Easter – 1.E – Add A Little

Posted on March 1, 2024March 6, 2024 by S. J. Little

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit E

Easter

Vocabulary: Egg, Surprise, Carton, Inside

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

Surprise Eggs

Supplies:

Plastic Easter Eggs that open and close, large ones if possible. (Alternatively use small boxes or hide the toys in cloths.)
Small toys that can hide inside the eggs (but are not choking hazards). Consider:
- Small stuffed animals
- Small cars
- A soother (if still in use)

Prep:

Hide one small toy in each egg, then place all of them around the room “hiding” in plain sight.

Time to Play:

Hand your child one egg with a toy hiding inside. Encourage them to open it.
Next, tell your child there are more eggs hiding around the room. Encourage them to hunt for the eggs. If needed, walk around the room with your child. Be excited when you spot an egg.

Let’s Explore

Egg Carton Insert

Supplies:

One empty, clean egg carton
Popsicle sticks (alternatively consider Q-tips, spoons, or washable markers if your child can’t open them yet)
Optional: Markers or paint

Prep:

Turn the egg carton upside down and poke one popsicle stick into the egg carton creating one hole in every place that held an egg.
Remove all the popsicle sticks.
Optional: For children who have begun sorting things by colour, consider colouring the holes and popsicle sticks to make it a matching game.

Time to Play:

Show your child the egg carton and model putting one or two popsicle sticks into the holes.
Encourage your child to try.

Let’s Sing

Can You Shake Along With Me?

Grab a couple of plastic Easter eggs (or small plastic containers), put some dried rice or beans inside and use these as your shakers.

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

Ho-Ho-Ho-Hosanna

For lyrics and actions, click here.

Let’s Read

Where Are Baby’s Easter Eggs?
[a Lift-the-flap Book]
Katz, Karen

Let’s Read

Christian Book

The First Easter Day
Author: Jill Roman Lord
Illustator: Kimberley Barnes

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.

I’m a Little Christmas Tree – Preschool Christmas Song

Posted on December 7, 2023December 8, 2023 by S. J. Little

This Christmas song is fantastic for toddlers and preschoolers. The simple words and actions are easy to follow and relatable during the Christmas season. As an added bonus, you’ll likely find its tune familiar.

This song is featured in my 1-year-old Add A Little Curriculum Christmas Unit. Check it out here.

I’m a Little Christmas Tree

Tune similar to: I’m A Little Teapot

Author: Unknown

Source: https://www.momjunction.com/articles/most-popular-christmas-songs-for-toddlers_00382985/

I’m a little Christmas tree tall and straight,

Here are my branches for you to decorate.

First you put the star on the very top,

Just be careful that my balls don’t drop.

Actions:

Little Christmas tree tall and straight – touch finger tips over head to make a pointed tree

Here are my branches for you to decorate – hold arms out from your sides as branches

First you put the star on the very top – reach on tippy toes to put something up high

Just be careful that my balls don’t… – hold arms out from your sides again

Drop – flap arms downward

Looking for more Holiday preschool song ideas? Check out the following:

Baby Jesus, Welcome Lord

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Shine Shine Christmas Lights

Simple Gingerbread Man Song