SPECIAL TOOL
This tool was created in response to a special request received. (Open interactive nametags-Dolls) Open the document, type children’s names, print, and laminate the nametags. Use them to identify cubbyholes, naptime mattresses, and other personal belongings.
CIRCLE TIME
Animated discussion-Dolls
(Open picture game-Dolls) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a conversation with your group. Ask children questions about the theme.
A treasure hunt to discover the theme
(Open educa-decorate-Dolls) Print, laminate, and cut out the items. Hide them throughout your daycare and encourage children to search for them. Name the items and invite children to guess the theme.
Doll-themed exploration box
Create a special thematic box. Fill it with bibs, baby bottles, rattles, pacifiers, bowls and spoons, sun hats, blankets, empty baby product bottles, diapers, pyjamas, baby shoes, empty baby wipe containers, etc.
Poni discovers and presents-Dolls from around the world
(Open Poni discovers and presents-Dolls around the world) Print, laminate, and cut out the cards. Use a Poni puppet (or another puppet children are familiar with) to present the dolls to your group.
AREA SETUP
Thematic poster-Dolls
(Open thematic poster-Dolls) Print, laminate, and display where children are sure to see it.
Educa-theme-Dolls
(Open educa-theme-Dolls) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and children’s parents) while decorating your daycare.
Educa-decorate-Dolls
(Open educa-decorate-Dolls) Print, laminate, and cut out the illustrations. Use them to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.
Stickers-Dolls
(Open stickers-Dolls) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create a collection of unique stickers. Use them to reward children throughout the theme.
Homemade centerpiece
Create a fascinating centerpiece by setting tiny pink and white Christmas lights in a clear container.
Fun ceiling
Create an interesting mobile by hanging pictures of different types of dolls or small objects related to the theme from the ceiling, over your changing table for example.
Giant nesting dolls
Cut a large basic nesting doll shape out of colorful cardboard for each child. Photograph children individually and print the pictures. Have each child set a plate over his or her face and trace the contour of the plate on their picture. They can cut out the circle and glue their face on their nesting doll’s head. Next, provide various Fun Foam shapes that children can use to decorate their doll to represent painted designs. If they wish, children can draw additional designs all over their doll. Display the giant nesting dolls on a wall to decorate your daycare throughout the theme.
Garland-Dolls
(Open garland-Dolls) Print and let children decorate the items. Cut them out and use them to form a garland that can be hung in your daycare or next to your daycare entrance.
Group identification-Dolls
(Open group identification-Dolls) Print and laminate the documents. Use them to identify cubbyholes, naptime mattresses, and children’s personal belongings.
PICTURE GAME
(Open picture game-Dolls) Use the pictures to decorate your daycare or to spark a conversation with your group. Print, laminate, and store the pictures in a Ziploc bag or in your thematic bin.
Memory game-Dolls
(Open picture game-Dolls) Print the pictures twice and use them for a memory game.
ACTIVITY SHEETS
(Open activity sheets-Dolls) Print and follow instructions.
WRITING ACTIVITIES
(Open writing activities-D like doll) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.
Stationery-Dolls
(Open stationery-Dolls) Use this thematic stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins. Print.
Educa-nuudles-Dolls
(Open educa-nuudles-Dolls) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet. Once they are done, they may use Magic Nuudles to turn the coloring pages into three-dimensional works of art.
Variation: If you do not have Magic Nuudles, ask children to fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers.
To order Magic Nuudles
String activities-Dolls
(Open string activities-Dolls) Print for each child. Children trace the outlines with white glue before covering them with colourful string.
Educa-spots-Dolls
(Open educa-spots-Dolls) Print for each child. Use bingo markers to add color to the different circles. If you don’t have bingo markers, children can set stickers or cereal inside the circles.
LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES
The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Dolls) (Open giant word flashcards-Dolls) doll, baby bottle, pacifier, diaper, baby, dress, dollhouse, stroller, bow, highchair, ribbon, Barbie
Alphabet-Dolls
(Open alphabet-Dolls) Print and laminate the cards. Children must associate the doll clothes to the correct doll by matching the letters. Press Velcro behind each clothing item and on the dolls.
Homemade “I spy…” game
Cut a large piece of plain fabric. The larger your piece of fabric is, the greater the challenge will be. Using hot glue, press tiny Barbie doll accessories (shoes, sweaters, hats, pants, purses, etc.) all over your fabric. If you don’t have any mismatched items, simply purchase inexpensive ones at your local dollar store to create your game. To play, describe an item and invite children to identify it. For example, you could say, “I spy a blue purse.” The first child who finds it can describe the next item and so on. Constant supervision is required.
