Category: Preschool

Christmas – 1.C – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little
Picture of Christmas socks. Cover image for a curriculum for 1 year olds.

 

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 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

The Simple Things – 1.4 – Add A Little

Posted on 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 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.

Mountains – 1.2 – Add A Little

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

Add A Little – 1 Year Old Curriculum – Unit 2

Mountains

Vocabulary: Pillow, Soft, Container, Put In

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

Pillow Mountain

Supplies:

  • Large thick blankets
  • Pillows
  • Open floor space
  • Optional: Giant stuffed animals (if entirely soft)
  • Optional: Couch cushions, etc.
  • Optional: Foam mats, exercise mats and/or similar

Prep:

  • Clear a large floor space by removing any hard objects, including any tables or chairs that have hard legs which could pose a bumping hazard.
  • Place any mats on the floor.
  • Spread your largest blanket on top of the mats (this will help keep everything else from sliding, especially on hard floors).
  • Spread any other thick blankets you have on top.
  • Heap all your pillows and giant stuffed animals on top of the middle of the blankets.

Time to Play:

  • Lead by example. Climb onto the pillow mountain. Roll around enjoying the softness.
  • Encourage your toddler to join you.
  • Have fun tumbling around on the mountain.

Let’s Explore

Pieces of Nature

Supplies:

  • Two bowls or containers, etc.
  • 3-7 items from outside that are taste-safe and not choking hazards, consider:
    • Pine cones
    • Flowers (taste-safe only)
    • Rocks (too big to choke on)
    • Leaves

Prep:

  • Clear an area for playing on the floor
  • Place one bowl with all the objects on the floor.
  • Place the other bowl beside it.

Time to Play:

  • Model how to pick an item from the first bowl, examine it, and put it in the second bowl.
  • Encourage your child to explore the items.

Let’s Sing

She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain

Let’s Read

Who

Author: Jaye Garnett

Illustrator: Ariel Silverstein

Note: For 1 year olds, read as a point and name book.

Let’s Sing

Christian Song

My God is So Big

Words and Actions for “My God is So Big”