As a busy working mom, I just don’t have the time to come up with intricate and exciting learning activities for my toddler. It is one of my sources of mom guilt, but there is just not enough time in the day, nor do I have the energy left by the time the weekend rolls around.
Many stay at home moms take their sweet babies to children’s museums and playgrounds and libraries for toddler time and have the toddlers practice fine motor skills.
Us working moms, though, we just do the best we can on weekends – when most of these fun toddler-friendly activities are not going on. So what do we do?
We search Pinterest or read blogs and find fun ideas for things we can try at home. We pin, bookmark, and have every intention of doing all the fun stuff we scroll through on our phone in between meetings, but in reality, we just don’t get around to it.
Simple Learning Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
That’s why this specific book (DISCOVER + PLAY + ENGAGE + LEARN) caught my attention. It grabbed me so hard I actually bought it.
I so rarely actually buy stuff, because I don’t want them to just sit around in my virtual folders and never get used. But this one? I printed it out. See?
And we’ve started doing some of these activities!
The DISCOVER + PLAY + ENGAGE + LEARN eBooks have a combined 20 weeks of activities that are perfect for the early years. Fun ways to get kids moving, work on fine motor, do arts and craft projects and have fun as a family! Each weekly plan includes a handy supply list and activities broken down to know exactly what to do in a simple sentence or two.
This right here is what sold me on this ebook. Simple instructions, a simple list of things you need, and lots of easy, fun learning activities!
Grab your Monthly Activities Planner
Join the email tribe and we will send you this monthly activity planner right away!
I mentioned that we started doing some of these learning activities with my toddler. I know you want to see!
Here’s one that is a simple activity of using double-sided tape, or contact paper as the activity book recommends, to practice sticking objects to the paper and making a design. This is great for a tactile activity with feeling various objects and arranging them, and also good for dexterity.
Here’s another one that we just loved! I bought contact paper that is a chalkboard style, so we could use it again and again, and we added it to a cardboard box panel. Then we let my little one-year-old draw with chalk. This is from his very first time. Isn’t it gorgeous? He drew me a mountain! This totally went on my fridge!
As you can see, we’re making great use of this book already. I LOVE that it contains activities specifically for ONE-year-olds and a separate section for TWO-year-olds. Why? Because most “toddler activities” books are too advanced for my boy. He can’t lace things yet or arrange items by amount.
I’ve noticed a serious lack of activities specifically for this stage until I found this ebook by Hands on as We Grow. I was very impressed with it and quite pleased with my purchase, and so I wanted to share that mom win with you!
>>> Check out the DISCOVER + PLAY + ENGAGE + LEARN books
Who needs these Discover, Play, Engage, and Learn books?
- Moms who want to do activities with their toddlers
- Moms who don’t have time to research activity ideas
- Working Moms, like me, who just want a simple plan to engage with our kids in the limited time we have
What are the benefits of these books?
- The books split up the activities by age rather than “toddler”.
- There is a special book just for one-year-olds! This was what hooked me!
- These activities are simple in their instructions and use simple, common items
- The individual books are listed for $12/each, but this bundle of 4 books sells for $36!
Are you ready to join me in doing these wonderful learning activities with your toddler? Let’s help our little ones grow and develop in play, even if we only have a little time on the weekends in which to engage in these activities.
To help you out in planning your toddler’s activities, I made you a present! Check out this lovely little monthly activity planner. You can fill in the dates and decide what fun activities you will do and when (based on what works for your schedule).
Grab your Monthly Activities Planner
Join the email tribe and we will send you this monthly activity planner right away!
What learning activities for toddlers do you have planned to do with your child? Grab your copy of DISCOVER + PLAY + ENGAGE + LEARN and let’s enjoy some special learning activities with toddlers.
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Talya says
This is such a fab resource I remember when my little one was one and two I spent all my days doing stuff like this! Thanks so much for linking up to #coolmumclub with this post. X
Tori says
Wow this looks like a super helpful book to keep our busy toddlers entertained!
