There's an Aquarium in My Jello

Create an Aquarium in Jello

YAY!

• Does it offer an educational experience? No
• What does it teach? Nothing
• Is it age (i.e., 2 - 3 year old) appropriate? No

This is a terrible activity for toddlers. And the jello aquarium just looks creepy! But if you want to give it a try, here's how...

What You’ll Need:

• Blue jello
• Colorful gummy fish
• Blue food coloring

Adult Prep Work:

1. Make the jello, following the directions on the box
2. When the jello is almost set, add the gummy fish and squirt the blue food coloring over the top

What Your Child Will Do:

Push the gummy fish through the jello

You basically need to complete this entire activity, which I never like. And the end product is not cute at all. It kinda gave me the heebie jeebies!

Thank You, Easter Bunny! Bawk! Bawk!

Paint with Easter Eggs

YAY! YAY! YAY!

• Does it offer an educational experience? Yes
• What does it teach? Patterns, colors, following directions, holiday
• Is it age (i.e., 2 - 3 year old) appropriate? Yes

What You’ll Need:

• Large piece of white paper
• Plastic eggs
• Washable colored paint

Adult Prep Work:

1. Open the plastic eggs and give your child one half
2. Pour the paint

What Your Child Will Do:

1. Dip the egg in paint
2. Stamp it on the paper

This was a fun alternative to painting with our hands. My son loved stamping the egg on the paper and seeing the colorful circles it made.

We also read some of our favorite Easter books to round out the activity!

Rain, Rain Play All Day

Make a rainy day picture

YAY!

• Does it offer an educational experience? Yes
• What does it teach? Weather
• Is it age (i.e., 2 - 3 year old) appropriate? No

This is a terrible activity for toddlers

What You’ll Need:

• Cupcake wrappers
• Construction paper (light colored)
• Blue construction paper
• Markers or colored paint
• Scissors
• Glue

Adult Prep Work:

1. Cut large raindrops out of the blue construction paper
2. Glue rain drops to the paper
3. Cut cupcake wrappers in half

What Your Child Will Do:

Color the cupcake wrappers

You basically need to complete this entire craft. The only thing my son was interested in (beside the glue stick and scissors!) was coloring the cupcake wrappers.

I find activities that involve glue to be very difficult at this age. If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please let me know...

Stuck Like Glue to U and 2

Learn Letters & Numbers

YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY!

• Does it offer an educational experience? Yes
• What does it teach? Letters and numbers
• Is it age (i.e., 2 - 3 year old) appropriate? Yes

What You’ll Need:

• Large piece of construction paper
• Glue
• Glitter or sprinkes

Adult Prep Work:

Write the letter on the construction paper using glue

What Your Child Will Do:

1. Shake the glitter or sprinkles over the glue
2. Shake off the excess

This is such a fun way to teach letters and numbers. One lesson learned, if you are using Elmer’s glue, don’t use too much or you’ll end up with a goopy mess.

Give Me the Finger

Fingertip painting

YAY! YAY! YAY!

• Does it offer an educational experience? Yes
• What does it teach? Colors, following directions
• Is it age (i.e., 2 - 3 year old) appropriate? Yes

What You’ll Need:

• Art paper
• Washable paint

What Your Child Will Do:

Dip his finger in the paint and then dab it on the paper

My son loves painting with his hands so this was right up his alley! This is such fun for toddlers who like to experiment and do unstructured art.

Weather or Art

Learn About the Weather

YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY!

• Does it offer an educational experience? Yes
• What does it teach? Weather, nature
• Is it age (i.e., 2 - 3 year old) appropriate? Yes

What You’ll Need:

• White paper plates
• Washable markers

What Your Child Will Do:

1. Color the weather on the plate (i.e., sun, rain, snow)

Then, an adult can label the plate with the day & date, and hang it up on the wall.

This is a great way to learn to about the weather and the days of the week!

I Spy Fun

Build a Fort & Look Out Tower

YAY! YAY!

Does it offer an education experience? Yes

What does it teach? Creativity, gross motor, critical reasoning

Is it age (i.e., 2 -3 year old) appropriate? Yes

What You'll Need:

• Two toilet paper rolls
• Tape or glue
• Markers
• Large blanket
• Two chair

Adult Prep Work:

• Glue or tape the paper rolls together to make binoculars

What Your Child Will Do:

1. Decorate the binoculars
2. Build a fort using the chairs and blanket

This is such a fun rainy day activity. And one where kids can really let their imaginations run free.