Color Collage

Materials Needed:

Glue
Colored Construction Paper/tissue paper
Cutout of a shape (square, bird, car)

Procedure: Children will practice ripping different colors of construction paper or tissue paper into pieces. They can then glue the colored pieces onto the shape cutout. If using tissue paper, show your child that the paper can be crumpled or smoothed. This activity helps children strengthen the muscles in their hands as they tear the paper. It can also be a time for you to practice identifying the different colors with them. For example, have them point to colors as you name them or have them name the colors they are gluing on their paper.

Sticky Paper Collages

Tape up a strip of contact paper on the wall at your toddler’s height. Gather different light weight materials. These can be things like yarn and paper or leaves and straw. Put the assortment of materials in a bucket and allow your child to place the materials onto the sticky side of the contact paper. (Things to Do with Toddlers and Twos by Karen Miller)

Toddlers can use expressive lanuage and signs as they request and label colors or objects. They can use thinking skills and creativity as they experiment with the different textures of the materials and the sticky paper. They can work on their pincer grasps as they pick up materials and stick it to the paper.

Firefighter Hose Painting

Materials needed:
Ketchup bottles or clear squirt bottles
Paint (any color)
Water
Paper

Directions:
Take ketchup bottles or clear squirt bottles and fill them with water and 2 tablespoons of paint. You can add more paint or water if desired. Spread out a large piece of poster paper on the ground. To keep things clean, do this activity outside! Pretend with your children that the ketchup bottles are hoses. Have them “hose down” the paper. When finished, admire the wonderful masterpiece that they have created! This is a simple and fun activity for those children who just love to be messy!

Make your own Placemats

What you need:
Autumn leaves; Wax Paper; Large Heavy Books; Construction Paper or Colored foam Board; Clear Contact Paper; Glue.

What to do:
1.Collect Autumn leaves on a nature walk this fall.
2. Place leaves in between sheets of wax paper and press them in the
pages of the heavy books.
3. In a few days collect the leaves from the books.
4. Place them on top of the construction paper or foam board using
a little bit of glue to keep them in place.
5. Carefully cover with the clear contact paper. Cut off any excess.

Skills:
Pincer Grasp... Eye-hand coordination ... Squeezing ... Walking...

Adaptation: The construction paper can be placed over a lighted surface to back light for those who are visually impaired.

Toddler Hand Prints

Directions:
1. Mix two cups of plaster of Paris and one and a quarter cups water in a tin can (The mixture should be as thick as pea soup so it can cast without air bubbles).
2. Pour one inch of plaster mix into a paper plate.
3. Wait two minutes
4. Have your child press her hand or foot gently into the plaster (imprint should not go to the bottom of the plate).
5. Hold for one to two minutes and remove.
6. Let the imprint sit overnight, and then peel the plate from the print.
7. Cover with a acrylic gloss or paint different colors (optional).
8. Can be hung by gluing the picture hook to the back of the print (optional).
9. Enjoy your child’s new art!

Materials: Plaster of Paris, 1 ¼ Cups water, Tin Can, Mixing Spoon, Paper plates
Optional: Picture Hook, Acrylic Gloss, Various colors of paint

Oobleck

What to do:
Place 2 cups of cornstarch in a pan or bowl.
Add 1 cup of water and stir well.
Add more water or cornstarch until you get a mixture which “tears” when you quickly scrape your finger through it and then “melts” back together again.

Squeeze it! ... Smoosh it! ... Scoop it! ... Pinch it!

Children will work use critical thinking to determine if the oobleck is solid or liquid. They will also use their fine motor skills to pick up and play with the oobleck.