Kitchen Puzzle

Here is a quick way to make a homemade puzzle for little ones.  This is a great activity because you can vary it so easily based on your child's ability but tracing a few shapes or more shapes.

Grab a file folder or large paper.  Trace around some objects from your kitchen i.e. cookie cutters, measuring cup, spoon or magnets.

When done, lay the objects around the border of the paper and see if your child can match up the objects to the outline.  So simple to make but reinforces a child's visual perceptual and fine motor skills.

Check out the Baby Toddler Book Pages.  This is a digital download of 10 entertaining and educational pages for baby. This set includes the following 10 themes: baby, dogs, cats, toys, animals, farm, trucks, outdoors and 2 color identification pages. 

You can print the pages on cardstock paper and laminate. If you don't want to print the pages, let your baby/toddler look and read the picture pages on a smartphone, tablet or computer.  Find out more at http://www.growingplay.com/toddlerpages.html

Circle the Different Doodles

Challenge visual discrimination and visual spatial skills to find and circle the 10 differences between the doodles. Submit your email below to go directly to the download!

Outdoor Puzzle Race

Here is a suggested activity for older children that combines physical activity with visual perceptual skills.  Trace around a bunch of small objects or toys on a large piece of paper or folder.  Place all the small objects plus a few extra that you didn't trace in a large container. 

Head outdoors or a large play space area.  Put the folder with the traced outlines at least 20 feet away from the container with the objects. 

Explain to the child that they will have one minute 30 seconds to try and match up as many objects as they can.  Only allow the child to bring one object at a time to match up. 

The kids enjoyed repeating this race over and over again to see if they could beat the amount of objects they matched up each time.  The record was 17 objects matched up in 1 minute 30 seconds.