Following on from my post on table activities, I thought it might be helpful to include some ideas of the kinds of things I give my children to do at table time. The toddlers sit in their highchairs to do theirs (see highchair activities) and the older children sit at a variety of tables and occasionally on the floor.
- Drawing
- Playdough
- Stamping (stamp pads and ink stamps)
- Lacing, threading or beading
- Puzzles
- Books
- Felt board
- Construction toys
- Pattern blocks
- Contact collage
- Water colour painting
- Paper craft
- Sticker books
- Tea sets and teddies
- Finger puppets
- Mini whiteboard and eraser
- Small chalk board and duster
- Peg boards
- Board games
- Tap tap
- Scrapbooking
- Contact pictures
- Dot-to-dots
- Mazes
- Magnadoodle
- Colour-by-number
- Stencils
I like to keep table activities separate from our other activities for a couple of reasons:
- the children only use them during table time, which keeps interest levels high
- they do not request activities that I do not want them to do at this time; those they may choose from are already set aside for this purpose
- when I am choosing activities for the toddlers and younger children I don’t have to think of what to get or wander around looking for inspiration, I simply open the cupboard and choose from the selection there, rotating through those that are appropriate
- the children have ready access and can pack up after themselves
Another time that we find table activities very useful is when we have visitors. We love having friends and family around but the children do get very excited. After some time to talk and play with the visitors (depending on who it is of course) I often direct the children to get out a table activity. It provides a focus, quiets down the excited behaviour and allows the adults to have a conversation. Sometimes Grandparents or other visitors will do the activities with the children (which of course they love) but we find it just gives them a great way to be around the adults and interact appropriately without dominating the entire evening.
Filed under: Routine and daily activities: structuring your child's day | Tagged: activities, guests, highchair activities, homeschooling with toddlers, hospitality, managing large families, organisation, routine, table activities, toddlers, toys | Leave a comment »