Sorting-Dolls
Set all the pictures from the theme’s educa-decorate document in the center of the table. Ask children to pick an item, name it, and associate it to one of the pre-determined categories (size, color, theme, shape, etc.).
Associating words and pictures
(Open giant word flashcards-Dolls) (Open word flashcards-Dolls) Print, laminate, and display the word flashcards on a wall or a large piece of cardboard that can be moved around. Name a word and have children identify the corresponding word flashcard.
Educa-chatterbox-Dolls
(Open educa-chatterbox-Dolls) Print and laminate the cards. To create your chatterbox, you will need an empty shoebox or a small bin that you can decorate as you see fit. Fill it with tiny objects, illustrations, pictures, and accessories related to your theme. To help you, we have created a series of cards that you may use. During circle time or, for example, when children are waiting for their lunch, have them take turns picking a card or object out of your chatterbox and naming the corresponding item.
Story and memory game-Dolls
(Open story and memory game-Dolls) Print, cut out, and laminate the pictures. Place the cards face down on the floor. Children pick three cards and invent a story in relation to the illustrations. Variation: Print the pictures twice and use them as a memory game.
Let’s chat
Print and laminate the theme’s word flashcards. Have each child pick a word. They can take turns presenting their word to the group (ex. a stroller). Discuss each item and ask children questions to see what they know about the theme.
ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS
Game-This is my spot-Dolls
(Open game-This is my spot-Dolls) Print two copies of each illustration. Use adhesive paper to stick one copy of each illustration on the table. Place the second copy in a bag. Children take turns picking an illustration to determine where they must sit at the table. You may also use the illustrations to determine children’s naptime spots or their place in the task train.
My doll path
(Open my doll path) Print, laminate, and secure the illustrations on the floor of your daycare to create a path leading to the areas frequently visited by children throughout the day. The path can lead to the bathroom, the cloakroom, etc. If you prefer, use the illustrations to delimit various areas.
Clean hands bin
Prepare a special bin containing items related to the theme to occupy children when they are waiting for their peers to be done washing their hands. The only rule to follow: children may only explore the items in the bin once their hands are clean.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS
Dressing dolls game
Select 2 dolls and a variety of doll clothing items Before children arrive, have fun dressing the dolls many different ways, photographing each outfit. Print and laminate the pictures. Set the doll clothes in a bin. Divide your group into 2 teams and give each team a doll along with a picture of their doll wearing one of your outfits. Children work as a team to find the clothing items shown in the picture and dress their doll accordingly. The first team to complete the challenge earns a point. This game will put children’s fine motor skills to the test. To build gross motor skills too, you could hide the doll clothes throughout your daycare.
Modeling dough activity placemats-Dolls
(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Dolls) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.
Giant homemade memory game-Dolls
(Open doll faces) Use 12 paper plates to create 6 pairs of doll faces. Arrange all the plates face down on the floor or table. Children take turns turning 2 plates. If they match, they keep the plates and play again.
Game-Pacifier
(Open game-pacifier) Print and display the picture on a wall. Just like in pin the tail on the donkey, children try to give the baby her pacifier by pressing it as close to the correct spot as possible, while blindfolded.
Where are the dolls hiding?
Draw simple doll shapes on pink Post-it notes. Press them on items throughout your daycare and let children find them during the day. You can press the dolls on items in the bathroom, the cloakroom, the playroom, etc.
I catch a doll
Cut pictures of dolls out of catalogues and flyers and glue them on pieces of construction paper. Attach a paperclip to each one and let children try to catch them using a toy fishing rod that has a magnet glued to the tip of its line.
Doll hunt
(Open miniature dolls) Print, laminate, and cut out the dolls. Hide them throughout your daycare. If you prefer, you may also hide them in your yard. Children search for the dolls.
Bowling-Dolls
(Open bowling-Dolls) Print and use the stickers to create games. Press them on empty plastic bottles to create bowling pins. Arrange the bottles on a table and have children try to make them fall using a tennis ball. Give each child 3 tries.
Lacing-Dolls
(Open lacing-Dolls) Print, laminate, and cut out the shapes. Punch holes around the contour of each one. Children can thread a string, a shoelace, or ribbon through the holes.
Giant doll
(Open giant doll pieces) Print, laminate, and cut out the pieces. Children assemble them on the floor to represent a giant doll.
Naked dolls
Undress several dolls and set them on a table. When you give the signal, children must dress the dolls using the clothing items you have given them.
