Monday: We’re Going on a Safari! 🦓

🦁 Activity 1: Animal Names & Sounds Safari

Materials Needed

• Stuffed animals or toy animals representing various species (this could be jungle animals, farm animals, etc., any stuffed animals or toy animals you have around the house)

• A blindfold (optional)

Instructions

• Gather a selection of stuffed or toy animals representing different jungle animals, such as lions, elephants, monkeys, and zebras.

• For Older Toddlers: If your child is older and comfortable with it, you can choose to use a blindfold. Have them take turns wearing the blindfold (or close their eyes) while you place an animal in their hands. Encourage them to guess which animal they're touching based on the animal's texture and shape.

• For Younger Toddlers: For younger toddlers, place the animals at various spots around the room. Encourage your child to explore and discover the animals by finding them. As they find each animal, share its name and make the corresponding animal sounds. Discuss the colors, names, sounds, textures, and any other interesting characteristics of each animal.

• During the activity, engage in interactive play by imitating animal sounds together. For example, you can ask questions like, "What sound does a lion make?" and enjoy roaring and mimicking the sounds of other animals.

Why it’s a good activity

• This sensory exploration activity encourages your child to use their sense of touch and auditory recognition.

• It introduces them to a variety of jungle animals and helps them learn about their unique characteristics.

• By pretending to be on a jungle safari, it fosters imaginative play and creativity.

🐒 Activity 2: Jungle Animal Mask

Materials Needed

• Printable jungle animal mask templates

• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils

• Child-safe scissors

• Elastic cord or string

• Hole punch

Instructions

• Print out jungle animal mask templates or have your toddler draw and color their own jungle animal masks.

• For Older Toddlers: If your child is older, help them carefully cut out the masks along the dotted lines. Use a hole punch to create holes on each side of the mask. Attach elastic cord or string to the holes to create wearable masks.

• For Younger Toddlers: For younger toddlers, wear the mask yourself and encourage them to observe and interact with it. Depending on your toddler's age and comfort level, they may want you to wear the mask and act silly or they may want to hold the mask and pretend to be the jungle animal. Together, engage in imaginative play as you both explore the jungle animal masks.

Why it’s a good activity

• Creative art projects, such as coloring and decorating masks, promote fine motor skills and encourage creativity.

• Role-playing with masks encourages imaginative play and storytelling, allowing your child to take on the role of a jungle animal and invent their own adventures.

• This activity makes learning about jungle animals interactive and enjoyable, bringing the animal kingdom to life in a fun and hands-on way.

Tuesday: Under the Sea 🌊

🐠 Activity 1: Ocean Animal Hunt

Materials Needed

• Blue blanket or cloth (representing water)

• Plastic ocean animals or figurines (bath toys work great for this!)

• Bucket or container (optional; fill with water for added fun)

Instructions

• Spread the blue blanket or cloth on the floor to represent the ocean.

• Hide plastic ocean animal toys or figurines (e.g., fish, dolphins, turtles) around the "ocean" area.

• For Older Toddlers: Encourage them to go on an underwater adventure to search for and collect the hidden ocean animals. You can provide a bucket or container filled with water for an added sensory experience. As they find each ocean animal, encourage them to name the animals and share interesting facts about them. For example, "Look, you found a dolphin! Dolphins are known for their playful jumps, can you show me how you jump?!"

• For Younger Toddlers: You can guide them in the hunt by pointing out the hidden ocean animals and helping them collect them. If your child prefers, you can use a bucket or container without water to make it more accessible.

• As you find each ocean animal together, say its name and make simple observations. For example, "Look, it's a fish! Fish swim in the water."

Why it’s a good activity

• This activity promotes imaginative play and encourages exploration of ocean life, fostering a sense of curiosity about underwater creatures.

• Searching for hidden objects enhances observation skills and helps children practice their visual discrimination.

• Naming and identifying animals during the hunt fosters early language development, building vocabulary and knowledge about marine life.

🐬 Activity 2: Ocean Discovery Bin

Materials Needed

• Large shallow container or plastic storage bin

• Blue-colored water (use water with blue food coloring)

• Ocean animal toys or figurines (plastic or rubber) Shells, pebbles, or smooth stones

• Small fishing net (optional)

• Child-safe scoops or spoons

• Water-resistant plastic books with ocean themes (for older toddlers)

Instructions

• Fill the container with blue-colored water (use water with blue food coloring) and add ocean animal toys or figurines (plastic or rubber), shells, pebbles, or smooth stones.

• For Older Toddlers: Provide child-safe scoops or spoons and a small fishing net for them to scoop up and collect the ocean animals and objects.

