These are five developmental still to work on at home with your toddler that can help with school readiness success. These skills are ones we all have and we either excel at them, are average, or can use some improvement. As your toddler grows they are picking up on these skills by the games they play, the activities they do, the toys they have, and by just watching those around them.
As a parent it is our job to make sure we do what we can to help them grow these skills to give them the best start to life. None of us are the perfect parent but we sure can do what we can to give them the experiences that will help them grow.
Before we get into the five areas I want to say that if your child is struggling in any one of these areas that does not make you a bad parent or any of the other things you may be thinking about when you find out your child struggles with something. Some things your child may simply not have been exposed to or exposed to enough for them to pick it up and grow.
The point is, if your still here reading this then your making the effort and I am proud of you for wanting the most for your child. We can help your child grow and build on these skills with activities that they will enjoy everyday.
If you find an activity that your child likes, take note of it using the free pintable described below, and do it over and over. Kids learn through repetition and will have fun playing as they grow on these vital developmental skills.
Age-appropriate, is a key to developing these skills. If you give a one or two-year-old little half inch cubes to stack there is little chance that they will be able to. However if you were to give your two-year-old two inch blocks, they will be able to get it done without getting frustrated and giving up on trying. You know your child best and use what they are able to, not always what they are suppose to be using. Let them work up to those if they need to. If your four or five-year-old needs to start with the two inch blocks there is nothing wrong with that just keep working with your child.
Each of the skills listed below play a part in your child development that you want to be aware of. Even when you feel your child has a skill figured out don’t stop working on it and help them grow with more challenging activities that are age appropriate. They are not listed in any particular order due to each of the skills are learned at each individual child’s own pace and needs.
There are countless ways to build these skills. This post gives you three ways for each skill and we expand on each of them throughout the website.
Let’s get into these skills
1. Communication
Communication is a vital part of being able to be part of a family or community. While some people may have some ways that may alter how they communicate they still need to have some way of communication with those in their life. Whether we use speech, sign language, or written form for communication, we all need it.
There are ways that you can work with your child on communication from the day they are born. Have you ever talked to an animal or said something to the TV knowing they aren’t going to talk back? You can talk to your child everyday about what you are doing or going to do and why you are doing it. Tell them about what is going on. If something funny happens on the show they are watching ask if they say it, describe what happened, and both have a laugh about it, because you we all get invested in their shows once in a while even when we despise them at time.
Reading to your child is one of the best ways to build on their vocabulary skills. Letting them hear the words and by reading it over and over again will expose them to words that may not be used in daily conversations. They can’t sit and listen? Read to them while they are playing, put on an audiobook in the car, or find story time on YouTube (This is an idea we are working on creating).
Listening is a skill that we as parents need to grow on ourselves. When they are getting upset about something take a moment to stop and listen to what they need. Most children do not get upset out of the blue without a reason behind it and you have to listen to them to figure out what is upsetting them and talking to them to figure out how to solve the problem together.
Talk to them
Read to them
Listen to them
2. Independence and Social Skills
I put these two together because they work together. Learning independence grows their confidence and it is that confidence that is going to help them reach out to others. When we are pressed for time and we need to get them ready and out the door I know you don’t have time to let them get themselves ready, and we’ve all been there. Take those times when you are early or getting them ready for bed and let them do things for themselves.
Let them try washing their own hair, putting on their pajamas, or brushing their own teeth. I always recommend letting them brush their teeth themselves in the morning and you brush them at night. This way when they are brushing them in the morning you have already cleaned them good the night before and less for you to worry about if they missed a spot.
Let them make their own choices sometimes. They can choose what they want to wear on the days that you know you are going to be home and have nowhere to go. If you don’t mind letting them wear something silly out of the house what is the harm in them choosing their own outfit.
Those times that you allow them to make those decisions and complete tasks on their own are showing them you trust them and in turn will trust you back. As they gain that confidence they will be able to walk up to those other kids while playing at the park or daycare and have a conversation and play together. Kids are very curious and we have to allow them the chance to discover what is out there and how they fit into the world around them.
