Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Fun and appropriate experience

    Posted 05-16-2021 12:08 AM
    Hi everyone, 
    Aany recommendations on some interesting learning experience for pre-toddlers ( age 1 to 2)

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    Sakina Asare
    Germantown MD
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  • 2.  RE: Fun and appropriate experience

    Posted 05-17-2021 07:13 AM
    Hello Sakina,

    An interesting request. I suggest you observe the pre-toddlers in your program to determine what is of interest to them. I would also suggest you consider enrolling in one of the  "Critical Core Competencies for Infant/Toddler Educator's being offered throughout the state of MD and created by Zero to Three.




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    Robert Gundling, Ed.D.
    Better Futures LLC
    Senior Consultant
    Washington, DC
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  • 3.  RE: Fun and appropriate experience

    Posted 05-17-2021 11:52 AM
    I thought a one-year old class and have been hosting toddler programs at the library for years. I have lots of suggestions...far too many to list here.

    MOVE! Toddlers have a short attention span and need to wiggle. Plan your circle/learning time around movement. If you are exploring shapes, give each child a felt shape and ask them to put them over their heads, next to their ear, etc. A fun song we would do is "if you have a red shape, red shape, red shape, if you have a red shape, bring it up to me!

    ART: contact paper is your friend. Children can stick anything to the contact paper without glue - make collaging easy! Then the paper can be stuck to a piece of construction paper for display or another piece of contact paper for window art.

    FINE MOTOR: I get fake flowers (wrap the sharp end with tape) and plastic bottles. The children can practice putting the flowers into the tops of bottle.

    SENSORY play all day!!

    I will gladly give more suggestions. Feel free to message me :)

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    Christina Roseli
    Ventura County Office of Education
    Oxnard CA
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  • 4.  RE: Fun and appropriate experience

    Posted 05-29-2021 07:06 PM
      |   view attached
    Hi,
    This is the hardest class. The environment is very important part of how the child plays in the classroom. There can be learning areas setup with an exorbitant amount of fun toys and materials. 
    There needs to be also table time toys for children needing to sit and play. Containers with individual activities like magnet 🧲 are a great example. 
    Teachers should be up.

    Not just sitting down. They need to be moving and teaching children how to play with the toys. And how to put the toys away when they are done. 

    It's a whole situation and hard to describe here.
    Draw a floor plan of the room and create learning centers like Playhouse or block areas. 
    Thanks Melanie

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    Melanie Smith
    The Preschool Doctor
    thepreschooldoctor.com
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