• For Younger Toddlers: Encourage them to explore and discover the objects in the bin through touch and observation.

• For both age groups, provide water-resistant plastic books with ocean themes for them to read through and explore.

Why it’s a good activity

• This activity promotes sensory exploration and imaginative play by creating an underwater world.

• Manipulating objects with scoops or nets encourages fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

• Water-resistant plastic books provide an opportunity for reading and language development while exploring the ocean theme.

Wednesday: Dino Day! 🦕

🦖 Activity 1: Dinosaur Fossil Hunt

Materials Needed

• Small toy dinosaur figurines

• Playdough or molding clay (for older toddlers)

• Plastic trays, plates, baking pan, or a sensory bin

• Toothpicks (for older toddlers)

Instructions

• Instructions for Younger Toddlers: Create a digging area in a shallow plastic container or sensory bin. Fill it with sensory material like rice, sand, or beans to create a "digging site."

• Hide small toy dinosaur figurines in the digging area, partially burying them just below the surface.

• Encourage your younger toddler to use their hands to explore and uncover the hidden "fossils." Model digging motions by using your fingers.

• Provide simple praise and describe the dinosaurs they find, such as "You found a dinosaur! It's a T-Rex!"

• Instructions for Older Toddlers: Create a digging area in a shallow plastic container or sensory bin. In addition to the sensory material, you could provide playdough or molding clay to create an exciting excavation site with fossils.

• Hide small toy dinosaur figurines within the playdough or molding clay, partially burying them beneath the surface. For added challenges, you can also include small pebbles or rocks as "obstacles" to dig around.

• Provide your older toddler with toothpicks suitable for their age and safety. Encourage them to use toothpicks to carefully dig and uncover the hidden "fossils" within the playdough or molding clay.

• As they unearth the dinosaurs, engage in conversations about the different dinosaurs they discover. Encourage questions and discussions about prehistoric creatures.

Why it’s a good activity

• For Younger Toddlers: This activity introduces younger toddlers to the concept of excavation and encourages sensory exploration and fine motor skills as they use their hands to discover "fossils."

• For Older Toddlers: It fosters curiosity and learning about prehistoric creatures, promoting fine motor skills development, patience, and imaginative play.

• Using toothpicks provides a more precise and skill-building way to uncover the hidden "fossils."

🏃‍♂️ Activity 2: Dinosaur Stomp and Roar

Materials Needed

• Dinosaur figurines or plush toys

• Large sheets of paper (or use a roll of craft paper)

• Washable non-toxic paint (in various colors)

• Paintbrushes or sponges

• Smock or old t-shirt for your toddler

• Wet wipes or a damp cloth for easy cleanup

Instructions

• Lay out large sheets of paper on the floor to create a designated "dinosaur stomping ground."

• Dress your toddler in a smock or an old t-shirt to protect their clothes.

• Dipping their hands or feet in paint or using washable, non-toxic paintbrushes or sponges to apply paint to your toddler's hands and feet. Have your toddler walk, stomp, or crawl (whatever their mobility level allows) over the paper, leaving their colorful "dinosaur tracks" behind. Encourage them to make gentle stomping noises and practice their best dinosaur roars.

• You can also introduce toy dinosaur figurines or plush toys and invite your toddler to make footprints for the dinosaurs.

• Ask them to match the toy's footprints with their own painted tracks. As you play, talk about the different dinosaurs and their names, and make up simple stories about their adventures.

Why it’s a good activity

• It fosters sensory exploration, fine motor skills, and imaginative play, allowing older toddlers to fully immerse themselves in the role of a dinosaur while enhancing their creative storytelling skills.

Thursday Let’s get Moooving 💃🏼

🧘‍♀️ Activity 1: Animal Yoga

Materials Needed

• Space for movement

• Yoga mat or soft surface (optional)

• Animal yoga printouts

Instructions

• Set up a space for yoga, either on a soft surface or directly on the floor.

• Use animal yoga cards or create animal yoga cards with pictures of animals in various yoga poses.

• Lay out the animal yoga cards.

• You can invite your toddler to mimic the animal poses as you guide them through a simple animal-themed yoga session.

• You can use fun animal sound effects or descriptions to enhance the experience.

• Practice Animal Poses: Practice poses such as "Lion's Roar" (roaring like a lion), "Elephant Trunk" (reaching high like an elephant's trunk), and "Flamingo Balance" (balancing on one leg like a flamingo).

Why it’s a good activity

• This activity promotes physical activity, balance, and flexibility. It introduces yoga concepts in a playful and imaginative way. It encourages listening skills as toddlers follow instructions.

