Author Topic: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old  (Read 2395 times)

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Offline Chloevalentine

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Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« on: September 10, 2015, 18:02:10 pm »
My lo loves his letter and number puzzles at the moment. He knows all of his letters and what each letter stands for (B for boy) and numbers 1-20! And he gets so exited about it! Lol he's still not much into coloring or playdough although I do still take it out on occasion when we are bored. He likes going to playground and gym class but he much rather go shopping and socialize with people or learn something new like abcs. Any suggestions on new activities as I think he's getting bored looking to learn something new lol. He's also not a fan of blocks or Legos or pretend play at the moment. Thanks

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #1 on: September 11, 2015, 10:19:43 am »
I can recommend two great books which have lots of activities for letter and number games but which also focus on the importance of gross motor, core development and play.
Marshmallow Maths
The Write Start
They both cover a variety of ages/abilities and interests, worth a read.

I used to 'disguise' various activities for DS letting him think they were all about letters/numbers/shapes/colours (he really loved all that) when they were really more focused on gross motor, fine motor etc.  So for instance creating a large floor maze or road map with chalks or masking tape on the kitchen floor and getting him to drive a toy car from one letter to the next along the maze or road route. Floor play is such a vital aspect of child development.  Another was marking out big shapes on the kitchen floor and writing a number in each one then asking him "can you hop to 3?" "can you crawl to 7?" "can you frog jump to 9?" or I'd set up a group of objects in the living room and he'd have to walk with a little basket to fetch "4 red cars" to bring back to put in the 4 circle, "3 blue cars" to bring back and so on, physically selecting, lifting, carrying, placing the objects rather than just rote counting numbers.

Also rather than continuing to count higher and higher you can establish a greater understanding of how numbers work with those numbers from 1-10 or 1-20 by using mathematical vocabulary. Counting starting at a random number rather than 0/1 (so you lead him in "3,4,5...what's next? ...keep going to 10" if he can do this then don't lead in just give the starting number "count from 6 to 11". Counting backwards, one more than, one less than, weight and size vocab, small, big, biggest, heavy/light etc. These sort of play can really extend number play without going forever higher and higher on the numbers.

Perhaps he'd like some pattern making activities?  Rather than building with lego you can set out a simple pattern (red blue red blue) and ask him to copy it with more bricks. Adapt and increase the difficulty as needed.
Even pretend play can be encouraged by including his favourite subjects (letters and numbers), say using little toy people/characters counting how many are at home, how many are out, if one comes home how many are there at home now?  And whilst you do it show him how to make up stories with the people, put on voices or make up adventures etc. Role play shopping is an easy one for a number lover, set him up as shop keeper and keep asking for various numbers of items, use play money etc.


Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2015, 10:37:34 am »
Thank you so much for all of that info!!! I'll give it a try 😀

Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2015, 18:21:59 pm »
What about classes for 2 year old boys? We go to Gymboree class now but I was looking to enroll him into sonething else. All of my friends have girls enrolled in dance class.

Offline Katet

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2015, 21:15:47 pm »
My boys really just liked to be out & about going on train trips, time at the park & just exploring the world.

Last night I was talking with some parents whose children went to the same preschool as my boys (different ages) & we were talking about how good it was because it wasn't "organising" children in to set activities. TBH I think less is more when it comes to organised activities & classes for toddlers/preschoolers. I know one of the issues going into schools these days is children who are too organised & didn't do enough "pottering" which is exactly what a 2yo should do, they should be exploring at random & just "pottering"

Have you tried a home obstacle course where he can climb over pillows & under chairs, that was fun with my boys.
dc1 July 03, dc2 May 05

Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2015, 02:31:15 am »
I too agree with too many planned activities. Doesn't give them enough time to explore. Just thought it might be good for socialization. He loves to learn new things too. Like his abc's for example he was so proud of himself just thought he might love to "learn" something else yk.

