Is your preschooler itching to do things the "big kids" are doing? You can help your child develop "school" skills now by working together on a special "Where Is the Star?" booklet. This booklet is all about the placement of objects in relationship to other things, which helps your child develop the visual spatial skills needed for reading. This reading activity for toddlers will leave them thinking the best baby books are the ones they make.
Toddler Crafts
What You Need
- A piece of 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper
- Crayons
Let's Go!
Fold the paper in half so it makes a booklet 5 1/2 X 8 1/2 inches. On the cover, write the title "Where Is the Star?" Then let your child sign it and draw pictures to illustrate it.
On the first page, let your child draw a simple object such as a ball. Then ask her to draw or paste a star above the object. Write the word "OVER" on the page. On the second page, draw another object, then draw or paste a star below the object. Write the word "UNDER" on the page.
On the third page, draw another object; draw or paste a star beside the object. Write "NEXT TO" or "BESIDE" on the page.
Your preschooler will soon be able to read the new words in this book. Now, you've got a reader and an author! To support these concepts, use a real ball and place items over it, under it, and all around it, naming each position out loud.