observation with tutor, what activities for children 2-3 years old can I plan?

[DonW1981]

Hi I have an observation on Wednesday for 45 minutes, I work with 2-3 year olds. I would be grateful for any ideas of activities I could do with them please

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi, a warm welcome to the site. Has your tutor told you which unit and criteria they're planning on covering during the visit?


xx

[DonW1981]

Thank you! No not really she said that for my first one it can be anything at all. Im just trying to find something that can keep a two year old engaged for a short period of time.

[nessieaboutpiglet]

I'd be tempted to get them to do something creative.... you could do something simple like painting with them.... maybe a Mother's Day card for them (if you're in the UK) you could google (or pinterest) some cool ideas beforehand, and ask the child what idea they would like to do- maybe hand prints or free style what they prefer.... But by offering them choices shows you've planned the activity before, and the setting can use the ideas for other children. they can also 'write' in the card, or you can write the message for them and they can do their name/you write it in dots and they go over.... goes to their written communication skills

or even doing some threading beads on a string (hand eye co-ordination) you could also count the beads or ask about colours as you are both doing it.... maybe even discuss favourite colours or if they can think of things that are the same colour e.g. the bead is yellow, so is the sun or something in the setting.


or if you know their favourite toys/games, you could do that with them.

[Ruthierhyme]

Great suggestions given :)

If you know your children's (key children's?) interests it will be far easier to plan an activity that will engage them.

Who really enjoy's cooking/mixing/foraging for play in an outdoor 'mud' kitchen - maybe take some herbs in?

Sand tray or water tray activities - who likes pouring, filling, building? maybe add ocean type animals, sandcastle flags?

Playdough - do children make their own? add a theme to the cutters and suface embellishments eg. flowers, leaves and bumble bees

Paint is always a great medium to change up - offer different sized brushes - huge to tiny. Colours, add texture to the paint eg. sawdust, glue and glitter.

Home corner - dressing up clothes

Hope this helps a little, there's a creative planning sheet here if it helps you to focus on learning objectives.

xx

What does it means to be two and Getting it right for two year olds





Plus the 50 fantastic things to do with .. series of books



Best wishes

[DonW1981]

Thank you some great ideas. Do you have any suggestions regarding a space activity as we have started this as a topic. I've had a look on here and not sure what would engage them. we have made rockets so far

[Ruthierhyme]

There's twinkle twinkle little star themed playdough? you'd need yellow or white dough, star shaped cutters, glitter, glow in the dark stars and bright torches to charge them (they won't be that visible in the daylight but should brighten enough for the children to notice a change).

Star shape activity mat - outline star tracing mat

This activity would enable you to talk about night time and the stars in the sky. You could share observations about colour, shape, size, quantity, stack stars into towers, spread them out, cut them up and decorate the surface of the playdough which supports children's creative expression.




You could also have a storybook at the ready, to read during the activity?

Night Monkey Day monkey is a nice read. You could talk about how light from the sun stops us seeing the stars during the day and when the sun goes down the stars in space shine.



Space themed story books


Hope this helps xx

[DonW1981]

yes thank you