My Fingers – 1.6 – Add A Little

Posted on February 13, 2024February 16, 2024 by S. J. Little

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 6

My Fingers

Vocabulary: Finger, Paint, Poke, Water

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

Poke It Through

Supplies:

A basket with holes in the sides. Consider a laundry basket, or a smaller organizing basket with holes.
Optional: A toy that can poke through the holes. (This is especially helpful if the holes in the basket are rough or pose a risk of getting fingers stuck in them.) Consider:
- A spikey sensory ball
- The tail of a dog toy
- A spoon

Time to Play:

Sit with your child where one of you can reach the inside of the basket and the other can reach the outside. Poke your finger or the toy through a hole, then pull it back.
Repeat this action in another hole.
Encourage your child to try to catch the finger/toy or push it back in.
Play and have fun together.
Eventually consider trading roles. Can your child poke the toy through while you try to catch it?

Let’s Explore

Water Painting

Supplies:

Several dark-coloured pieces of construction paper (test ahead of time to ensure water makes them change colour)
One shallow dish
A paintbrush (alternatively pinch a large pompom or cotton ball in a clothes pin)
Water

Prep:

Cut the paper in half – approx. 8.5″ by 5.5″
Fill the dish with about 1/2″ of water

Time to Play:

Sit your child at a table or somewhere water-resistant with a piece of construction paper in front of them.
Show them how to dip the paintbrush (or alternative) in the water and then brush the paper. Be excited when the colour changes.
Encourage them to try.

Let’s Sing

Where Is Thumpkin?

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

This Little Light of Mine

Let’s Read

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb

Author: Al Perkins

Illustrator: Eric Gurney

Buy it on Amazon

(This is an affiliate link meaning I earn a small commission when you make a purchase at no added expense to you.)

My Body – 1.5 – Add A Little

Posted on January 3, 2024January 6, 2024 by S. J. Little

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 5

My Body

Vocabulary: Head, Hand, Fall, Squish

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

On My Head

Supplies:

Select 1-3 toys per child that are durable and don’t hurt if they fall. Consider:
- Stuffed animals
- Bean bags
- Rings from a ring stacking toy

Time to Play:

While sitting with your child, place a toy on your head. Balance it for a moment then make it fall.
Encourage your child to put a toy on top of their head. Laugh with your child when it falls and have fun.

Let’s Explore

Cereal Squish

Note to Parents/Teachers:

This activity is fantastic for hand-eye coordination and fine motor development.
If you are concerned your child will pick up bad eating habits when you teach them to squish the cereal, consider making it feel like it is not meal time by placing their highchair somewhere unusual or having them sit somewhere else entirely. Just remember there will be cereal dust to clean up after.

Supplies:

1 Handful of an easy-to-squish cereal such as Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal

Prep:

Consider buckling your child into their highchair for this activity.

Time to Play:

Place five pieces of cereal in front of your child. Show them how to use a finger to squish one or two pieces.
Encourage them to try.
As they catch on, give them a few more pieces of cereal.

Let’s Sing

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Oh Be Careful Little Eyes

Click here for Lyrics and Actions

Let’s Read

My First – Body

By: DK

Buy it on Amazon

(This is an affiliate link meaning I earn a small commission when you make a purchase at no added expense to you.)

Christmas – 1.C – Add A Little

Posted on December 7, 2023March 6, 2024 by S. J. Little

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit C

Christmas

Vocabulary: Snow, Falling, Soft, Socks

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

Let It Snow

Supplies:

A sheet of basic white paper or wrapping paper (alternative: white pompoms or cotton balls)
1 container

Prep:

When your child is not present, rip the paper into pieces approximately 2″ by 2″. Next, crumple each piece and put them in your container.

Time to Play:

Invite your toddler to join you in an open area. Explain that you’re going to play with pretend snow.
Toss the pieces of “snow” into the air over your heads. Gather handfuls of snow from the floor and toss in the air again.
If you know one, sing a song about snow while you play, such as:

It Is Snowing

Author: Unknown
Tune: Are You Sleeping?

It is snowing, it is snowing,

All around, all around.

Soft and quiet snowflakes, soft and quiet snowflakes,

Touch the ground. Touch the ground.

Let’s Explore

Sock Play / Match (Stockings)

Supplies:

Socks – could be:
- Your toddler’s current socks
- Adult fuzzy socks
- Mismatched baby socks
1 box or basket (or more)

Prep:

Place several socks, preferably of different textures, in the basket.
For toddlers able to match socks, choose pairs of socks that can be matched.

