As we continue to stay mostly inside our home, movement songs have been a great activity for Wesleigh to get her wiggles out through dance. Children are born musicians, they can feel music physically and emotionally and there is a lengthy list of developmental benefits to the combination of music and movement instruction.

Literally speaking, research suggests music supports language development, the precursor to reading. Music and movement strengthens listening, improves balance and spatial awareness, as well as many other things.  This is a terrific way to foster processing both left (language) and right (visual) sides of the brain for optimal learning.

While I’m not a child development professional, my mother-in-law is a children’s speech language pathologist and emphasizes how these songs relate back and reinforce daily activities which we have found to be helpful. Additionally, this past winter, USC announced it received a grant advancing studies into how musical training boosts childhood brain development. After Wes gets her dance moves and the lyrics down, looks like we’ll have to pick up an instrument and learn to play…

Until then, I’m sharing twelve songs (including a few well known classics) that have become a part of our day, keeping Wes entertained and stimulated for our own type of indoor recess.

Baby Shark, Pinkfong

Blippi, Fire Truck

Clap Your Hands, The Kiboomers

Freeze Dance Song, The Kiboomers

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes, Mother Goose Club

If You’re Happy, Cedarmont Kids

Itsy Bitsy Spider, Barney

Shake My Sillies Out, Raffi

The Elmo Slide, Elmo

The Wheels On The Bus, Cedarmont Kids

This Is The Way, Super Simple Songs

Walking, Walking, Super Simple Songs

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The post Fun Movement Songs For Your Toddler first appeared on Lindsey Boova.

DIY Cardboard Post Office

As a child, my Papa built me a cardboard Post Office. My cousins and I played with it all the time when we visited him and my Nana. Looking back, this brings up happy childhood memories. After placing many online orders, finally, a box arrived that was of suitable size to create a similar Post Office for Wesleigh to enjoy. I was thrilled to see her enthusiasm for this DIY project.

• What you need: Cardboard BoxScissors/Box CutterPacking TapeMarkers/Crayons/Stickers – whatever is on hand for your child to decorate the box with

As you can see from the photo, I cut out a window and smaller slot for mailbox drop. I also cut out a door and crafted a handle so it functions for Wesleigh to get in and out easily.  We used crayons and stickers to decorate along with a few print outs I quickly typed up in Word. Stay tuned as we’ll continue with this theme and create a letter sorter next.

Cereal Bracelets

A great activity for fine motor skills, creating cereal bracelets (and then eating them) strengthens hand muscles, improves hand/eye coordination and serves as a simple snack.

• What you need: Chenille Stems/Pipe CleanerLoop Cereal (Fruit Cheerios, Fruit Loops)Muffin Tin/Egg Carton *Optional

Pour the loops into a bowl or have your child arrange the cereal in the muffin tin/egg carton components. An older child may be asked to sort by color.

Twist up one end of pipe cleaner to serve as a knot for your child and to protect their hands from the end.

Show your child how to thread the cereal onto the pipe cleaner. An older child will be able to sort in a color pattern.

Wesleigh was able to continue threading on her own, but not for very long before eating the cereal off the stem.

Had Wesleigh not eaten off all her loops, we would have finished the bracelet by wrapping the stem around her wrist and twisting the ends together.

Play Dress Up

Wesleigh received a Fairy Princess Tutu Costume set for her birthday, which she absolutely loves. She dons her new wings and tutus for all her meals and is frequently seen holding her wand; she calls this her Bianca Wishenpoof set. Wes is already imagining she has magical powers like one of her favorite TV characters, Bianca, from Wishenpoof on Amazon. It’s great to see her engaged in role-play, developing her emotions and building her memory (even if this recollection is from a TV show).

• What you Need: A costume set such as our “Wishenpoof” set, Frozen, Elsa costume or Chef’s hat and apronAlternatively, you can reuse old Halloween costumes, loan your child costume jewelry, a hat of any kind (cowboy, fedora) and turn towels into capes.

Q-Tip Push

This is a great opportunity for your child to be engaged and improve their fine motor skills, using only a few items you can easily find at home.

• What you need: Q-TipsEgg CartonPencilScissors

Turn your egg carton upside down and poke holes in the bottom with scissors.

Make each hole wider by pushing a pencil through it.

Make sure each Q-Tip can fit through the holes.

Show your child how you can push the q-tip through the hole and let them follow suit.

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The post Rainy Day Activities first appeared on Lindsey Boova.