🐾 Activity 2: Animal Obstacle Course

Materials Needed

• Cushions, pillows, or yoga mats Stuffed animal toys (various types)

• Animal-themed props (e.g., toy tunnels, hula hoops)

• Timer or stopwatch (optional for older toddlers)

Instructions

• Arrange cushions, pillows, or yoga mats on the floor to create "islands" or stepping stones. Place stuffed animal toys strategically along the course, such as lions in the "jungle," penguins in the "arctic," or turtles near a "pond."

• Incorporate animal-themed props, such as toy tunnels (caves for bears or foxes), hula hoops (snake tunnels), or jump ropes (for "river" jumping).

• Explain the Adventure: Tell your toddler that you're going on an animal-themed adventure. Explain that they will navigate the obstacle course just like different animals move through their habitats.

• Embrace Animal Movements: As your toddler moves through the obstacle course, encourage them to imitate animal movements.

  • For example: "Leap like a frog" from one cushion to another. "Crawl like a bear" through the tunnel. "Slither like a snake" through the hula hoop. "Waddle like a penguin" on a straight line. "Hop like a kangaroo" using the jump rope as a "river."

• Time the Adventure (Optional): For added excitement, use a timer or stopwatch to time how fast your toddler can complete the animal obstacle course.

• Challenge them to beat their own time in subsequent attempts. As your toddler encounters stuffed animal toys along the way, encourage them to interact with and explore the animals. Share interesting facts about each animal they encounter. Celebrate the successful completion of the animal obstacle course with cheers and applause.

Why it’s a good activity

• The Animal Obstacle Course combines physical activity, coordination, and imaginative play as toddlers mimic animal movements in different habitats.

• It fosters creativity as children explore the animal-themed course and interact with stuffed animals.

• Learning about animals and their environments adds an educational component to the activity.

Friday Let’s Celebrate our animal-themed week! 🪩

🕺 Activity 1: Animal Kingdom Dance Party

Materials Needed

• Animal Dance Party playlist 

• Animal masks or pictures (from previous activities)

• Open space for dancing

Instructions

• Put on our animal-themed dance party playlist! Show your toddler animal masks or pictures representing different animals they've learned about during the week.

• You can pull out the crafts we created, like the dinosaur track trails and the under-the-sea creatures, and create a big dance party!

• Play the music and encourage your toddler to dance and move like animals.

• For example, they can hop like a kangaroo, slither like a snake, or stomp like an elephant. Join in on the fun and dance along together.

Why it’s a good activity

• Dancing promotes physical activity and coordination.

• It reinforces the animal theme and encourages imaginative play.

• It's a lively and entertaining way to wrap up the week's exploration of the animal kingdom.

🍪 Activity 2: Animal Cookies, Reading and Snuggle Time

Materials Needed

• Sugar cookie dough (store-bought or homemade)

• Animal-shaped cookie cutters (various animals)

• Rolling pin Baking sheets

• Non-stick cooking spray or parchment paper

• Cookie decorations (e.g., icing, sprinkles, chocolate chips)

• Aprons for toddlers (optional)

Instructions

• Prepare the Dough: If you're using store-bought cookie dough, follow the instructions on the package for preheating the oven and handling the dough. If you're making homemade cookie dough, prepare it according to your favorite sugar cookie recipe.

• Roll out the cookie dough on a clean and floured surface using a rolling pin. Ensure that the dough is approximately 1/4-inch thick.

• Using animal-shaped cookie cutters, let your toddler cut out different animal shapes from the rolled-out dough. Encourage them to press the cookie cutters firmly and lift the animal shapes gently.

• Carefully place the animal-shaped cookie cutouts onto baking sheets lined with non-stick cooking spray or parchment paper. Leave some space between each cookie.

• Before or after baking, depending on the type of decorations you have, your toddler can have fun decorating the animal-shaped cookies using icing, sprinkles, or chocolate chips. Let their creativity run wild as they decorate the animal shapes with different patterns and colors.

• After baking, let the animal-shaped cookies cool on a wire rack.

• Once cooled, your toddler can enjoy their delicious creations while reading animal-themed books and spending some quiet time together before the weekend!

Why it’s a good activity

• Baking animal-shaped cookies combines creativity, fine motor skills, and sensory exploration as toddlers roll, cut, and decorate the dough.

• It introduces them to basic baking concepts and encourages hands-on participation in the kitchen.

• The animal theme adds an educational component, as you can discuss different animals and their characteristics while making and enjoying the cookies.