Montessori Activities
Pencil Grip - If you are doing colouring, drawing or painting with your children, it's vitally important that they are using the correct tripod pencil grip (between thumb and first fingers) not the palmer grip (pencil held in a fist shape). This is to ensure that when they are learning to write and form letters, they are doing it correctly. This video demonstrates how you can encourage your child to hold their pencil correctly in a natural and comfortable way.
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If you find your child is struggling to hold the pencil in this way, they may not be ready for that stage. Why not try giving your child activities that will strengthen their fingers and hands in preparation for holding the pencil such as nuts and bolts (see Activities for 2 Year Olds).
Numbers: Why not use beads or dinosaurs to help your little one develop their understanding of odd and even numbers. It's best to have objects of similar size and shape - coins would be perfect! Get 10 pieces of paper with the numbers 1 - 10 written on them by your little ones (as seen in the photo below). Ask your child to put the number cards out in order. Then ask them to put the correct number of beads/coins/counters beneath each number, as shown. You may want to complete the first few numbers to demonstrate how to lay out the counting pieces correctly. They should be laid out in pairs so that it is clear for the child to see when there is a single piece on odd numbers.
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When explaining, you should draw their attention to the fact that some of the numbers have all partners/pairs, whilst some of the numbers have one on its own by pointing. The numbers with all pairs are called even numbers, the numbers with one on their own are called odd. Repeat this definition to your child several times, getting them to repeat the word odd and even to you.
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Point to a number and ask your child "Is this an odd or an even number?" Depending on their answer, you should either ask them to confirm why it is odd/even to you (if they answer correctly), or you explain to them why it is odd/even (if they are incorrect). Please do not tell them they are wrong; accept their answer and respond accordingly.
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This helps to support their understanding of concrete numbers and their meanings, as well as introducing possible new language to them.
Outdoor Activities
The following website gives you some really great activities to do outside whilst the weather is good. Use what you have at home safe in the knowledge that if it gets dirty, you can clean it!
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https://www.naturallylearning.co.uk/50-outdoor-activities-toddlers/
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Easter Fun - Why not get your children to draw a big egg, colour it in, cut it out themselves and then you can hide it somewhere.....in the house or in the garden - it doesn't matter where! If you want to ramp up the difficulty, cut each egg in half and see if your little one can find both halves of each egg. You could ask them to hide the eggs for you to find as well!
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Other Activities
FROZEN TREASURE!! Something that will keep your children busy for a little while is so simple.....take a few items, the can be coins or little plastic toys - whatever, and put them in a bowl / tub / plastic cup of water. Put this water in the freezer overnight and the next day give your little one a couple of spoons, or a spoon and a fork and let them dig away at the ice until they get to the treasure! Note: This can be done inside but you may want to put a towel down first.
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SCIENCE! - Here is a simple science experiment that will allow the children to see how the paper magically stays in place without you touching it. See their faces as the learn about air pressure and upthrust of air using just some water, a small glass and a piece of paper!! Give it a try yourself first to show them that it does work, and then let them have a go as well. The food colouring is optional.