Let them try it themselves
Let them have a choice
Allow them opportunities to socialize
3. Problem Solving
Problem solving is a critical skill that we all use on a daily basis. We are faced with decisions that we have to make everyday and some are easy to make while others take more thought and time to make those choices. As a toddler they need to learn that the decisions that they make always have consequences. Problem solving is a process and takes thought before action.
Problem solving is about them identifying that something needs to be done and figuring out what needs to be done. When we present a problem to our toddler they have to slow down and take a minute to think about and analyze what is going on.
A few pages into a new book where there is a problem to solve stop and talk to your toddler about it. Point to a picture in the book and tell them “oh, no look,” after they look at the picture for a few seconds ask them a question about what they are or should be doing. This results in your child having to think about what they are looking at.
Cut up a magazine or photo graph into 2-8 pieces and let them put them together. Start with just two pieces and lay them out together. Pull them apart and put them back together. Do this a few times while they watch and see if they can put them together. When they get to where they can take one you have turned upside down and turn it on their own and put it together cut it again into four pieces and repeat the steps.
Identify animals in a book
Simple 2-8 piece puzzles
Let them copy what you do
4. Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills is one of the developmental skills that a toddler will love getting up and working on. The gross motor skills are the ability to be able to use and manipulate the large muscles the way you want to. As your infant begins to gain control of the movements they make with their arms and legs you can see that they are building on those large muscles.
Learning to walk is a big step for an infant as they move into the toddler stage. They go from walking to running to jumping as they gain control of their body. Doing tasks and activities that use their core muscles will help build on those gross motor skills.
Bending and picking up objects
Kicking, throwing, and catching a ball
Jumping with both feet together
5. Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are those that use the small muscles in the hand combined with hand eye coordination. We watch as our infants begin to grip toys and being able to control what they hold and what they put in their mouths. The small muscles in our hands begin developing as a baby when we hold on to things. These muscles grow as we get older and we are able to do more with our hands.
Your toddler and preschooler has not fully developed all the bones in their hands yet. Fine motor skills is used to write as they enter school. It is okay to let them scribble and write on paper but that should not be the main activity used to develop those small muscles. Playing is one of the best ways for your child to build their fine motor skills as they grip and manipulate various toys and items they come in contact with.
Manipulating tweezers
Squeezing
Stacking
As a parent or guardian we always want to do what is best for our kids. We want them to succeed and we want to see them happy. When you give your child the tools they need to be successful you can insure that they will grow and learn to the best of their abilities with you by their side cheering them on. From the day you bring your little one home you are making an difference in your child life.
I wanted to share with you this one year old gift guide of some of the items that I have used personally as a mom, as a daycare teacher, and researched to found the best toys available to you.
Here are toys that are fun and engaging for your one year old that are developmental appropriate for their age.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.
PIN FOR LATER ↓
While my child is grown and no longer plays with these toys, I wanted to share with you the ones that we loved when they were still young and the ones that I have seen the children in the daycare setting enjoy.
Items that I have not used personally have been researched by myself and they are ones that have the highest reviews and no known recalls.
While there are some benefits to the technology world, your child will gain so much more when that are given open ended toys to explore and play with.
What are open ended toys?
Open ended toys that are toys that can be used in more ways than one.
If your child puts a puzzle together then it is completed and there is nothing more that can be some with a typical puzzle other than taking it apart and reassembling it.
An open ended toy leaves it to the child’s imagination to create and build without the set rules.
How any toy can become an open ended toy!
When introducing a new toy to your little one set it out in front of them and let them explore with it and see how they use it.
There are no set rules that all toys have to be played with in one particular way. Let their curiosity see that they can do first.
Once they have had the opportunity to explore you can sit down beside them and play along side them and build on what you have seen them doing.
You can then start showing them how the toy was intended to be played with but never forcing them to use it the “correct” way.
Now let’s get to the one year old gift guide below.