Rebecca Taylor says
This sounds fab – thank you for sharing! I like the fact it has a separate section for 1 and 2 year olds too! #KCACOLS
Julie says
Same here. There isn’t enough easy idea books out there for younger toddlers I think.
Suzanne says
It’s been a while since I’ve done any contact paper activities with my daughter so I may have to bring it out again. She’s a little older than your boy (2.5yrs) and has just learnt to use toddler scissors so we can extend the activity to include cutting up the paper too. #KCACOLS
Julie says
Oh I bet you can cut up and make some great crafts with contact paper!
Emma says
sounds fab! I love finding new things to do with my boy, age 3. pom poms are one of our fave cheapy play items. he simply loves throwing them about everywhere!!#KCACOLS
Julie says
Pom poms sound like a really versatile craft item. That and those colorful sticks.
Madeline (This Glorious Life) says
Ooh I love that idea of using contact paper to create a collage style picture. So much cleaner than using glue with little ones! x #KCACOLS
Julie says
Definitely, glue just sounds complicated with kids heh. We’re sooo far from a glue stick stage.
Mummy and the Mexicans says
I have the same problem, so many good intentions, activities pinned, etc, but don’t get round to doing very many! This book looks great, and short and simple instructions are just what we need. #KCACOLS
Julie says
It is so hard to find time when everyone (aka the toddler) is in a good mood and you have free time to do an activity hehe
The Speed Bump says
These activities look great! I always have such good intentions of doing activities with SB but I never get around to it! #KCACOLS
Julie says
Glad I’m not the only one with good intentions heh
Maria says
These activities sounds great! I always have the best intentions to do lots of activities with my boys but they never seem to end up materialising! #KCACOLS
Julie says
It really does take some scheduling or my good intentions don’t materialize either 😉
Jen says
These look awesome, I wish I had little ones to try this out! #KCACOLS
Julie says
You can borrow mine LOL
Hannah Spannah says
I love the activities that you and your son did! I wonder if we have ‘contact’ paper like the chalkboard style etc, in the Uk? It looks great and the ebook sounds fabulous too. Enjoy and put a few drawings aside too look at when he’s older. Thanks for joining the #weekendblogshare
Julie says
I wouldn’t expect the chalkboard contact paper to be a US thing. I got mine on Amazon.
Charlene Asay says
These are great activities. We used the double sided tape ideas with my day care classroom of baby-1 yr olds. They loved it! Thanks for sharing with us at all at Family Joy Blog Link Up Party this week.
Julie says
Yay glad to hear that this activity was such a hit with many other kids. We’ll need to keep doing this.
Bibi says
I am going to add a bookmark to this site! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Seasonal Blog Joy Group says
This is really wonderful! Great job putting this together. Thanks for adding this to the SEASONAL BLOG HOP JOY!! @seasonalblogjoy
Deb from Crossing New Bridges says
I love the double sided tape idea. We also put water in a ziplock bag and add a few drops of food coloring for my almost 1 y/o to play with. Sometimes we add a foam toy for her to push around.#Kcacols #seasonalblogjoy
Julie says
Ooh that zip lock bag with paint idea – I keep seeing it online. I have to try it!
Geraldine says
Oh wow what a perfect book! Must invest in this. Your planner is a brilliant idea. I wouldn’t have ever thought of this. #KCACOLS
Julie says
Thanks Geraldine 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
Nikki says
You’ve gotold my attention with this book. I’ve been trying to find stuff for my toddler to do. Im going to check this out.
Julie says
I do like collections with lots of good, simple ideas. Let me know what you think if you get this.
Jasmine Almeida says
Looks like a great selection of activities! I stay home and it’s still hard to find the time to prep in advance!
Julie says
You could even use these as a starting point and I bet you would come up with your own variations that your family enjoys 🙂
Samantha @ Momma Wants Java says
I haven’t seen this before, but it looks amazing! So much fun! Thank you!
Julie says
Thanks Samantha 🙂
Ang says
Great post. Thanks!!!