a tiny adult brain. How many times have you taken her to the park only to deal with a melt down because another child is on the swing she wanted or set up a play date that went awry because someone took the toy...
Activities Music Play: STEM Concepts: Science (physical science) Math (patterns, counting, sequences, spatial relationships) Materials: Basic musical instruments, piano, play instruments, radio, CD player and CDs or MP3 player, or music on your phone. You could also use our original music! What to do: Play music and pick up your toddler and move her to the beat...
Acknowledging the fact that your toddler is a competent learner, able to think on his own, make judgments, and have opinions will help you provide your toddler with the encouragement and independence needed to build his own sense of autonomy. Your 13 month old is in his sensory motor phase of development, learning from the...
The Harvard University Center on the Developing Child has found that babies brains make over one million new connections per second! That is so many new connections that their brain will literally double in weight in the first year. There are many concepts that go into healthy brain development, but there are five key ingredients...
