Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Art for 13mos. Pre- toddlers during covid

    Posted 07-21-2020 11:11 PM
    the new changes during this covid season needs adjusting making a lesson plan is nearly impossible. For infants.. any one with any ideas

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    OLIVIA Nelson-Green
    Lead Cypa
    Fortsill CDC
    Lawton OK
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  • 2.  RE: Art for 13mos. Pre- toddlers during covid

    Posted 07-24-2020 08:53 AM
    Hello Olivia and Greetings from St.Thomas Virgin Islands! When I moved here 37 years ago, I began a fabulous career as a Preschool Instructor. Many times my toddler group would get to interact with those siblings who were younger. Me, being an Arts Enthusiast since about 2 years old, loved the opportunities where we'd do group art activities. Art is an excellent way to help even babies begin to develop their Pre-Writing , Fine Motor , and Eye-Hand Coordination skill, as well as teach colors, shapes and textures recognition in a fun and informal way. The main thing is that the adult in charge must remain vigilant. The younger the child, it seems the more they like to taste everything. So, I used to put the youngest kids directly in front of me, or pair them up with an older, more mature "partner" who'd echo all of my reminders . Here's a few fun activities. Have a Paper Tearing Party. Every child gets to tear up paper of all different colors and textures. Put it in the middle of the table , or even the floor. When you give the signal all kids form a group circle around the pile of paper, then they each get to pick up 10 pieces. Then you put dots of glue all over a large sheet of white, black or any color paper you choose. They get to use both hands designing their creation using the torn up paper bits. This can be a wonderful open-ended, non-graded fun activity. Then you can use various other recyclables to do similar art activities. You can cut rolls from paper towels or toilet paper( can you believe craft stores are selling these rolls as "craft rolls" for lost of money?) Let the toddlers practice their cutting skills to cut up the rolls. Then let them color the rolls in their favorite colors. Then they can glue them to a discarded box panel the way they did the paper. Another thing that's fun to do is use the cut rolls to make jewelry. You can also get a box of assorted colors drinking straws cut them up into safe lengths ,too big to swallow. And let the kids, even 13month olds lace the pieces to make jewelry. Now , if you want them to make edible art, Cheerios, Fruit Loops, and Assorted Flavors Life Savers are the Best, hands down!
    Another easy, 10-15 minute activity which all of my students loved was Sticker Art. Just get a whole assortment of all different kinds of stickers. Take long strips of poster board, say like the Sentence Strips. Let each child pick about 15-20 stickers. Let them color their poster board as they wish. Then decorate it with their stickers. Then after wards, make it a headband, and have either a "Fashion Show" or a Class "Parade" for kids to wear their creation. Now, over these past 37 years, I've done all of the mentioned activities for ages 13months through 16years old, even for kids parties, baby sitting, Summer Camp, tutorial, and even before Covid 19 struck, I occasionally return to schools as Volunteer Guest to organize Recess Activities Clubs for elementary schools. So, trust me, all of these Art activities for our youngest learners are tried and true. Let me know if they work for you too!
    JoAnne Saunders, St,Thomas, USVI

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    JoAnne Saunders
    St.Thomas
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  • 3.  RE: Art for 13mos. Pre- toddlers during covid

    Posted 07-24-2020 10:38 AM
    Thank you much. Our policy changes during covid makes me wonder if I'm able to give my pre-tod every opportunity to learn. I have contact paper for collages, doing range of motion for infants, and was just told I have too many books on my lesson plan. But, with social distancing I feel limited





  • 4.  RE: Art for 13mos. Pre- toddlers during covid

    Posted 07-24-2020 12:56 PM

    Okay, don't panic! Going through numerous hurricanes and tropical storms over these past 3 1/2 decades, helped get my creative juices flowing during post storm recoveries. There are so many various activities you can "invent" to help children develop their basic skills . Language Skills: cut out all kinds of pictures from old magazines. If you get catalogs you can cut out numerous pictures. You can glue several photos of animals, people, Geometric shapes, household objects, vehicles, musical instruments, articles of clothing on to the Collage paper . Next, take many of the same or similar types of pictures and attach those to construction paper cards. 
    There's so many lessons to teach with this Picture Cards Kit. Visual/ Verbal Recognition, Receptive Responses, Categorizing and Classification. What or Who Does Not Belong? Pick The Pairs, numerous vocabulary and counting games, Matching Games , Alike and Different,  Look around your home, and ask friends to help you collect and cut out the pictures. Then make ll kinds of Flash Cards, Match Card games, and Picture Lotto Games. Have fun teaching, and they'll have fun learning. You can cut back on books by making up stories and name your students as the characters. That really holds their attention and leads to great "Retelling" discussions. For the pre-tods, let them pretend to be animals and you're Ms.Zoo Keeper! Get animal stickers to let them make their animal headbands. Let them paste animal pictures on an 8x11 sheet of poster board, and attach it to them with yarn. That's their costume. Cover with clear contact and they last all year. Okay, that's plenty for  you to think about. Good Luck!




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    JoAnne Saunders
    St.Thomas
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