Toddler activities should be simple and provide hands-on learning and fun! This activity is exactly that and gets bonus points for an easy set up with materials you likely already have on hand.

This activity has been such a hit with my toddler, that we have been doing it on repeat and have tried a few variations.

Letter recognition (if using alphabet puzzle)

Tissue paper is an easier and quicker option and is how we started. I cut some extra tissue paper into large squares then set the puzzle piece in the center and wrapped the tissue paper up around the letter. So quick and easy! You could add tape if you wanted, but this does make it slightly more difficult for your child to unwrap and also less likely that you can reuse the tissue paper (which we did countless times). My son thought this was the greatest thing ever, like unwrapping 26 tiny gifts! He yelled surprise when he unveiled Every. Single. Letter. He asked to repeat this activity for weeks! I happily agreed and was able to have it ready to go again in minutes!

Another variation is to wrap the puzzle pieces with crepe paper streamers. I happened to have some orange and black streamers hanging around from some old birthday supplies and wanted to use them to give this activity a festive Halloween vibe. I set the letter at the end of the streamer and started rolling, changing directions as I went. I rolled until I felt the letter was wrapped well enough that it wasn't peeking out of the paper streamer.  This was usually about a foot long. The streamers don't have to be taped but were a bit more likely to unwrap on their own so I did add tape this time around. 

Things to keep in mind if you go this route:

The crepe paper streamers do take a bit longer to prepare and in our experience ripped a bit easier when taped. The streamers are also a bit more difficult to unwrap, which is great if you want to challenge fine motor skills a bit, but could also cause some frustration. We ultimately ended up rolling the unwrapped streamer pieces into a ball which started a whole new activity.

This puzzle unwrapping has been one of his favorite activities!  I urge you to make this activity your own and use any puzzle you have around the house.  If your child isn't interested in letters, use a shape puzzle or an animal puzzle.  Wrap the puzzle pieces in whatever material you have on hand: wrapping paper, tinfoil, newspaper, etc.   I hope puzzle unwrapping brings your little one just as much joy and concentration as my little guy.  Enjoy!

Alphabet Puzzle: Tissue Paper Unwrap

I think we can all agree that social distancing has been tough during this pandemic.  It can be especially difficult for our little ones who don't fully understand why they can't see their friends or extended family anymore. We created this

 in hopes of helping you spread a little joy to friends and family you haven't seen in a while.  It's the perfect gift tag to attach to a special Halloween gift or treat and leave on the doorstep of someone you have been missing!  

We printed off these cute gift tags ourselves to share with a few of our friends.  We put together a little gift bag/basket for them with a book and art supplies and attached the gift tag.  A simple homemade craft or treat works great too! 

My son was invested in this little project and loved helping to fill and arrange the little gifts. When we went to deliver them, he helped carry them to the door.  We set them on their front steps as a fun surprise for them to find.  I truly enjoy putting together little gifts like these and I want to teach my boys to always be thinking of others and the impact a small gesture can make on someone's day.  We hope you enjoy this little freebie!  

BOO! We Miss You! --- Free Gift Tag

Have you ever wished that those beautiful fall leaves would stick around just a little while longer for us to enjoy? It seems like the leaves just start to turn and then... BOOM! They're gone in a flash! Here's a fun activity to do with your kiddos to hold onto those pretty signs of fall a little longer. 

Something to melt the beeswax (I used a mini crockpot!) 

parchment paper or silicone non-stick mat of some sort 

This is the beeswax I used! I found it on Amazon for about $12 and used only about 1/4 of the bag. 

Simply collect your leaves and find a nice stick or two. This is the most fun, in my opinion! My little lady really enjoyed finding all sorts of different ones. Then raking up a pile to jump in, of course! Ha! 

Next, you will need to prep all of your other supplies and get your wax melting! Once your wax is melted, this is when you will grab your tongs. Your kiddos will need help with this as the wax is hot. Use the tongs to grab hold of the leaves and help your little one to dip the leaf into the melted wax coating it. Hold it up above the wax to drip off a bit, then lay it on your parchment or mat to cool and harden. This happens quickly! Probably by the time you are done with a second leaf, the first one will  be dry enough to handle. Which is good for impatient little kids wanting to see the fruits of their labor! Finish coating all of your leaves. 

Once you have all of your leaves coated and cooled it's time to put the mobile together! We used a hole punch for a few of our leaves and for others we simply tied the yarn to the stem. We cut some yarn in various sizes ranging from about 8-12 inches. Tie your yarn or string around the stick and then attach a single leaf to the bottom. You can put on as many as you would like! We used various sizes and lengths so it looked uneven. This little girl was pretty proud of her mobile. The smile says it all! The rest of the leaves we didnt use are sitting in the center of our table as decoration with a pumpkin in the middle. 

