Toddler Activities

Where to Start
When Your Oldest Child is Age 2
Family Time Activities

I’m often asked by mothers of very young children, “Where do I start?” The activities listed below are all activities which I have used successfully with toddlers and young preschoolers. I would begin with this list.  This is not an exhaustive list!  The books and website include additional activities that you may want to use.  
–Kirk Weaver, Executive Director, Family Time Training

Introduction

Listed below are 40 activities which can be used with very young children.  Younger children love repetition.  Repeat each activity at least once and you have more than a year’s worth of weekly Family Times!  Many can be used with children 18 months of age and all can be used with children 2 years old and older.  Keep in mind that much older children, 5-7 years of age, will still enjoy these activities.

Keep your Family Time fresh by mixing up the activities.  Use an activity from one source this week and a different source next week.  Alternate Food Fun snacks, Bible Story readings and Family Time activities.  Adapt and simplify activities to meet the specific abilities of your child.

Family Time Bible Storybook

1. Noah’s Animal Charades (page 15):  Act out and guess the animals on Noah’s ark.
2. Walking Abraham (page 18):  Count the shoes in your home.  Discuss different types.
3. Jacob and Esau (page 22):  Name family members.  Make a Family Tree!
4. Deborah Obeys God (page 37):  Make storm sounds.  Consider taping your storm sounds and listen to the results.
5. Christmas Charades (page 71):  Act out and guess words and events associated with Christmas.
6. John the Baptist (page 73):  Dig in the garden or yard and see how many bugs you can find.
7. Friends Help a Lame Man (page 80, 102):  Demonstrate 10 things you can do with your legs and feet.
8. Thank Jesus (page 89):  We are blessed with many things.  Make a list of items in your home that you have in multiples of 10 or more.  For example:  Books, plates, shoes, lights.  Extra: Show that a tithe equals 1 out of 10 items.
9. Jesus Enters Jerusalem (page 93):  Role play.  Adults play the donkey and kids ride into Jerusalem.  Others use real or paper branches to lay down in front of the donkey and sing “hosanna.”
10. Poor Woman’s Gift (page 95):  Get a variety of coins.  Discuss their value.  10 pennies is less than 1 quarter.  Although bigger a nickel is worth less than a dime.  Size of the gift is not as important as sacrifice.
11. Peter Escapes from Prison (page 109):  Use the hand motions.
12. 94 Other stories where you look for hidden items, etc.

Wiggles, Giggles and Popcorn:  Activities for Preschoolers

1. Noah’s Ark (page 17):  Build an ark using a box and stuffed animals.
2. Moses (page 19):  Hide a baby doll laying in a basket and floating in water.
3. Ruth (page 21):  Be Naomi and run a race trying not to drop a “balloon-Ruth.”
4. Soak it Up (page 28):  When we learn about Jesus, his teachings can show in our lives.
5. Messages to God (page 33):  Send messages written on helium balloons.
6. Lost Sheep Hide & Seek (page 42):  Jesus (the parent) will find the lost sheep (the children).
7. A Strong Tower (page 59):  Tag with a safe base called Jesus. 
8. Birthday Cake for Jesus (page 69):  Celebrate Christmas with a special Jesus birthday cake.
9. Traveling Nativity (page 71):  Nativity set pieces move around the house toward Bethlehem.
10. Story Eggs (page 74):  Easter Egg hunt that also tells the story of Easter.
11. The Throne (page 87):  Musical chairs where Jesus sits on the throne, not us.

Bubbles, Balloons & Chocolate:  Activities for Preschoolers

1. Lazarus (page 17):  Wrap up in toilet paper and break free.
2. Friends (page 20):  Friends provide support.
3. Invisible & Powerful (page 25):  Even though we cannot see God, he is there!
4. Cain (page 52):  Sin will grow and grow if we don’t change our course.
5. Bubbles & Balloons (page 58):  Spend time on things that will last forever.
6. Missing the Target (page 61):  The definition of “sin” is missing the target.
7. Good & Bad Words (page 77):  Good words build up and bad words tear down.
8. The Manger (page 88):  Build a manger where Jesus arrives on Christmas morning.

Food Fun Devotions (*This book is out of print as of 2012. You can currently find copies on Amazon.)

1. You are the Potter (page 22)
2. Pharaohs Fruit Chariots (page 30)
3. Cinnamon Roll Crosses (page 34)
4. Eatin’ Gummies and Fishin’ for Men (page 36)
5. Life—a Mixture of Apples and Onions (page 54)
6. Lilies of the Field (page 58)
7. Sweet Tongues of Fire  (page 60)
8. New Creation Lemonade (page 76)
9. Born of Water and Spirit (page 80)