12 activities
Threading Beads
Thread large beads onto a string or pipe cleaner.
1. Provide large wooden beads with big holes and a stiff string or pipe cleaner.
2. Show your toddler how to push the string through the bead.
3. Let them try — the first few beads are the hardest.
... See full activity in the app
Large wooden beadsStiff string or pipe cleaner
Moderate
Snip Snip
Make first snips on paper with child-safe scissors.
1. Give your child a pair of child-safe scissors (rounded tips, spring-loaded if available).
2. Hold a strip of paper (about 1 inch wide) and show them how to squeeze the scissors: "Open... close! Snip!"
3. Let your child try cutting the strip. Even one snip is a success.
... See full activity in the app
Child-safe scissorsStrips of paper
Easy
Lacing Fun
Thread a lace through holes in a lacing card.
1. Offer your child a lacing card with large holes and a thick, stiff lace (or shoelace with tape on the tip).
2. Show them how to push the lace through one hole from front to back: "Push it through!"
3. Help them pull it out the other side: "Pull! You did it!"
... See full activity in the app
Lacing card with large holesThick lace or shoelace
Moderate
Circle Draw
Copy circles and simple shapes with a crayon.
1. Sit with your child at a table with paper and crayons.
2. Draw a large, slow circle: "Round and round! It's a circle!"
3. Point to the paper next to your circle: "Now you try! Round and round!"
... See full activity in the app
PaperCrayons
Moderate
Dress Up Practice
Practice putting on and taking off easy clothing items.
1. Start with easy items: pull-on pants with elastic waist, a zip-up jacket, shoes with velcro.
2. Lay the pants on the floor with the opening toward your child: "Can you step in?"
3. For zippers, start the zipper for them and let them pull it up: "Zip it up!"
... See full activity in the app
Easy clothing items (elastic pants, zip jacket, velcro shoes)
Advanced
Spoon Scoop Transfer
Scoop and pour small items between bowls with a spoon
1. Set two bowls side by side on a table or tray.
2. Fill one bowl with cotton balls or large pom-poms.
3. Give your child a large spoon.
... See full activity in the app
two bowlslarge spooncotton balls or pom-poms
Easy
Pouring Station
Practice controlled pouring between small cups
1. Set up a tray or towel on a table to catch spills.
2. Fill a small pitcher or cup one-third full with dry rice or water.
3. Place an empty cup next to it.
... See full activity in the app
small pitcher or cupsecond cuptray or toweldry rice or water
Advanced
Story Scribble
Draw while telling a story together
1. Sit with your child at a table with paper and thick crayons or markers.
2. Start a simple story: "Once there was a bunny who went for a walk..."
3. Draw a line across the paper as the bunny 'walks' — invite your child to draw too.
... See full activity in the app
paperthick crayons or markers
Advanced
Clothespin Color Match
Open clothespins and clip them onto matching colored cards
1. Gather 4-6 wooden clothespins and color their tips with markers (red, blue, yellow, green).
2. Cut small rectangles of matching colored paper or cardstock.
3. Show your child how to squeeze the clothespin open with thumb and fingers — say "Pinch and open!"
... See full activity in the app
wooden clothespinsmarkerscolored paper or cardstock
Advanced
Fold and Press
Practice folding paper in half and pressing the crease
1. Give your child a piece of paper.
2. Show how to bring one edge to meet the opposite edge: "This side goes over to touch that side."
3. Once the edges meet, show how to press along the fold with a flat hand: "Now press it flat!"
... See full activity in the app
paper
Advanced
Crumple and Toss
Crumple paper into balls and toss them into a basket
1. Give your child a piece of scrap paper or newspaper.
2. Show how to crumple it into a ball using both hands: "Squeeze it tight into a ball!"
3. Let your child crumple several sheets — the crunchier the better.
... See full activity in the app
scrap paper or newspaperlaundry basket or box
Advanced
Bead Necklace
Thread large beads onto a string to make a necklace
1. Give your child large beads with big holes and a thick string.
2. Tie a knot at one end so beads do not fall off.
3. Show how to push the string through each bead.
... See full activity in the app
large beads with big holesthick string
Moderate