An alternative would be to simply string them up to make a garland. Happy leaf waxing! 

Fall Waxed Leaf Mobile 

I love having my boys' artwork hanging around the house, but sometimes art projects can be daunting.  I promise this one is quick and painless and just too cute!

First, I taped our construction paper down with a piece of painters tape to keep it in place.  Next, I poured some paint into a lid and helped my little guy move the spatula around in the paint until it was completely covered.  Then, we stamped it on the construction paper. 

Tip:  Save extra packing paper you get in your packages for a table/floor covering when doing messy art projects.

We left it to dry completely, then added the googly eyes, drew on the mouths, and added some fun Halloween stickers.  That's it, done!  This is such a quick and easy Halloween art project, the longest and most difficult part is waiting for the paint to dry!  

We love seeing your activities and creations!  Be sure to tag us on Instagram 

Ghost Painting Using a Spatula

The fall leaves are at their prime here this week, and we have been enjoying them by going on lots of leaf hunts. These leaf hunts have been such a hit in our home, that I thought I would share in hopes that we may inspire some fall fun and learning for you and your little ones.  

First things first, we started by reading books about fall and the changing leaves.  A few of our current favorites are "Yellow Time"

by Lauren Stringer and "We're Going on a Leaf Hunt" by Steve Metzger. We made sure to read "We're Going on a Leaf Hunt" right before heading out the door to build the excitement. Since reading these and other books, my little guy has been so excited about leaf hunts that he will reference and even quote these books while on leaf hunts at parks and around our neighborhood. 

Before you start searching for leaves make sure you have a place to keep them throughout your adventure. I gave my son a small canvas bag to carry and hold his leaf treasures, but anything will work! Originally meant as a trick or treat bag, he now fondly refers to it as his leaf hunt bag.  

When we got home we spread out all of our gathered leaves and looked at them. This was a fantastic opportunity to make observations and build vocabulary. We talked about the different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures of the leaves. 

Next, we chose our very favorite leaves and laminated them. We have a small laminator at home that uses 9 x 11.5in laminating pouches. It worked well for preserving our leaves.  

Next, we cut out each leaf and added some magnet tape to the back. (Check out the benefits of playing with magnets 

Laminate promptly, leaves will begin to dry out and curl within hours.

When cutting out leaves after laminating, be sure to leave plenty of buffer around the leaves. You don't want to break the seal of the laminating pouch. This is especially important for thicker leaves/stems.

My son loves looking at and playing with his new magnet leaves in the kitchen while I prepare meals. However, we took the learning one step further and also did our best to identify and label the leaves.  

We used the Google Lens feature. If you happen to use Google Photos, you should be able to use the Google Lens feature to either scan or take a photo of your leaves. It will bring up a Google search using the image. While it is not always accurate, it was super helpful and we did our best to accurately label each leaf.

 I then used an embossing label maker to type up each label and my little guy stuck them onto each leaf.  A permanent marker works great too, but the label maker gave him an opportunity to be involved in the labeling process.  

Our leaf hunt was a fun family activity. It got us outside and we all learned something new about the trees and leaves around us. We now can continue to enjoy the fall leaves in our home for a bit longer for both play and learning. I highly recommend a family leaf hunt if you have the chance! 

Autumn Leaf Hunt: A Science Activity for All Ages

Don't you love a good activity that requires minimal prep? I know I do! These suncatcher pumpkins are just that. 

First step is cutting out a pumpkin outline on your white paper. This is easier than it sounds! Fold your paper in half and cut out a half pumpkin shape (like you would a heart). Step by step photos to follow: 

Easier than you thought, right? Remember, they don't have to be perfect. I traced mine for the step by step pictures, but when I originally did this with my little girl I did not! 

The next step is optional. Since I just used a piece of computer paper that I had close by, I then had my toddler color the outline with an orange crayon before we put it on the contact paper. In hindsight, I would have had her color on both sides! Oh well, there's always next time! 

Now it's time to get your contact paper and tissue paper ready! You will need two equal size pieces of contact paper that are large enough to cover your entire pumpkin outline.

 peel the backing off of your contact paper yet. First, take your tissue paper and cut it into little squares. I used both yellow and orange tissue paper. 

Okay, now you can peel your backing off of ONE of the contact paper sheets. Then stick your pumpkin outline to it. Now you are ready for your last tool on the supplies list, little hands! They just get to stick, stick, stickin'! 