Shape Sorter
This Melissa & Doug Shape sorter comes with 12 brightly colored shapes that are easy for little ones to grip.
Activity Center
This treetop wooden activity center is great to get them up on their feet to build those gross motor skills while exploring everything that they can enjoy with this one toy.
Stacking Rings
Classic stacking toy that includes 8 smooth and easy to grip brightly colored wooden pieces that stack onto the wooden base. Theses are great for fine motor skills.
Stacking Cups
These are a great stacking toy that includes holes in the bottom of each cup so they can be played with in the water. whether it be the bathtub or a water table they will love filling and watching the water drain out of the bottom.
Soft Blocks
These soft blocks are great for stacking and can be safely chewed and squeezed. It also comes with a bag that you can store them in so you can take them on the go. This set comes with 10 unique textured cubes to add to sensory play.
Puzzle
This wooden puzzle is great for little hands. They have round handles on top each puzzle piece for easier grip. Great for a starting puzzle for little ones.
These linking toys are great for hand eye coordination and problem solving skills as they learn to get them to stack into one another.
Books
Soft books are a great way to introduce your little one to books and how to turn the pages. Soft books allow them to explore them with out ruining the pages of the book.
Board Books
This book is about a bear and her cub spending the day together and sharing the love they have for one another. Board books are another great way for kids to learn to love books.
Wooden ABC Blocks
These blocks are great for many reasons. The letters and number help them to start seeing the different letters while the images are great to build on their communication skills. You can talk about the pictures you see and getting them to find the ones you call out or say the names themselves as their vocabulary grows.
Toy Wagon
Push and pull toys are great for gross motor skills. Kids love to be able to pull things behind them and this one can pair with many other toys to move around the room.
Color Sorting
These farmers market style toys are great for color sorting as well as recognition of the fruits and vegetables that they enjoy eating. You can use this one to count as you place items in the baskets.
Best Toys for One Year Olds
Always remember that a child’s toy is meant to be fun first so they can learn and grow.
This one year old gift guide is to get you started in finding something your little one will love and you can feel good that you got something that not only keeps them busy but learning as well.
A child natural curiosity is the greatest way for them to learn through exploration and play.
Do you or your little one have a favorite toy?
Comment below and let us know what you guys like to to play with.
Looking for a great fun and engaging activities for your little one?
There are millions of websites and bloggers out there, Pinterest alone has over 10 million people signed up. Little Dreamers Activities was created as a one stop place to find fun and engaging activities for you and your family.
Are you a busy mom looking for fun activities and get overwhelmed with the countless ideas from Pinterest. We want to become your one stop place to find what you are looking for. Let us spend the hours combing through Pinterest and Facebook looking for those ideas that your kids will love.
Do you have a toddler or preschooler that you want to help learn the skills for school success?
There are endless ideas out there when it comes to activities for you and your child. Whether you are looking for games, crafts, or just drawing a blank and cant think of anything we are here to give you a simple way of finding those ideas. We will be sharing with you activities that you can do in your living room, outside. or when leaving the house.
Some of the ideas can be a quick five minute activity to get your child calmed down to lengthier activities to keep them busy while you cook dinner or visit with a friend. Every child is different and you may have children that are different ages. We want to help you play as a family and have ways to alter an activity that not only can your toddler play but your elementary kids will love as well.
Babies are born learning from the moment they take their first breath. As they are hearing new sounds they are learning about the world around them.
When my kiddo was a toddler I was always playing with them and making every moment I could a learning experience. Playing with blocks we talked about the shapes and colors. Playing with dolls we talked about why we should feed and cloth them. In the beginning it was only really me talking while they looked up at me with smiles and giggles.
Kids take in everything going on around them. Playing is a great learning experience.
Here is the are 5 ways that I am here for you here:
1. Support parents as their child’s first teacher
Before a child steps into the classroom or enters primary school for the first time there are ways that parents can work at home with them to ensure that they are prepared. I want to help you see that there are everyday experiences you are already doing for your child that is helping them grow.
