Teaching with Tot Books

In my post Tot Books for your Toddler, I walked you through how to make a Tot Book. In this post, I will discuss how to use Tot Books with your child in an effective way.

Note: The learning materials I use for Tot Books can be found on www.1plus1plus1equals1.com. Go to this site to find and download the printables for Tot Books and a ton of other awesome kid stuff.

How do I use a Tot Book?
Tot Books can be used as an introduction to concepts, for guided learning (working with a parent) or as independent play for the child.

 Checking out her new Farm Tot Book.

Here are a few suggested activities:

 Matching cards (colors, animals, heads and tails):
1. Spread out all of the cards on the floor and have have your child pick up the matches independently or you can call out specific matches to find.
2. Keep one set of cards in your hand and lay out the other set in front of your child. Hand the child one of your cards and he/she has to find its match.
3. Turn the cards upside down and play a memory game.

Animal Matching

Heads and Tails

 Size sequencing cards:
1. Discuss the terms "big" and "little". Model with objects in the room. Lay out the cards in random order in front of the child. Have the child pick up one that is "big". Then have them pick up one that is "little".
2. Use names for the cards to help them remember the order. My daughter likes referring to the cards as Mommy Bear, Daddy Bear, Big Sister Bear, and Little Brother Bear, so we use that strategy to help her remember how to order things from biggest to smallest and vice versa.
3. An alternative to putting the cards in a line, would be to try laying the cards one on top of the other. This may provide a clearer visual for which card is bigger than the other.

 Tractor Size Sequencing

 Coloring Books and Mini Books:
1. Read the books with the child, pointing to each word as you say them and color accordingly.
2. When child is familiar with book, read it again but leave out key words and have the child use the picture to finish the sentence.
3. Have the child tell you the whole story using the pictures in the book.

Alphabet cards: 
1. Use the cards as a visual while singing the alphabet; pointing to each letter as you sing.
2. Show the child a card and have him/her pick out the letter you name. For example, you would hold up the card that says DEF and ask the child which letter is F? You can also do this for letter sounds when the child is ready.
3. Practice putting the cards in ABC order.
 (pictures coming soon)

Number cards:
1. For each card, point to the pictures with your finger while you count. Then, point to the number and repeat its name.
2. Put the cards in number order.
3. Guess and check. Have the child guess how many items he/she thinks is on the card at a quick glance and then count the items to see how close he/she got to the actual number.
4. Lay out all the cards in front of the child and call out a number to find.
 (pictures coming soon)

As you begin to use Tot Books, I'm sure you'll come up with other fun ways to practice these early learning skills with your kiddo. Remember to keep it fun!


Happy Crafting!

Tot Books for your Toddler

I love using Tot Books with my toddler to practice early learning skills in a fun way. My daughter loves to pick out the theme for her Tot Books (Dora, Princess, Brown Bear, Brown Bear) and the activities. I enjoy putting it all together into a book for her. I have made several tot books but they are well used and pretty worn out. Now that I need to make new Tot Books, I thought it would be fun to share what they are and how I make them.

What is a Tot Book?
A Tot Book is a small book filled with printable learning activities.

How do I make a Tot Book?
1. Gather Materials.
file folder (I just use the plain folders but colored folders would be fun.)
scissors
white card stock
white printer paper
stapler, tape
permanent marker
crayons

2: Cut file folder in half width-wise. This will make the "shell" for two Tot Books. Fold the outer flaps toward the middle and crease edges. This should give your book four sections.

 3. Click here to find an assortment of Tot Book themes. Guide your toddler to pick out a fun theme and printable activities. For my daughter's newest Tot Book, she wanted Farm Animals. Click here to find the Farm Tot Book printables. (BEFORE YOU PRINT READ NUMBER 4)

 4. Some printables work better on card stock than regular printer paper. My rule of thumb is, if it is a game with cards or a pocket to hold game pieces then it should be printed on card stock.

For coloring or mini books, print on regular printer paper. I can usually put 3-5 activities in one Tot Book depending on the sizes. Print all needed printables.

5. Cut out all pieces. 

For the pockets, fold them and tape edges. If you don't do this, the pockets will not stay together.
For the books, simple staple the pages together.

6. Arrange activities inside the file folder to your liking. Remember you will need to be able to fold the Tot Book. Staple activities to the inside of file folder.

 7. Write the theme on the front of the Tot Book.

 8. Let the learning fun begin! See post on Teaching with Tot Books.

See my post on Teaching with Tot Books to find fun ways to use these activities.


Note: The learning materials I use for Tot Books can be found on www.1plus1plus1euals1.com. Go to this site to find and download the printables for Tot Books and a ton of other awesome kid stuff.

Happy Crafting!

Crafting Our Way Through the Alphabet

It's hard to believe that my daughter is two and a half. It seems like just yesterday that she was placed in my arms for the first time and now she's singing the ABC's (minus JKL- those apparently aren't necessary) while dancing around the living room. She is my little sponge, absorbing everything around her. I love being about to foster her love for learning.

Each week or so, I introduce a letter and all the activities we do for the week are focused around that letter. For one activity, we make a letter craft. I love using the actual letter as part of the craft because it seems to stick with her more.

When it comes to crafting with kids, the main thing to remember is to KEEP IT SIMPLE.  Letter crafts are not meant to be displayed in a museum. They can be cute and purposeful without costing you an arm and a leg.

Gathering materials: Here is a list of what I like to keep in stock.
Note: Many of these items can be found at the dollar store or Target dollar isle.

construction paper (oodles!)
googly eyes
stick glue
liquid glue
scissors
ribbon
pom poms
crayons
paint
plastic straws
pipe cleaners

Introducing the letter: I have a "circle time" board that I use to introduce the letters. We will say the letter, letter sound, trace the letter with our fingers, look at pictures of things that start with that letter and sing the letter song. For example. "A says _____, A says _____, Every letter makes a sound, A says _____."

***The "circle time" board posters are from www.preschoolpalace.org.

Making the craft: When we make the craft, I have the letters and other materials already cut out. (She's not a scissor user yet.) We hold up our letters and I ask all of those "learning" questions again and then we put the craft together. As often as possible, I try to incorporate shape, number, and color concepts along with the letter craft.

We're crafting our way through the alphabet!
 A is for Alligator

B is for Bee

C if for Cat

 D is for Dinosaur

 E is for Elephant

F is for Frog

 G is for Giraffe

H is for Hippo

I is for Ice Cream

J is for Jellyfish

K is for Kite

L is for Lion

M is for Mouse

 N is for Night

O is for Owl

P is for Peacock

As we complete our letter crafts, I'll continue to post them on here.

Check back each week to see what has been added! I hope you are excited to use letter crafts with your little learner.

I apologize for the delay in posting the rest of the alphabet crafts. We just moved across the country so things have been super busy the past few months. Once we are settled, I'll try to post the rest of the alphabet crafts.

***All Letter Crafts are proudly displayed on our fridge for a week or so then hole punched and put in a binder that will become her alphabet book.

Happy Crafting!