I told my little lady that she could use both colors if she wanted to, but she wanted her whole pumpkin to be orange. Which then made me think it could be used as a good color sorting activity! Bonus! One little piece of yellow clung to a piece of orange and accidentally made its way onto the contact paper. Luckily I was able to pull it off for her. 

Once they are all done, take your second piece of contact paper and peel off the backing to place over the top of your pumpkin. Then you can smooth it out and use scissors to cut a close edge around your pumpkin. 

 You can make these with any shape for any time of year to hang in your windows!

Pumpkin Suncatcher 

We are loving all things pumpkin over here, and had to share this super simple activity!  Pumpkin washing is exactly what it sounds like, washing a pumpkin.  However, trust me, you are going to want to try it with your little ones!

Fill your shallow storage container with water and gentle, kid-friendly soap.  If you don't have a container, no worries, just put your pumpkins in the sink or the tub! As one might expect, the more bubbles you have, the more inviting it will be to your little one.  I recommend you set your container on a mat or a few towels to give your kids a visual boundary, but also in case of spills.  Once I had the container set up on our mat, I let my toddler help fill it by using our watering can we use for house plants.  Add your pumpkin and some sponges or brushes and let your kids get to work.  

practicing letters on it with a dry erase marker.

  It is now all clean and ready for our next pumpkin activity.  However, a pumpkin wash is also a great idea in preparation for pumpkin carving too!  So simple, but I am pretty confident it will at least entertain your little one long enough for you to unload the dishwasher! 

Pumpkin Washing

(Optional) Activity cards such as alphabet, numbers, sight words, etc. 

It is officially October, and we are breaking out all the pumpkin activities!  This one is so simple and fun!  All you need is a pumpkin, a dry erase marker or chalk, and a wet rag, wipe, or sponge. Dry Erase markers and chalk can be washed off of pumpkins, allowing you to repeat this activity over and over before you finally carve those pumpkins for Halloween. Simply write numbers or letters or any other skill you are wanting to work on with your little one on your pumpkin.  Then call them out one at a time for your child to find and erase using a wet rag.

Truly, endless activities thanks to one cute little pumpkin!

My little guy and I used our pumpkin to practice letter recognition and letter sounds. I wrote the letters on the pumpkin, handed him a wet rag, and we got to work. I called out a letter one at a time and made sure to say both the letter and the sound so he can start to make that connection. He then would find the letter on the pumpkin, point to it, and wipe it off.  Each time telling the letter goodbye. "Bye-bye A,"  "See you later B."  We continued until we had cleaned off the entire pumpkin. Once finished I let him do a little free drawing on the pumpkin with the dry erase marker.  

Follow your child's lead. If they aren't into the activity, stop and try it again later.  Truthfully, I had not expected we would clean off the entire pumpkin, but he was really into this activity!

Set them up for success! No matter what skill you are working on, use the majority of words/letters/numbers etc. that they already know and add only a few new and tricky ones.  For example, If they are just starting to recognize letters, try using only the letters in their name! 

The smaller pumpkin worked great for a toddler! I loved that he could spin and roll it around to get a better look as he hunted for the letter I had called out.  

Wiping the marker/chalk off is helping build fine motor skills. My little guy needed a bit of help getting the letters completely off the pumpkin. It was difficult for him to put enough pressure against the pumpkin to fully clear it. That's okay, he was getting extra practice and building those muscles through this activity! Another fun way to wipe the marker/chalk clean is to use a spray bottle to squirt the letter then use a sponge or old toothbrush to rub it clean.  

Use activity cards to turn this into an independent activity.  We have several options for Halloween themed 

, but handwritten cards work too!  Provide your child with cards that are represented on the pumpkin, they will then pick a card, find it on the pumpkin, and erase it.  Just like that, you have a chance to prep dinner!

Repeat the same activity over or try a different skill. I hope this activity in any form brings your little one enjoyment and provides you with a chance to sit close by with a hopefully hot cup of coffee! 

Practicing Letter Recognition with a Pumpkin and Dry Erase Marker 

Learning shapes (or anything for that matter) should be fun and full of play, especially when we are talking about toddlers! Go grab your painters tape, and give this activity a try.  

There is little to no set up for this activity, all you need is painters tape and some toys that happen to be the shapes you plan to work on.  Gather the toys ahead of time for your little one to sort, or turn it into a shape hunt and let them go find the shapes themselves.  Finally, use your tape to make shapes on the floor.

Depending on your child's prior practice with shapes, start with only two shapes.  You can add shapes to the activity later and repeat it again and again.  