Time to Play:

With younger toddlers, explore the textures, colours, and patterns on the socks. Have fun dumping them out of the box and putting them back in again. Can you balance a sock on your head?
With more advanced toddlers, encourage them to attempt to match the socks. Remember this is a challenging new skill for them, so be encouraging.
Other play ideas include:
- Put socks on a doll.
- Let your toddler try to put socks on their own feet (or on their hands as mittens).
- Roll a sock into a ball and throw it into the basket.
- Find a couple of toys that can hide in the socks.

Let’s Sing

I’m a Little Christmas Tree

Find the words and actions here.

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Baby Jesus, Welcome Lord

Find the words and actions here.

Let’s Read

Where Is Baby’s Christmas Present?
Author and Illustrator: Karen Katz

A simple lift-the-flap Christmas book that does not discuss Santa or the Nativity.

Let’s Read

CHRISTIAN BOOK

Baby’s First Nativity
Author: Little Bee Books
Illustrator: Nomar Perez

A wonderfully simple Nativity book, especially for younger 1 year olds.

The Simple Things – 1.4 – Add A Little

Posted on November 7, 2023March 6, 2024 by S. J. Little

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 4

The Simple Things

Vocabulary: Sit, Stand, Pull, Tape

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

Sit On It

Supplies:

A low sturdy thing to sit on (see prep).

Prep:

Find something for your child to sit on. Consider
- A booster seat
- Detachable stroller seat if it is stable on the ground
- A 4″ tall wide strong box (add some weight inside to keep it from sliding)
- A pack of 12 soup cans.
Clear an area of bumping hazards around the seat.
Consider placing soft mats or blankets around the seat.

Time to Play:

Show your child the seat and encourage them to sit on it. They likely need your help and guidance the first several times, but then back off to see if they can do it themselves.

Comments:

This activity will hold stronger appeal for toddlers who can already walk independently. If your child isn’t walking yet, they may still like this activity. If not, consider re-trying this activity in a couple of months.
For more advanced walkers, consider finding a sturdy thing that is only 2-4 inches tall. Invite your child to step onto and off of it.

Let’s Explore

Tape Pull

Supplies:

Painters tape (or other tape that comes off cleanly. Alternatively consider using sticky notes).

Prep:

Select a surface you don’t mind putting tape on. Possibilities include a wall, the back of a door, the side of a bookshelf, the refrigerator.
Place five to ten 5″ pieces of tape on the wall leaving one end hanging loose.

Time to Play:

Show your child how to pull one piece of tape off the wall, then put the piece of tape back.
Encourage your child to try pulling all the tape off the wall.

Let’s Sing

Rolly Polly

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

God is so Good

Additional Verses for “God is so Good”

Let’s Read

Big Board First 100 Words
Roger Priddy

Down – 1.3 – Add A Little

Posted on October 10, 2023March 6, 2024 by S. J. Little

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 3

Down

Vocabulary: Down, Under, Tunnel, Through

Disclaimer: All activities require adult supervision and discretion. Read more…

Want to learn more about Add A Little Curriculum? Check out the Parent / Teacher Guide

Let’s Wiggle

Tube Drop

Supplies:

Empty paper towel roll (or toilet paper roll)
Tape (or other method to attach the tube to a wall)
1 Container
3-10 Items small enough to fit through the tube

Based on your child, you might choose:

- Plastic spoons
- Washable markers (if your child can’t open them)
- Small socks rolled into balls
- Pompoms
- Q-tips

Caution: Items small enough to fit through a paper towel tube may be potential choking hazards. Use your discretion when choosing which items to use. If preferred, consider making a wider tube from cardboard or by combining two tubes. Then you can use larger items, such as plastic chain links, and still have just as much fun.

Prep:

Using tape, or another method, secure the tube to an open section of wall
Place all the items in the container

Time to Play:

Invite your child over. Choose an item to drop through the tube. Be excited when it falls out the bottom.
Encourage your child to try dropping an item through the tube.

Let’s Explore

Tunnel Play

Supplies:

Materials to build a small tunnel, consider:
- Mega Bloks or other connecting blocks
- Cardboard
- Small furniture with tall enough legs for toys to go under
1 year old appropriate small cars or balls

Prep:

Build a tunnel that is big enough for your cars or balls to go through and is about as long as your child’s arm

Time to Play:

Show your child how to roll a car or ball under the tunnel. Encourage them to roll one under.
Consider sitting on the opposite side of the tunnel from your child so you can pass the cars and balls back under the tunnel to them.
Extend the play: If your child wants to crawl under the tunnel themselves, consider using a sturdy chair or bench as a 1 year old sized tunnel. Set it in an open area and encourage them to crawl under.

Let’s Sing

Rain is Falling Down

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Isn’t He Wonderful

For more actions, click here.

Let’s Read

Up and Down

By: Catherine Hnatov

Also available in select other languages.