A parent becomes a child first teacher the moment they are born. The caregiver shows them how to hold their bottle and play peek-a-boo. All of these are learning experiences for the child that with repetition they are able to begin doing themselves.
2. Provide activities and resources that are simple and easy
Little Dreamers Activities is a place parents and caregivers can turn to when they are looking for inspiration on ways to teach their children with fun and engaging activities. Whether it’s five minutes or an hour worth of time, we want to bring you endless ideas that everyone will enjoy.
Make sure to check back often as we are a new site and will be sharing as often as we finish up a project.
3. Help parents teach school readiness skills for toddlers
When most people think about school readiness they think about reading, writing, and math. When you are working with toddlers and preschoolers it’s not only those abilities that should be taught prior to that first day. Parents and caregivers have many day to day activities that kids as watching and learning from.
How many times has a child done something and the adult is looking at them clueless where they learned something like that only to realize it was themselves or someone else that is around regularly. Kids are watching and picking up on the good and bad habits they witness.
4. Share books that families can enjoy together
Every parent knows that reading is a great way to spend time with their little ones. I want to share books that are great to experience together as well as those that can be enjoyed individually. Its not always about the words on the text, sometimes its about what we imagine the story could be with a few simple images.
I will also be sharing some amazing books that you can read alone when you need a few minutes to sit back and relax. Remember they are watching and picking up on the habits they witness, reading is a great habit to share.
As a former teacher I want to share with parents and caregivers what I have learned about those crucial first years when a child is a sponge and takes everything in that they see. Posts and activities shared here will help children learn through play. Playing is the best way to keep a child engaged and interested in what is being taught.
A child learns through play and repetition, like watching Frozen for the fifth time in a row. When they get up and move around they are actively learning and those are the experiences that they will enjoy doing again and again.
Starting school is a big moment for you and your child. Knowing they are prepared and ready for this big step can start with the right games and activities they experience with you, their first teacher. School readiness is about more than knowing their ABC’s and I want to share the areas you can work on at home.
My kiddo was not big on crafts at a young age, well they still aren’t as a teenager, but we loved to do activities that were out of the norm. Not all play time has to be a toy or game that you try and try to get them to “play” the right way. Show them how to do an activity but then follow their lead and let their imagination and creativity take the reins.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.
What does school readiness mean?
School readiness is not about making sure your child is ready to read and write. It is more about the development and the skills your child has as a whole. While a child may be able to sing the ABC’s, are they able to follow directions when they are supposed to come sit on the carpet or line up for recess. Here are some of the key areas that you want to see developing in your child as they prepare for those first years.
Development of the whole child:
Social
Emotional
Cognitive
Physical
communication
The knowledge a child has as they enter school can be a key component in the type of success they can have in the future. When a child enters the classroom struggling from day one they can struggle with the confidence in themselves and the trust in you and their teachers. Struggling from the start can also lead to behavior problems as well. Many children that struggle in class use bad behavior as a coping mechanism to make it through the day.
What are the characteristics of school readiness?
As your child is learning through play they are growing in more ways than just learning their ABC’s and colors. They are growing in their personalities and gaining experiences that will help them to understand the world around them.
Here are some characteristics you want to see in your child to help with school readiness:
Listening
Following directions
Express thoughts
Communicate with others
Thinking before taking action
Curiosity to learning new things
Independence
Sharing (sometimes, the ability to share even if they don’t always)
Why is school readiness important?
When a child starts school prepared for the demands that are required of them they are able to make a smooth transition. School readiness enables your child to start school with a great foundation for learning.
When a child does not have that foundation it is like putting a child on a bike for the first time without training wheels or ever having rode on a tricycle. A select few can master it, but many will struggle much longer than a child that rode many different bikes growing up working their way up to a bicycle.
We all want to make sure we build that foundation for our children, we all want to make sure they are ready for what is to come in the classroom. As your child’s first teacher, there are endless ways that you can help build this foundation for your child.
School readiness also eases the the emotional distress for both your child and you when they are able to walk in with the confidence and skills they need to be successful in transitioning to the school day. There is more to starting school then them being away from mom and home for 3-7 hours of the day.