If you have toys/materials already gathered, go ahead, and have your child start sorting them into the taped shapes on the floor.  You may also have them start searching for things around the room that are the shapes you are working on. Regardless of how you prepare and direct the activity, you will want to do some modeling and narrate while you play.  "Wow, I found a toy plate.  It is round, it must be a circle.  I am going to put it in the circle on the floor."   or  "Hmmm, this block is a cube.  It is made up of squares.  A square has four sides that are the same."  

Your child may not master the shapes you are working on today,  and we don't expect them to!  The point of the activity is to give them practice and exposure to the language and attributes that make up the shape.  It is also providing them with the opportunity to observe shapes in real life and not just on a flashcard. I definitely do not expect my toddler to remember that the block is called a cube.  We are not even talking about 3D shapes right now!  Remember, your toddler is taking in more than you realize, and talking about it today will give them exposure and real-life experience.  

As with any activity, observe and pay attention to your child.  The first time I tried this with my son, he was not ready.  Even with only two shapes, he wasn't interested, so we moved on and didn't force it. I knew that I had just provided him with some brief exposure to shapes and that was all he needed.  A few months later, I tried this activity again and he was all over it!  We did a shape hunt, and after seeing me do a few shapes he was all in.  If he found something that didn't fit with the shapes I had on the floor, he would insist I make a new shape with tape.  

After we cleaned up all of our sorted objects, we left the shapes taped on the floor.  We played a little game similar to Simon says using the shapes.  I would give him a direction, "Go stand on the circle." or "Jump on the triangle." Etc.  He still needed some assistance, so I sat on the floor, and patted the shape with my hand if he wasn't quite sure.  He thought this game was hilarious, and I loved that it was expanding his understanding of shapes, while also practicing the skill of following a simple direction!

We left the shapes on the floor until he was ready to take them off himself.  Peeling that tape off the floor is great for building fine motor skills too! Often times during the week, he would play as if he was oblivious to the shapes being there. Other times he would incorporate the shapes into his play.  For example, He built a house using the square as an outline, another time he lined his toy animals up along the tape to make a triangle. Now, does he know all of his shapes?   Nope, and he doesn't need to yet. However, he has had exposure and that is key to him finding success with these skills in kindergarten.  

Learning Shapes with Tape

I am a big fan of novelty when it comes to children, especially when practicing skills like letters or numbers.  I have seen first hand the excitement students get when provided a new and engaging learning activity.  Often, it is practicing the same skills as past activities, but the novelty of a new game or even new clipart seems to get their excitement going nearly every time. Which is exactly why here at AlliKat, we have so many products that practice the same skill, but with different themes, to help children feel excited to continue to practice math and literacy skills regularly. 

Today, I want to tell you about a way to refresh activities you may already have at home or in the classroom with magnet tape. Magnet tape comes in a roll with a peel-off backing.  Simply cut the amount you need, peel off the back, and stick it to your laminated activity.  Suddenly you have added a whole new element of fun and novelty for your kids!

Magnets also help children strengthen their coordination and increase fine motor skills.  Have children use those magnets on a vertical surface, such as a whiteboard or the refrigerator and you see even more benefits!  

When a child is working on a vertical surface, they are working on:

A bit crazy that your little one could be working on so many skills just by moving a magnet around the refrigerator right!?

In the classroom, I had a magnet station as one of my literacy work stations.  I happened to have a large desk with a metal front where the magnet magic happened.  If you don't have a magnetic wall or desk, cookie trays are a great way to add magnet work to your classroom or home too. Hang them on the wall to get the added benefits of vertical surface play.

At home, I pulled out the magnet tape and added it to our 

 for my oldest toddler.  I only gave him about 10 letter matches that I felt confident he knew and asked him to match them by sticking them on the dishwasher.  (Anyone else have a refrigerator that's not magnetic?)  He was more interested in sorting them by uppercase and lowercase letters, which I was totally okay with!  This kept him busy while I made dinner and I call that a win!  

When he was over the activity and walked away to something else leaving our newly turned magnet letters on the dishwasher, my one year old decided to come over and play.  He was happy to pull the cards off the dishwasher and throw them on the floor.  Magnet play is a great activity for your little ones, just make sure they are not small enough to cause a choking hazard, and please always supervise.  

You can add magnet tape to just about anything, to keep novelty in the home or classroom!  Another one of my favorite activities is to add it to the back of photos of family members, especially during this strange pandemic time when we aren't seeing extended family near as much. This is a fun activity with classmates photos at the beginning of the school year too.  The possibilities are truly endless!

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