General Guidelines
There are ways for you to ensure that an activity is a fun and valuable experience for your toddler. Whether you are trying the activities in this book or those from another source, the following sections provide guidelines to help you.
Keep It Short
Most toddlers have a very short attention span. Do not expect your toddler to be any different. She is too young to focus on an activity for any length of time and is apt to be easily sidetracked — especially from quiet activities or those that require her to remain passive, such as storytelling. Most activities presented here can be done in less than 20 or 30 minutes. If you want to plan a solid half-hour of activity time for your child, it is a good idea to set up two or three short activities rather than one longer one.
Be flexible, and respond to your child. If you notice that she is losing interest in an activity, try to modify it to recapture her interest or simply move on to something else.
Guide Your Child
Toddlers like to feel competent, and that means they want to do things for themselves. This does not mean that you should set up an activity for your toddler and walk away. You need to be available to encourage and guide your child through all stages of each activity.
Although you do not want to “do” the activity for your child, it is acceptable to intervene if your child is having difficulty or showing signs of frustration. Gently make suggestions or ask questions to guide your child along. For example, if your child is having a hard time with a puzzle, you might say, “Why not try the blue piece?” or “What other piece could you try?” With your guidance, your child will be able to master many new skills.
Reduce Waiting
Waiting is especially difficult for the young child who does not clearly grasp time concepts. You cannot expect your toddler to be patient for long. Avoid activities that call for children to be eliminated. A game like Musical Chairs is an example. Once the child is out, she is left, often frustrated and angry, to entertain herself.
You can also avoid problems caused by waiting by preparing an activity in advance. If there are props to be set up or game pieces to be cut, take care of that before you call your child over for the activity. That way your child can start playing right away.
Involve Your Child
The most valuable and fun activities are those that actively involve your toddler. Avoid activities that require your child to be passive — to just sit back and watch. You can adapt most activities to enhance your child's involvement depending on her interest and skill level.
For example, when an activity requires cutting out pictures, you can let your older toddler help you. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to involve your child more. You might let her stir the batter in a cooking activity or help set up the boundaries for a game.
Keep Activities Open-Ended
Whenever possible, look for activities that encourage your child to make choices. For example, the main goal of art experiences for young children is to promote creativity and emotional expression. There is very little value in having your child follow a rigid pattern to create something that looks just like the thing you or anyone else could make.
In the world of childhood art, boats may look like bananas, cats may have three eyes, and the sky can be orange. In the world of childhood games, someone may be “it” twice in a row, and it is okay to pin the tail on the donkey's head. When rigid rules and restrictions are lifted, the real fun begins!