Variation: With older children, use Barbie dolls to increase the level of difficulty.
COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES
I create unique dolls
(Open I create unique dolls) Print, laminate, and cut each doll in half. Hand the pieces to your group and let them create unique dolls by mixing and matching the doll heads and bodies.
Game-Four dolls
(Open game-Four dolls) Print, glue the cards on opaque cardboard, and cut them out. Arrange all the cards upside down on the floor or table (so you can’t see the illustrations). Children take turns rolling a die. Every time a child rolls a “1”, he can turn a card. If he doesn’t already have this doll in front of him, he keeps the card and places it in front of him for everyone to see. The first child who has collected all four dolls wins.
Counting cards-Dolls
(Open counting cards-Dolls) Print and laminate. Prepare a series of wooden clothespins on which you can paint or draw numbers 1 to 9. Children count the items on each card and place the corresponding clothespin on the correct number.
Educa-symmetry-Dolls
(Open educa-symmetry-Dolls) Print. Children must color the picture on the bottom to make it look exactly like the one on the top.
Roll & color-3D-Dolls
(Open roll & color-3D-Dolls) Print for each child. This game can be enjoyed individually or as a group. Children take turns rolling the die. They must color or paste the clothing item shown on the die on the doll. The first child who completes his doll wins.
Sorting-Dolls
Collect different types of dolls (Barbie dolls, paper dolls, plastic dolls, fabric dolls, etc.). Set them all in a bag, except for one. Set this one doll on the floor, in front of your group. Invite a child to pick a doll out of your bag. Have him compare the size of the doll he picked out of the bag with the size of the doll that is on the floor. If his doll is smaller, have him set it to the left of the doll that is on the floor. If it is bigger, he sets his doll to the right of the doll. Keep going until all the dolls are arranged in order, from smallest to biggest.
Bandage association
For this activity, you will need a plastic doll for each child. Using washable markers, draw 5 to 10 small dots on each doll’s body (face, knee, hand, shoulder, stomach, forehead, etc.) using different colors. For each dot, provide a bandage on which you have drawn a dot of the corresponding color. Children must press a bandage on each dot, associating colors.
Homemade wooden puzzles
Print pictures of dolls. Color them if needed. For each picture, arrange Popsicle sticks in a row so that you can glue the picture on top of the wooden surface. Cut around each Popsicle stick and set these puzzle pieces in a bag. Repeat for each picture. Children can arrange the Popsicle sticks to recreate each picture.
Educ-trace-Dolls
(Open educ-trace-Dolls) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines using crayons of the corresponding colors and then color the items.
Educ-colors-Dolls
(Open educ-colors-Dolls) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. If you prefer, print a copy for each child. Children must associate the items that are the same color by drawing a line between them.
Hunt and seek-Dolls
(Open hunt and seek-Dolls) Print and laminate. Children pick a card and search for the item in the scene.
Bingo-Dolls
(Open bingo-Dolls) Print and laminate the bingo cards and items. Laminate them for durable, eco-friendly use. Use dry cereal or Smarties as bingo markers to play bingo with your group.
MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Photo booth-Dolls
(Open photo booth-Dolls) Print the various accessories, cut them out, and glue a drinking straw behind each one. Purchase glasses, hair accessories, pacifiers, baby bottles, rattles, etc. at your local dollar store. Create a décor using a large piece of cardboard. Invite children to pick the accessories they prefer and pose for you. You can take individual, group, or family photos. Print the pictures and display them on a wall for everyone to see.
Makeup-Dolls
Use makeup pencils to color children’s cheeks, draw long eyelashes above their eyes, freckles, etc. Encourage them to admire their reflection in the mirror.
Mandalas-Dolls
(Open mandalas-Dolls) Print for each child. Encourage children to color the mandalas to help them enjoy a relaxing moment whenever needed during the day.
Group project-Doll
Draw a simple doll silhouette on a large piece of paper. Cut it out and press it on a wall, at children’s level. Provide arts & crafts materials and invite children to decorate their doll.
My favorite doll
Encourage children to look at books that contain pictures of different types of dolls for inspiration. Next, have them draw the doll they like most. When they are done, invite them to present their drawing to the group, explaining their selection.
MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES
Musical dolls
Sit in a circle with your group. To the sound of music, children pass 1 or 2 dolls around the circle. When the music stops, the child who has a doll in his hands places it behind him, on the floor. The music starts up again and children pass 1 or 2 different dolls around the circle. At the end of the activity, count how many dolls each child collected.
