Activities for almost 2 and a half year old

[LenasMommy]

Hi! I was wondering how ya'll got your ideas for contained activities for your young toddler. I have seen a few blogs with great ideas, but become a little overwhelmed by finding all the necessary objects for it. Especially since I live in such a remote area. What are your fave books, websites or blogs that have toddler ideas? Any ideas or inspiration would be so great. Thank you! Also, if it helps, my daughter is diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder. So any activities that might help with sensory would be awesome. Thanks!

[Lillianna]

Here's one to try!
Table Washing:
Floor mat, pitcher, basin, scrub brush and soap on soap dish, sponge, towel and bucket all in the same color.
Spread floor mat on floor. Place pitcher, basin, brush/soap, sponge, towel and bucket on the mat in this order.
Fill pitcher with water, pour in basin.
Wet brush, apply soap.
Scrub table in circular motion from top to bottom, left to right. (In a Montessori Children's House - 2 1/2 to 6+ - there are many ways that this pattern is reinforced to prepare for writing and reading).
Rinse brush.
Wet sponge and wipe soap off table in the same pattern as above.
Dry table with towel in same pattern.
Pour water in bucket, pour in tub.
Dry pitcher, basin, bucket.
Replace towel and store all items on shelf.
Variations: washing dishes, washing the floor.
Many children respond favorable to work involving water, especially those with SI. Ask her to watch once as you initially demonstrate all the steps above. Next, you will work together as she begins to take over steps as she is ready and progress to doing this activity independently.
Good Luck!

[nkm1968]

Ditto to what Lilliana said...plus for kids with SPD, the heavy lifting of the full pails of water is very helpful for tactile, vestibular, and tensile sensations, and ALL of the practical life works are very helpful in establishing a sense of the order of steps for work. SPD kids especially can have difficulty with sequencing later in life (for things like understanding a paragraph, expository writing, higher level math like long division) and the earlier Montessori works help correct that sequencing error in many ways. Hope that you are looking into Montessori for the longer term, too, as kids with SPD help perfect the Montessori environment for all by concretely showing the director/directress where they are losing track....

[KBecks]

I like the blog Chasing Cheerios. Have fun!

[nov05mama]

These are my favorite "Montessori inspired" blogs:

http://mommyme-thewonderyears.blogspot.com/
http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/
http://adventuresofaflake.blogspot.com/
http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.c...ssori_journey/
http://spiralmontessorimama.blogspot.com/
http://fourlittlepenguins.blogspot.com/
http://preschool-daze.com/

[MattBronsil]

Hey....

[LenasMommy]

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. I really appreciate it!

[dancebaraka]

:

this is great... thanks for asking the ? op!

[prairiedaze]

thanks for listing my blog and for suggesting the others...some are new to me!