Activity Ideas – Toddler Milestones
Clixo x learnwithjoey presents: Promoting cognitive and physical development through the early ages with Clixo! Activities for 2-5 year olds!
Building, stacking, and imaginary play are all activities that help encourage motor and cognitive development. Clixo naturally lends itself well to these milestones but there are additional ways to use your Clixo pack to promote cognitive and physical development through the early ages. The possibilities are truly endless so I hope the following activities will inspire you to discover your own!
Please note: Clixo is recommended for ages 4+. It is important that there is adult supervision for all children under the recommended age.
—- ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 2-3 —-
Activity 1: Find a Match
Using similarities and differences to find a match!
Materials:
– Any Clixo Pack!
– Let’s Find a Match! Task Cards – Download here
How to Play:
1. Lay out some or all of your Clixo pieces. Make sure to mix them up!
2. Pick a task card from the deck
3. Describe the image on your card. Ask questions like:
* Which Clixo piece is on the card?
* What does it look like?
4. Find all the pieces that are the same as the one on your card.
Note: Once your child has mastered matching, move into sorting by selecting 2 or more task cards
Tips:
– Make sure to model the activity the first few times
– Start simple with less variety and pieces
– Keywords: same, different, find, match
Here’s what the activity looks like (you can download all the task cards here)
Activity 2: Stringing Beads
Making and stringing beads to strengthen fine motor skills!
Materials:
– Clixo Quad Pieces (8 or more)
– Clixo Two-Dot Pieces (1)
– Yarn / Shoelace (any string will do but make sure it’s on the thicker side)
How to Play:
1. Use the Clixo Quad pieces to make beads (see photo above for easy instructions)
2. Tie one end of the string around the middle of the Twodot pieces as a base to catch the beads
3. Place your twodot base on the floor and start threading the beads onto the string. Count them as you go!
4. Enjoy your masterpiece by taking it for a walk!
Tips:
– You can have your child make the beads or have them already made
– Tying a dull toothpick or cut straw to one end makes threading easier
—- ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 3-4 —-
Activity 3: Puzzles
Fitting pieces together to complete a puzzle!
Materials:
– Any Clixo pack!
– Puzzle Task Cards – Download here
How to Play:
1. Pick a puzzle task card
2. Gather the Clixo pieces needed to complete the puzzle. (This information is given on each task card)
3. Replicate the image on the task card by fitting the pieces together. Make sure to use a hard safe (floor / tabletop / fridge door)
4. Talk about it! What does it look like to you?
Here’s what the activity looks like (you can download all the task cards here)
Download the full set of Puzzle task cards here (More patterns available)
—- ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 4-5 —-
Activity 4: Patterns
Learning to build patterns
Materials
– Any Clixo Pack!
– Building Patterns Task Cards – Download here
How to Play:
1. Select a pattern card (The AB pattern is the least complex pattern to start with)
2. Have your child build a pattern by iterating the selected pattern a few times
3. Have your child read and describe the pattern to you
4. Once your child has mastered the AB pattern, move onto the more complex patterns: ABC, ABB, AAB, AABB
Tips:
– Children should first know how to recognize and describe patterns before working on copying, building, and extending patterns (Activity #5)
Here’s what the activity looks like ( Download all the task cards here)
Activity 5: What Comes Next?
Learning to extend patterns!
Materials:
– Any Clixo Pack!
– What Comes Next! Task Cards – Download here
How to Play:
1. Select a pattern card (The AB pattern is the least complex pattern to start with)
2. Have your child say the pattern to you. For example: “Red, blue, red, blue”
3. When the pattern stops, ask:
* What comes next?
* How do you know?
Note: For more practice, feel free to create your own task cards or make a pattern with the actual pieces and ask your child to extend the pattern.
Here’s what the activity looks like (Download the task cards here)
Tips:
– Children should first know how to recognize and describe patterns before working on copying, building, and extending patterns
– The use of voice inflection can be very helpful when working with patterns.
About @learnwithjoey: Josephine Koh is an educator who has worked for the NYC public school system for over ten years and in private homes as a learning specialist for over fourteen years. She works with a wide range of students but specializes in helping children who have developmental, behavioral, social/emotional, and cognitive challenges. Through her work both in and out of schools, Josephine has become incredibly passionate about empowering kids and families to grow in creative and healthy ways. She loves sharing tips and designing tools that will allow kids and parents to feel equipped, especially at home! Check out @learnwithjoey for more. 🙂
Clixo x @learnwithjoey is a series of creative activity ideas developed by Josephine Koh (@learnwithjoey) for Clixo to help parents and kids get even more fun out of their Clixo packs. Try out some these activities in your play group today and share pictures with us! We’d love to see it! 🙂