Personal Social activities
Robin illustration
Personal Social

Teach your child how to interact with others and begin taking care of themselves.

Flower Arranging

Materials:

Flowers, vases, watering jug, and water

Instructions:

Do you have a local flower farm? Take your child to pick various flowers and have them arrange them in vases. I had them cut the stems so they fit inside the small glasses, then practiced pouring water into each vase. Tip: Note the names of the flowers you choose so you can expand your child’s vocabulary.

Food Prep

Materials:

Food

Instructions:

Children learn a lot in the kitchen. Have them wash vegetables or count fish sticks on the baking sheet to practice math and fine motor skills.

Planting Seeds

Materials:

Watering can, seeds, small shovel, and soil

Instructions:

I received sunflower seeds from a garden party. These are hardy and come with instructions. I let my toddler dig a half-inch hole, place a seed inside, and cover it with soil. I showed a picture of a sunflower so they could link seed to flower. Then I asked, “What else do flowers need to grow? Water and sunshine!” Tip: If you plant seeds closer together, the plants stay smaller; farther apart, they grow larger.

Family Story Time

Materials:

Pictures from your day

Instructions:

As you go through the day, take pictures of key moments. At day’s end, share them with your toddler and ask questions: “What was your favorite part?” Toddlers love seeing themselves in action!

Washing Dishes

Materials:

One container for soapy water, one for rinsing, a dish towel, a sponge, and toy dishes (or real ones)

Instructions:

Gather materials ahead of time. Explain that dishes need cleaning. Show how to wash with the sponge, rinse, then dry with the towel.

Place Setting

Materials:

Real dishes, construction paper, and a writing utensil

Instructions:

Outline a plate, utensils, napkin, and glass on paper. Have your child match the real items to the outlines on the table.

Penguin Igloo

Materials:

Milk container, cotton balls, glue, masking tape, and penguin figurines

Instructions:

Cut a large hole for the igloo entrance. Tape edges so they’re not sharp. Explain that penguins need a home. Model gluing cotton balls to the container, then add small trees or other décor to complete the scene.

Laundry

Materials:

Laundry items

Instructions:

Involve your child in daily chores: gathering clothes from the dryer, transferring items from washer to dryer, naming garments, folding, and placing them in drawers to teach responsibility and vocabulary.

Hide And Seek

Materials:

None

Instructions:

Playing hide and seek teaches turn-taking, counting, communication, and following rules. Have one adult hide and another guide your toddler through closing their eyes, counting, and finding. The excitement is part of the fun!

Sea Ice

Materials:

Ice and animal figurines

Instructions:

You can let ice form naturally in a snow tube or freeze water in a safe container. Use polar bear, walrus, and seal figurines to create a scene. Did you know polar bears depend on sea ice? It forms over open water where their seal prey lives.

Feeding Bunny

Materials:

Shoebox, tape, tissue paper (optional), Feeding Bunny Handout (below), scissors, and a laminator (recommended)

Instructions:

Print, laminate, and cut out carrots and a bunny face. Cover the shoebox top so you can reopen it. Tape the bunny face on the front. Say, “The bunny is hungry! Can you name the letter and feed the bunny?” For extra practice, have your toddler say the letter’s sound to build empathy and ABC knowledge.

 Feeding Bunny Handout

Watering Plants

Materials:

Watering can and plants

Instructions:

Involve your toddler in everyday chores. Show that plants need water like we do. Point out drying leaves or soil and explain why water is important. This also builds hand-eye coordination.

Your Turn! My Turn!

Materials:

A ball or toy to pass between you and your toddler

Instructions:

Roll the ball or push the toy to your child and say, “Your turn.” When they return it, say, “My turn.” If they’re unsure, place the object in their hands and model the action. This teaches turn-taking for future interactions.

Stop Light Game

Materials:

None

Instructions:

Teach opposites: “Red light” means stop; “Green light” means go. Model the game by stopping or going as you say the phrases, then have your toddler follow.

Taking Care Of A Squirrel

Materials:

A doll or animal figurine (we used a squirrel), a box, and natural items like sticks, acorns, and leaves

Instructions:

Gather materials and ask your toddler what they’d use to build a home for the squirrel. Go on a nature hunt together, then arrange the items in the box. This builds empathy and problem-solving skills.