Need Activities for Kids? 

Welcome, come on in! You've come to the right place. You have 20 years’ of experience in activities for kids at your fingertips. I've gathered and created loads of activities for kids of various ages. I’ve worked in both daycares and family homes. If you'd like me to introduce myself further, meet Claire here. 

Got a Tiny Bundle of Joy to Entertain?

Have you noticed that older babies love random objects like a bunch of keys, a half-full bottle, and the remote control? Infants are figuring out the world around them. They are hardwired to explore as much as they can using all their senses. They learn from us constantly. They naturally want to emulate us, so they want to play with what we use.

I found that playthings for babies don't need to be colorful to engage their interest. Babies are very happy to play with everyday household items. Offering them a variety of materials such as wood, metal, wicker, leather, cloth, as well as plastic enhances their sensory input. Infants can discover the contrasting weights, temperatures, flexibility, textures, and sounds they make when they're banged together. 

You might already have safe items that babies love. I can show you what babies can explore and learn from through play. Check out the Infant Activities that the babies in my care have thoroughly enjoyed.

Want to Keep Your Toddler Focused? 

Toddlers are novelty seekers, eager to explore new experiences. At the same time, they are also creatures of habit who love repetition. It's an interesting balance of opposites that intrigues me. 

For years, I have taken the young children in my care to stay-and-play sessions that usually provide activities along with toys, just like in the daycares where I worked for years, too. I also set up activities in the family homes where I work. 

I have observed many toddlers playing with a wide variety of activities. I naturally take note of what kind of playthings engage the majority of toddlers successfully and which quickly lose the tots' attention. 

The ability to move around and explore what interests them in the moment is key for all toddlers. 

I've noticed that what often holds toddlers' attention the most is transferring things or sensory materials from one container to another. Since it's so simple and repetitive, these activities are often rarely presented, even though the toddlers I've cared for often choose one or more versions of this type of activity most days. They actually teach fundamental mathematical principles such as understanding mass, volume and area. Transferring smaller objects develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which enables them to learn to write later.

I'm all about using what you have on hand to create a variety of opportunities for toddlers to discover and learn from. Toddlers naturally utilize all their senses to learn. I have come up with many creative ways to use what many households have for successful activities for kids. 

Explore the Practical Playthings for 1 Year Olds. To challenge a growing toddler’s abilities, find 2 Year Old Activities. 

Looking for Preschool Activities for Kids?

Did you know that preschoolers need plenty of opportunities to strengthen the muscles in their hands before they are ready for worksheets? Playful activities for kids, such as play dough, sensory play, and fine motor tasks, can help. 

It's unfortunate that many believe young children benefit from being pushed into academics earlier and earlier. Play develops the ability to understand academics later. It's amazing what children can learn through play. 

What worksheets and screen apps have in common is that they are one-dimensional, allow limited movements, and provide barely any sensory input. Thus, they are not as educational as they claim to be. 

In contrast, hands-on activities for kids can give them three-dimensional, multi-sensory input, and the vast movements they enable actually build pathways in their brains. There's much more room for the imagination too. 

Explore these 3 Year Old Activities to help build essential foundations in core topics. 

I hope you enjoy checking out the activities for kids on Practical Playthings.