Muscle Moving

Obstacle Jump

Supplies:

• Paper – coloured is more fun
• Tape

Prep:

• Fold the paper at the 1/3 line and at the 2/3 creating a triangle. Tape it together forming an obstacle.
• Make three obstacles (or more if you have a large group of children).
• Place the obstacles in the floor in a line about 1 yard or 1 meter apart.

Time to Play:

• Show your children how to run to the first obstacle and jump over it, then run to the next one and jump over it, all the way down the line.
• Encourage your children to try jumping over the obstacles. Cheer for them and have fun!
• For more advanced children, get creative by making other obstacles. Consider using rolled-up blankets or pillows.

Brain Boosting

Jumping Containers

Supplies:

• A matching set of 2-10 small sturdy cups. Plastic recyclable applesauce cups work well, or paper or plastic drinking cups.
• Rubber bands
• Optional: tape and scissors

Prep:

• Wrap two rubber bands around one cup making an “x” over the top opening.
• Turn that cup upside down. Turn another cup upside down as well.
• Press the cup with rubber bands on top of the cup without. Let go. It should jump away.

Time to Play:

• Show your child how to make the cup jump.
• Invite your children to try making the cups jump by themselves.
• Have fun and be excited.

*Note to Parents/Teachers: Keep in mind that number recognition is advanced for 2 year olds. This unit is designed to introduce your 2 year old to counting and numbers, but they are not expected to master these skills yet.

Muscle Moving

Number Match

Supplies:

• Sticky notes (alternatively use small pieces of paper and tape)
• Marker

Prep:

• Write numbers 1-10 on the sticky notes, one number per sticky note. Repeat this process so that you end up with 2 sticky notes per number. 1,1,2,2 and so on.
• Stick one of each number on a wall in order to create a number line.
• Stick the other of each number around the room in easy to find locations.

Time to Play:

• Show your child the number line on the wall. Explain that the matching numbers are hiding somewhere in the room.
• Encourage your child to go find a number and bring it back to the number line.
• Help them match the number to its pair on the wall.
• Be enthusiastic.

Brain Boosting

Have a Snack

Supplies:

• A snack with several pieces – consider using small crackers, breakfast cereal, or raisins, etc.

Time to Play:

• Invite your child to join you for snack.
• Tell them you are going to give them 10 pieces of food.
• Count aloud as you place 10 pieces of the snack in a line in front of your child.
• Encourage them to try counting the pieces.
• Invite them to eat one, then count together to find out how many pieces are left.
• Continue counting and discussing numbers and concepts such as “more” and “less” as your child eats the rest of the pieces.
• For children who already have a strong concept of counting, consider saying, “How about I give you 4 pieces?” When the child agrees, give them 5 pieces or 3 pieces (not 4). Then say, “Wait a minute. Is that 4 pieces?” Encourage your child to count the pieces and tell you if they need more or less.

Bonus!

Since this unit recommends an excavator book, here’s a free excavator colouring sheet to download and print.

Download Free Excavator Colouring Sheet – S J Little

Also, if you enjoy Christian kids’ music, check out Amy Essen’s catchy counting song: 123 Fishin’ in the Sea

*Note to Parents/Teachers: While there is much talk about fine motor development and how critical these hand muscles are for writing, let’s not forget that strong shoulder and arm stabilizer muscles are also required for proper penmanship. This unit focuses particularly on strengthening the muscles needed for writing. (Read more here: https://www.theplaygroundcompany.co.uk/post/how-upper-body-strength-improves-children-s-handwriting-skills)

Muscle Moving

Reach to Draw

Supplies:

• Paper – a roll of paper or large white sheet of paper is preferred, but standard paper can work fine.
• Washable markers
• Easily removeable tape

Prep:

• Choose a window within reach of your child. (Alternatively use an easy-to-wipe-clean surface such as a mirror.)
• Tape a large piece of paper to the window so that the top of it is just above the reach of your child.

Time to Play:

•  Show your child the paper and explain that they can draw on the paper, but not on the window (though it will likely be drawn on a little).
• Hand your child the washable markers and have fun drawing together on the paper.

Brain Boosting

Clothespin Pinch

Supplies:

• Clothespins (can be basic wooden clothespins or plastic ones so long as they are not too stiff for your child to pinch)
• Things to attach the clothespins to. Consider:
  • Large mega blocks
  • Small cardboard boxes
  • Plastic baskets with minimal lip
  • Yogurt containers with minimal lip
• Optional: Wide ribbon (see Extend the Play)
• Op

Prep:

• Test ahead of time to ensure the clothespins can easily attach to the items you are using.
• Optional: Set up a clothesline (see Extend the Play).

Time to Play:

• Show your child how to pinch a clothespin to open it and then attach it to an item.
• Have fun attaching and removing the clothespins.

Extend the Play:

• Pause to count how many clothespins you can attach to one item.
• If you have various colours of clothespins, consider making a pattern with them.
• For children who have mastered how to use clothespins, increase the muscle strengthening by using two feet of wide ribbon to create a clothesline to attach the clothespins to. Position this clothesline just above shoulder height. Consider adding clean socks or small clothes to increase the fun.

Muscle Moving

Puzzle Run

Supplies:

• A shape sorter set or a puzzle your child can confidently put together
• A sensory bin – could be a cardboard box filled with shredded paper or tissue paper, a plastic container with a couple of inches of water (if your shape sorter can handle getting wet), or a container of pompoms

Prep:

• Place all the shapes or puzzle pieces in the sensory bin.
• Place the sensory bin at child-accessible height on one side of the room, place the shape sorter or puzzle backing on the other side.

Time to Play:

• Show your child how to find one piece in the sensory bin, then run across the room to insert it in the shape sorter or puzzle.
• Encourage your child to try.
• Cheer your child on and join your child in running back and forth.

Brain Boosting

Build Your Own Shapes

Supplies:

• Playdough

Time to Play:

• Sit at the table with your child. Give some playdough to your child and keep some for yourself to use.
• Engage with your child and talk about what each of you is doing.
• Mention that you would like to make some shapes, then talk aloud as you work. For example, “I am going to make a shape with four sides. I want all the sides to be the same length. There! What shape did I make?”
• Depending on what your child already knows, adjust what you are making so they can confidently answer some of your questions, but also include new shapes or concepts.
  • Basic shapes:
    • Circle
    • Square
    • Triangle
    • Rectangle
    • Heart
    • Star
    • Oval
  • Advanced shapes:
    • Pentagon
    • Trapezoid
    • Hexagon
    • Octagon
    • Cone
    • Cube
    • Pyramid
  • Basic Concepts
    • Same / Different
    • Bigger / Smaller
    • Colours
  • Advanced Concepts
    • Counting 1-10
    • Big / Medium / Small
    • On / Under / Beside