Age Under 2 years
Like so many families ours is spread across many miles and keeping my kids close to their aunts, uncles, cousins and grand parents takes lots of work. We look at a lot of pictures talk on the phone and visit when we can. My daughter loves lift the flap books and I thought I could use that love to keep her close to people who love her too. Active activities like this that lets little hands touch and grab are perfect for toddlers who play to learn.
- Gather your materials . You will need some diaper wipe lids ( you could use simple folded paper too) , pictures of your family ( I made a collage and printed it out on copy paper), glue, green and brown paper, foam adhesive dots, markers and labels.
- Start by writing out the titles of each family member on the labels.
- Pop them on the flip top lids.
- Next make a tree for the wall. Make sure it’s secure enough that it can hold all the lids. I used construction paper taped to the wall and then used thumbtacks as well.
- Add the lids to your tree.
I just stuck many of the lids on because they still had plenty of adhesive left on them from the packaging. However the ones that didn’t were popped on with adhesive dots .
- Cut and glue the pictures of your family under their coordinating lid. I kept the lids open so it wasn’t too hard for my daughter to open.
- Invite your little one to come and have fun.
She immediately started looking at all the pictures. 
- Then I asked her to see if she could find specific people and she happily played along excitedly yelling out name after name.
Books About Families
Reading about families like their own as well as families different from the one they’re in is important for children. Check out these books about all kids of families.
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This is such an easy Halloween craft and you can stop at the painting or continue on to make a simple garland to hang up for Halloween. Potato prints are a fun way to make specific shapes with toddlers. Don’t miss the Halloween themed books after the craft , it’s not too late to grab a few and read before Halloween.
- Gather your materials. You will need a potato, knife, potato peeler, dish, white paint, black paper, scissors, stapler and orange ribbon.
- Start by cutting the potato in two and cutting the bottom in a zig zag. Use the end of a peeler to make eyes.
- Pour the white paint into the dish and add the ghost potato.
- Print!
She loved the “ghosties”. I was excited they printed so well. 
- When we filled two sheets we let them dry
and then cut them out. 
- Next we stapled them to the ribbon. My daughter chose the ghosts and handed them to me to staple.
- Then we added it to our fall mantle.
Halloween Books
If you are looking for a great ghost themed book check out our review of our favorite ghost book Ghosts in the House!
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This is the easiest Olympic craft ever and even better than being simple it uses something so many of us having laying around our houses during the summer, paper plates! After watching a medal ceremony my daughter pointed out and asked for a “necklace” so even though I made an Olympic medal kids craft like this with my son it was time to give her a chance. We’ll show you all a few tips for making this craft easily with your toddler too!
- Gather your materials. You will need some paper plates, glitter paint( we love this stuff
), wide paint brush, ribbon, tape and scissors.
- Start by flipping your plates over and using the non coated side. The glitter paint will adhere to this side much better. Also do not cut the extra off the plate it will act as a splat mat of sorts.
- Choose your bling! This is a great time to fit in some color recognition too. I will ask her what color she wants and most of the time she will say it, but if she just grabs it I will label it for her ” You chose the red one.”
- Squeeze it on.
- Spread. Using a wide brush is really key for a toddler since it will cover so much more with less effort and help avoid the frustration of ” I want it covered but I can’t co-ordinate my hand muscles to do it .” help them be successful but don’t do it all for them.
- Add more as they wish . While she was crafting I made a medal for her brother who was at day camp, I knew he’d want one too. Also crafting alongside your toddler is a great way to model without barking directions.
- Let dry.
- Cut out.
- Cut your ribbon .
- Tape it on .
- Celebrate with your own champion!
Even though I wish all summer could be spent outside rainy days or too hot days means more time inside and for antsy toddlers that can be hard. This activity occupied my 2 year old for a good 40 minutes and she had fun too. Below are a few tips on how to make play like this last longer without sparing the fun.
- Gather your materials. We grabbed an apron, a pot, some corks, spoons and a ladle . We also used dish soap half way through.
- Start by filling the sink and asking your child if they want to cook.
- Let them play.
- Without prompting she through corks in and then scooped them out and into the pot. Can you say hand eye coordination development ?
- She mixed and splashed . When she was tiring of it I asked if she wanted to look at all the different tools for cooking. She loved the whisk.
- Next I asked if she wanted bubbles…of course that was a yes too .
- The whisk was extra fun in the bubbles. She even caught a cork.
- For us the sign that she was done was that these big waves turned into let’s make Mama wet even after reminders that the water stays in the sink. You will find your child’s own end signs where gentle redirection fails and every day will be different, some days this will last a long time others it just won’t. It’s not you or your child it’s just the way it is, if it fails try again another day.
Throughout the pretend play I followed her lead. She told me it was cheese soup and I asked her questions about her cheese soup, about cooking etc… I know that pretending doesn’t come naturally to all parents but try to at least ask a few questions and indulge their imaginations. It’s ok to feel silly sometimes even if it doesn’t come naturally.
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Kids under two can have fun too! My sweet baby girl just turned 2 but she has been playing and creating with us since she was only 6 months old. There is so much fun babies and toddlers can have. Below are our favorite 22 activities for one year olds but older kids will like them too. Only you as a parent/ teacher know what your children are ready to do, only expose them to materials you are comfortable with and remember that all activities on No Time For Flash Cards require adult supervision. Now to the fun!
Alphabet Playdough
Bubble Wrap & Dish Scrubber Starfish
No Mess Color Mixers
Rubber Duck Stamping
Who Do You Love Sensory Tub
Glass Sponge Painting
Animal Track Painting
Rainbow Gelatin Sensory Tub
Bug Painting
Touch Box
DIY Board Book About Feelings
Playdough Toy Prints
Baby Basketball
Pretend Play Vet Clinic
Backyard Car Wash
Baby Block Painting
Pretend Play Grocery Store
Toddler Beading
Toddler Butterfly Craft
Recycled Drum
Discovery Bottles For Babies
Painting With Water