Offline Katet

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2015, 04:37:11 am »
At that age they are learning all the time & TBH the more "formal" learning the do early doesn't necessarily lead to them having a love of learning later in life as it seems many of the children go BTDT kind of thing later on in schooling.

Also one of the things that is coming out in Education here is the distinct lack of "general knowledge" among the children in late Primary & older, so just being able to walk through a garden & talk about plants or animal in pictures etc they will learn without it being "organised" I think is better. I know one of the Early childhood educators I know says "a child who says they are bored isn't because the environment isn't stimulating enough but because they don't have the skills to find ways to stimulate themselves & I'd have to agree, My Dad once told me when I was a child that when he was a child he'd count the bricks on the wall in Church during the service... I used to do that too... I wasn't "entertained" by church, but I was occupied & in hindsight I learnt to be observant & focused as I had to remember where I was in the pattern. Just because you can't measure what a child is learning doesn't mean they aren't learning KWIM.
dc1 July 03, dc2 May 05

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2015, 07:33:15 am »
What about classes for 2 year old boys? We go to Gymboree class now but I was looking to enroll him into sonething else. All of my friends have girls enrolled in dance class.
I used to go to as many mum and toddler groups as were available in our local childrens centres when DS was that age and younger. They were mostly free play with a few minutes of organised songs with actions at the end (which he didn't like) so as kate said, the kids were able to free play but in a different environment. Even going to as many as I could it was rarely more than say 2 or 3 per week and each one about 1.5-2hrs.  It just gave us a nice routine in the week to get out, play with different toys, meet other mums and kids.
There was a kids cooking class we went to for a term or two, the cooking aspect was not the entire session though it was maybe 10-15 mins within a 1.5hr session, the rest being free play (we actually do a lot more cooking at home together, better recipes too!  but like you say it was about socialising and having somewhere to 'go')
We did a baby/toddler ballet class at around 2.5 yo, 1hr with a break mid way.  That was great, it was for little ones with their parent with them rather than the classes where the parents don't go in.  You could sign up for one of the dance classes your friends go to?  When they are little and don't have nursery or pre-school to attend I think it's fine to have a few classes or groups to go to during the week, it still leaves plenty of time for free play.
What I find now is that many kids DS's age go to lots of organised classes (gymnastics, swimming, ballet, hip hop, martial arts etc) and are starting school too, it leaves very little free time and much of the week ends up organised.  Personally I don't want DS in that many classes so we do less now that he is in school than we did when he was younger.

Actually now that I mentioned cooking - if you don't already cook with him he may enjoy that. Mine started out with a preference to make savoury foods, chopping vegetables for a stew and things like that and didn't have as much interest in mixing cake ingredients for some reason.  We use a kid safe knife from kinderkitchen.  They can learn so so many skills through cooking, naming ingredients and talking about where they come from, following recipes, counting out, weighing, motor skills, health and personal care...


Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #8 on: September 12, 2015, 10:51:42 am »
Thank you everyone for your insight and suggestions. Preschool starts in either January when he's just 2.5 or I can wait until next September when he's just over 3. I'm still unsure if I think he would be ready in January.

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #9 on: September 12, 2015, 17:42:21 pm »
Personally I'd wait but it is a personal choice if you have the option open.
Mine started at 3yrs 2 months I felt that was kind of early although I also felt he was ready for something different to do. I eased him in gently and he loved it - it was mostly free play with some more organised play sessions, songs, stories, dancing, etc.


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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #10 on: September 12, 2015, 21:07:34 pm »
I'd wait, I think "you spend a long time as an adult, don't rush childhood"

I could tell a whole story about my 12y DS1 (but he doesn't give permission to share the main point) but suffice to say he didn't start Preschool until 4.5yo & he has just achieved something pretty huge in our community... to me that says a lot about "slow & steady" wins the race, since many many people told me I should send him to preschool earlier or he'd be disadvantaged appears not!
dc1 July 03, dc2 May 05

Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Looking for some new activities for 26.5 month old
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2015, 00:22:56 am »
It's true what's the rush ! :)