Christmas celebrations in early childhood care can be a great way to enjoy the holiday spirit, foster understanding and support inclusivity even with our youngest learners. The following article provides Christmas Themed Activities For Babies and Toddlers.
Christmas Themed Activities For Babies and Toddlers
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Magnetic Sensory Bottles: Fill bottles with festive items like bells, glitter, and small ornaments. Babies will love shaking and exploring them.
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Big Christmas Tree No-Mess Sensory Play: Use cellophane, shaving cream, and strong tape to create a mess-free sensory play area.
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Christmas Sensory Board: Attach various textures, objects, and sounds to a board for an engaging sensory experience.
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Christmas Bow Sticky Wall: Use contact paper and masking tape to create a sticky wall where toddlers can stick and remove bows.
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Gingerbread Play Dough: Make gingerbread-scented play dough for a fun and aromatic playtime.
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Light Play for Babies: Use safe, cool-to-touch lights in a jar for babies to gaze at and explore.
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Christmas Sensory Bin: Fill a bin with festive items like fake snow, small ornaments, and holiday-themed toys.
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Mess-Free Winter Sensory Bag: Create a sensory bag with winter-themed items like fake snow and small toys.
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Christmas Tree Calm Down Bottle: Fill a bottle with water, glitter, and small ornaments to create a calming sensory bottle.
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Build a Snowman Fine Motor Activity: Use felt pieces and other materials to let toddlers build their own snowman.
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Christmas Sensory Bags: Fill ziplock bags with items like glitter, small ornaments, and water beads. Seal them tightly and let the little ones squish and explore.
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Christmas Light Exploration: Use a string of battery-operated Christmas lights. Let the toddlers explore the lights in a safe, supervised environment.
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Festive Finger Painting: Use red and green finger paints to create Christmas-themed art. You can use large sheets of paper or canvas.
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Christmas Story Time: Read Christmas-themed books to the toddlers. Choose books with bright pictures and simple stories.
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Jingle Bell Shakers: Make shakers using small bells and plastic bottles. Let the toddlers shake them to make music.
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Christmas Cookie Decorating: Use plain cookies and let the toddlers decorate them with icing and sprinkles. Make sure to supervise closely to avoid any choking hazards.
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Santa Hat Craft: Create simple Santa hats using red and white construction paper. Let the toddlers decorate them with stickers and cotton balls.
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Christmas Tree Decorating: Use a small, toddler-friendly Christmas tree and let the little ones help decorate it with soft, non-breakable ornaments.
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Snowflake Stamping: Use cookie cutters or foam stamps to create snowflake shapes with paint on paper.
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Holiday Sing-Along: Sing Christmas carols and holiday songs with the toddlers. Use simple instruments like tambourines and maracas to add to the fun.
Linking To The EYLF
Linking Christmas activities for babies and toddlers to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) can enhance their developmental outcomes. Here are some examples:
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Magnetic Sensory Bottles:
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EYLF Outcome 1: Children feel safe, secure, and supported. Sensory bottles can help children explore different textures and sounds, promoting a sense of security and curiosity.
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Big Christmas Tree No-Mess Sensory Play:
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EYLF Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world. This activity encourages children to engage with their environment and develop a sense of belonging.
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Christmas Sensory Board:
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EYLF Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing. Sensory boards can enhance fine motor skills and provide a calming sensory experience.
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Christmas Bow Sticky Wall:
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EYLF Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners. This activity promotes problem-solving and fine motor skills as children stick and remove bows.
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Gingerbread Play Dough:
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EYLF Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators. Play dough activities encourage language development and social interaction as children describe their creations.
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These activities are designed to be safe, engaging, and fun for little ones.
Reference:
20 Christmas Activities For Babies and Toddlers, My Little Moppet
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