Dolls like pink
Cut various shapes out of pink construction paper and set them on the floor throughout your daycare (or yard). Play gentle music and invite children to move around, following the music’s rhythm. When the music stops, they must quickly find a pink shape to stand on.
RELAXATION ACTIVITIES
Let each child pick a doll that they may sleep with at naptime. Give children a few minutes to rock their doll and sing lullabies to help their doll fall asleep.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Giant dress-up dolls
Find a paved area in your yard and use sidewalk chalk to draw doll silhouettes (different sizes). Set a bin containing old clothing items (dresses, shoes, sandals, pants, shorts, etc.) nearby. Children will enjoy setting the items on the silhouettes to “dress” them.
Stroller race
Bring a few doll strollers out into the yard and set a doll in each one. Invite children to complete a course that you have created using cones, tunnels, balance beams, etc. while pushing a stroller.
Variation: Divide your group into teams and organize a relay race.
Doll carrier obstacle course
Tie a doll to each child’s back using wide ribbon or tape. Invite children to complete a series of obstacles without letting their doll fall off their back. Have them jump through hula hoops, crawl through a tunnel, jump on a trampoline, etc.
EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION
Milk for the dolls
Purchase different types of milk (cow’s milk, rice milk, oat milk, soy milk, etc.) and organize a taste test with your group.
Water table-Doll bath
Fill a bin or water table with lukewarm water and gather a variety of accessories (facecloths, soap bottles, combs, towels, shampoo bottles, etc.). Invite children to bathe dolls.
Water table-Laundry day
Fill a bin or water table with lukewarm water and invite children to wash doll clothes in it. Set up a clothesline they can use to hang the items to dry.
Rice bin-Doll sandbox
Fill a bin with rice and set a few dolls in it. Children will enjoy helping dolls play in this improvised indoor “sandbox”.
CULINARY ACTIVITIES
Prepare and taste different pureed foods
(Open labels baby food jars) Puree fruits and vegetables with your group. Explain how babies must eat pureed foods because they don’t have teeth. Let children taste the pureed foods and use them to make comparisons (ex. pureed carrots versus carrot sticks).
Doll snack time
At snack time, serve pureed foods, Arrowroot cookies, baby cereal, etc. Just for fun, invite children to wear a bib.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Diapers for dolls
(Open models-diapers for dolls) Print the model and trace it several times on different colors of felt. Have children cut out the diapers. Next, have them place the diapers on a table in front of them, with the wider part at the top. Show children how they can lift the front part (at the bottom) and glue 2 male Velcro pieces on either side. Next, have them press 2 female Velcro pieces on either corner, at the top (part of the diaper that goes under a doll’s bottom). If they wish, children can use markers to draw designs on the diapers. They will love using their homemade diapers with dolls.
Dolls
(Open models-Dolls) Print the models and use them for various activities and projects throughout the theme.
Drinking straws-Dolls
Cut simple doll outlines out of pink paper. Cut a slit in each one and insert a drinking straw.
My doll hat
(Open educa-decorate-Dolls) Print and cut out. Glue the shapes around a hat or headband.
Masks-Dolls
(Open masks-Dolls) Print and set the masks in the center of the table. Children use arts & crafts materials and markers to decorate a mask. Attach a string on either side of each child’s mask so they can be tied behind their head.
Puppets-Dolls
(Open puppets-Dolls) Print the various models on cardboard. Ask children to cut them out and decorate them with arts & crafts materials. Glue a Popsicle stick behind each one to complete the puppets.
Mobile-Dolls
(Open models-Dolls) Print for each child. Have children color and decorate the various shapes and assemble them to create a mobile. The items can be hung from a clothing hanger, a perforated plastic container, or a paper plate.
My miniature doll
(Open my miniature doll) Print for each child. Have children color and cut out the various parts and press them on an empty toilet paper roll to represent a doll. Hang the dolls from the ceiling or set them on a windowsill.
My bottle doll
You will need a full bottle of water and a Styrofoam ball for each child. Cut a hole out of each child’s Styrofoam ball so they can slide it over their bottle’s cap to represent their doll’s head. Let children bring their doll to life by adding hair (yarn pieces) along with arms and legs (bent pipe cleaners). Encourage them to dress their doll by cutting clothing items out of colorful construction paper. Note that this can also be done with empty water bottles, but using full bottles makes the dolls less likely to tip over.
COLORING PAGES
(Open coloring pages theme-Dolls) Print for each child.
Have fun!
The educatall team