All of the materials in this post are pulled from the original post I recently wrote about building vocabulary through categorization.
A quick recap for those who don’t have time to read the original post in its entirety right now:
- Building vocabulary through categories strengthens your toddler’s lexicon (a.k.a., his/her “personal dictionary”).
- Many toddler toys are already organized by category which creates a natural teaching opportunity.
- Little ones learn well by thinking about categories and specific items within that category.
- Preschoolers can start to think about categories, subcategories, and then specific items. (See below for FREE CATEGORY WORKSHEETS!)
Toys and Activities
1.) Puzzles. I can’t rave enough about the wonderful benefits of puzzles. They build vocabulary skills, motor-skills, problem-solving skills, and can even build social skills.
Bored of regular puzzles? Try ones with sound! Farm, vehicles, instruments just to name a few! I can’t forget baby shark just to torture you, or your least favorite family member, haha!
2.) Stickers. Again, this activity will build multiple skills for your child at once. They will enrich your child’s vocabulary, build motor skills, and stretch the imagination. These ones are fantastic because you can reuse them! Repeat the fun in different ways!
3.) Flashcards. Try out this one with multiple decks or this one with one deck but tons of ideas of ways you can use the cards! We purchased the first one for our older son when he turned two-years-old. He started getting into them when he was closer to age three.
I’ve used the other flashcards in therapy and they are absolutely solid! The ideas that are given stretch the mind to think of categorizing items in abstract ways (e.g., things that fly). They are great for older preschoolers and even 5-to-6-year-olds as well.
Yoga Youtube Videos
I should have mentioned in my original post that our oldest son is obsessed with #cosmickidsyoga. The great thing about this program is that each video is a different theme and length. Need 10 minutes to do dishes and have your toddler exercise? Check. How about 30 minutes to take care of another child in your house or clean up a big mess? Check. How about some special time with your toddler to relax and unwind? Check! Here are some 10-15 minute favorite episodes:
- Farm yoga. Has your little one ever wanted to sing “Old McDonald Had A Farm” while exercising? Now you can!
- Jungle yoga. Does your little one want to go explore and find some jungle animals? This is the perfect video!
- Space yoga. Would you like to have a picnic with your child in outer space?! This our oldest’s favorite episode!
Don’t forget the longer 30-minute-videos, some of which are based on movies, such as Frozen:
Free Printables!
I have created some free printables that you can use at home! These are best for ages 4+. Some kiddos love filling out a worksheet then playing a short game (e.g., short scavenger hunt around the room, quick game on a tablet, tic-tac-toe, etc.) I hope that you find these helpful and feel free to print as many copies as you need!
| CLICK HERE for a free BLANK COPY of the CATEGORY WORKSHEET |
| CLICK HERE for a free BLANK COPY of the CATEGORY/SUBCATEGORY WORKSHEET |
Challenge: think of abstract topics (e.g., things that can fly, things that are loud, things that are sticky, things that are soft).
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Have some more ideas about things to do at home to support categorization and vocabulary building? Drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you soon!
