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Pre-K activities, learning games, crafts, and printables


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Distance - Babies and toddlers - Educatall

Distance

Activities for toddlers and babies

 

Use this theme’s simple activities to introduce young children to the concept of “near and far”.

 

AREA SETUP

 

Hang colorful vinyl tape measures from the ceiling throughout your daycare. Display attractive growth charts on the walls.

 

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

 

At the table

Use words to describe where each child is in relation to his or her friends. For example, you could say, “Julia, you are sitting next to Sophia. You are near her. Nathan, you are sitting at the end of the table, far from Julia.”

 

SENSORY ACTIVITIES (look)

 

Bubbles

Blow soap bubbles for your group. Blow bubbles very high in the sky and very low, towards the ground. Encourage children to notice where the bubbles are. Some will be near them, others will be blown far away. Some bubbles will float up high in the sky and others will float down low and pop on the grass.

 

ARTS & CRAFTS

 

Kites

Have fun creating and decorating kites with the children in your group. Have fun flying them in the sky. If flying the kites is difficult, simply hang them from tree branches in your yard. Observe and admire the kites with your group. Help children notice how they are high up in the sky (or far).

 

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

 

One-on-one picnics

Set colorful beach towels on the grass in your yard. Have two children sit on each towel, facing each other. Give each pair a small basket containing food items they can enjoy, just like a picnic. Help children notice how they are sitting two by two and that their friend is near them, but the other children are far from them.

 

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

 

What I see in the sky

Invite children to look up at the sky. Lie down on the ground with them and name what you see: an airplane, a cloud, a bird, etc. Help them understand that these items are very high up in the sky and therefore very far from them.

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

 

In the tunnel

Play with visual perception by setting balls at both ends of a tunnel. Observe the balls with your group. Encourage children to crawl through the tunnel so they can explore the balls that are near to them and the balls that are far from them.

 

Rolling far away

Set a large cushion on the ground and place a mat on top of it to create a small incline. Encourage babies and toddlers to set balls and toy cars at the top of the incline and watch them roll down. Name the toys as they roll away and say that they are now far from the incline. Encourage children to collect the toys and repeat the activity.

 

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

 

What I see at the playground

At the playground, sit with your group and have fun observing your surroundings. Name different elements that are far and other things that are near. For example, you could tell your group, “Near us, there is a yellow dandelion and far away, at the other end of the playground, there is a man walking his dog.”

 

 

Chantal Millette

Early childhood educator


Educatall.com is not responsible for the content of this article. The information mentioned in this article is the responsibility of the author. Educatall.com shall not be held responsible for any litigation or issues resulting from this article.

 

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