The Wonderful Box / Family Language

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the brain pathways to make new connections.

Activities for Toddlers

 

The Wonderful Box

 

The following story is from my book "The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes and Dances For Young Children."

 

You will need a box wrapped in pretty paper with a toy inside. In this version, there is a top in the box. That idea can be changed.

 

Tell this story to the children:

 

Look at this wonderful box. It’s all wrapped up. with pretty paper and a pretty bow. It’s a present. I wonder what’s inside? Do you wonder what’s inside?

 

What do you think is in the box? Maybe it’s a ball. Maybe it’s a doll. Maybe it’s a rattle for a baby.

 

Let’s pick up the box to see if it is heavy or light.

 

Let’s shake the box to see if we can hear something.

 

Maybe it’s a book. Maybe it’s a toy car. Maybe it’s a jack-in-the-box. Let’s find out.

 

Let’s take off the bow and carefully take off the paper. We might want to use it again.

 

OK! Are you ready to see what’s inside?

 

Look! It’s a top!

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:
For building confidence – Talk about the box and use descriptive words.

 

For developing the idea - “What would you put in a box for a surprise?”

 

For moving for forward - “If a rattle is in the box when you shake it, would you hear a noise? What else could be in the box that makes a noise?”

 

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Family Language

 

Discuss the names in a family. Mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, etc.

 

Ask each child, "What do you call your mother?" There will be a variety of answers...Mommy, Mama, etc. 

 

Let each child share what they call their mother.

 

Continue on with sharing names of other family members.

 

Remember to count pets as members of a family.

 

Ideas for taking this activity to the next level:

For building confidence – Can you tell me names of your family members?

 

For developing the idea - What do you do with each family members? Do you play with your sister? Do you read stories with your grandmother? How about your dog or cat? Do you play with them?

 

For moving for forward – If you were a father, what would you say to me? If you were a dog, how would you play with me?

 

Recommended products from Discount School Supply®:

Families Books - set of 7 (FAMBKS)