School readiness ensures that your child has that foundation for school success. Make sure they have what they need to reach their maximum potential.
How can I help with school readiness?
Let’s go over things you can start doing today that will help your child succeed in school.
Communication is a key component in ensuring your child is ready. Talk to your child about anything and everything that arises in the day, age-appropriate that is. A child is never too young to start talking to. A newborn and infant may not be able to copy the words you’re saying but they are still experiencing language.
Everyday there are learning moments in some of the simplest things. Talking about the difference in fruits and vegetables at the grocery store or pointing out the birds you see flying across the yard. They won’t experience the great things going on if you aren’t there sharing and pointing them out to them.
Show them the behavior you expect from them. Talk to them about your expectations when you are going shopping. Let them know ahead of what you want from them as you sit them down with a few toys and you are going to switch the laundry.
How can we expect them to behave when they don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing?
Your child wants to hear that you are proud of them with the big things as well as the little ones. You should always show praise when they accomplish something great like going potty for the first time, but what about the little moments like when they put their cup on the table or put their own shoes and socks.
Praise is something that even adults seek. A toddler is no different, they want to hear that they are doing something great. How many times do you laugh or cheer for your child and they continue to repeat the action to the point it may even get to be too much.
Add image here of suggested vocabulary counts per age 2-5 or 6
How can I help my toddler with school readiness?
How can you help? Simple
PLAY WITH THEM
A toddler is too young to determine or judge whether or not they have the skills for school readiness. They are, however, not too young to start working on introducing and developing on the skills they will need.
You can encourage and nurture the skills as the child becomes ready and they arise in their everyday play. A baby book starts out plastic so it will not be ruined when put in their mouth. Then they move to the board books that are the thick cardboard pages that are meant for toddlers as they learn how to treat a book and withstand being thrown and walked on. Then they graduate to regular paper books once they are more gentle and can turn those thinner pages.
When you play with your child and play pretend, you are showing them the skills and behaviors you expect from them in that type of situation. Kids learn through “baby steps” when they play everyday. The bad behavior is not always about not wanting to listen, it’s about their ability to understand you when you are scolding them.
When your baby is first telling you NO, be honest what do you do? Do you laugh (I did)? Then one day you tell them no when they are doing something they should not be and they turn around and laugh at you and continue the behavior. Their understanding of the word “no” is now tied in with laughter.
Vocabulary plays such a huge part in a child’s development. Those that surround your child play an influence on your child’s understanding of their native language. They say it is easier to teach a toddler/baby multiple languages than it is an adult. I believe that is because they have not become set in the ways that one language works and then having to relearn the structure of a new language.
This is true with so many aspects of a child’s social, emotional, and communication skills. Playing at this age is the best way for your toddler to learn something new. You can’t sit a two year old down and teach them the ABC’s. You can however get up, dance around, and sing a song that teaches them the alphabet and the sounds that go with it.
Teaching them their colors sitting at the kitchen table isn’t going to get you anywhere. You can sit down at the dinner table while you are eating and talk about the colors and textures of the food they have before them.
Here are 3 simple activities for learning colors during playtime:
When playing with building blocks don’t just build towers. Talk about the colors they are using as they build the tower. Ask them to hand you a color when you build yours and show them the color you are asking them for.
Talk about the colors of the different fruits and vegetables they are eating or when you are buying them in the grocery store.
When they are painting or coloring talk about the colors they are using. If they are drawing a tree, talk about the colors they have used as well as the colors that we see in the trees outside.
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Children are born learning from the moment they open their eyes. A newborn looking at black and white images or a toddler getting a new toy they have to figure out how it works. Children are natural born learners, those first 3 years have a big impact on your child school success.
School readiness are skills that develop over time and is something that you can start when they are still toddlers. Do what you can to encourage their curiosity and desire to learn. Play with your child and talk to them everyday so you can build their trust in you and the confidence in themselves that they can be successful in school when the time comes.
