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Life isn’t so easy when you have a hyperactive child at home. Group activities for toddlers are what you need to keep them engaged productively, especially when they are with a large group of people. If your toddler’s summer vacations are near or they like to spend time on playdates, group activities and games are fun ways to help them stay fit, boost their socialization skills, and make them learn while they are with friends. Here are some interesting ideas for constructive activities to keep your child engaged. Read this post to know more.
Key Pointers
- Building confidence and social skills is facilitated through interaction with other toddlers.
- Group activities such as pretending, musical chairs, and singing rhymes together can enhance interactive skills and promote collaboration.
- Participating in tree plantation with other toddlers can promote adaptability and raise awareness about the importance of environmental safety.
- Engaging in such activities can foster social engagement while showcasing their natural abilities, talents, and creativity.
1. Passing the ball
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All toddlers love exploration and experimentation. Playing with a ball is a simple yet effective way to make them explore the world around them. This game is sure to be a hit. It is a very easy game where a group of toddlers stand in a small circle and pass the ball to each other. As the toddler passes the ball to the next person, he learns to interact and share in a group. This is one of the best activities for developing social skills, teamwork, and hand-eye coordination.
2. Painting together
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Colors are a toddler’s best friend. Involve your little one and his gang in some painting activity. This classic art activity will increase their knowledge of different colors. It will also help nurture their motor skills and creativity!
Quick fact3. Planting a tree together
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Why not involve your toddler in an outdoor play activity that not only spells fun but also serves as a learning experience? Take your little darling and his friends out into your garden and help them plant a sapling. The exercise will help toddlers realize the importance of planting trees and saving the environment early on in their lives.
An anonymous blogger named BB shares an experience where she attended her husband’s book event. She and her husband helped children plant trees. She narrates, “Lastly and most importantly, we had the tree planting activity. PP (husband) at this stage completely shook off his shyness and got into the groove of what he loves doing the most- planting. PP and BB then helped all the kids fill a pot each with soil and plant the Pongamia seeds (i).”
4. Hide and seek
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It is a classic game and a popular one too! You toddler can play this in a large as well as a small group. In this game, one toddler has to close his eyes and start counting while others hide. Now the toddler has to seek his hidden friends.
Do remember5. Dance
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You can play your little one’s favorite number and let his friends hit the dance floor. This physical activity for toddlers will not only increase their confidence but also bring out their hidden talents. It also provides bonding time and lets toddlers familiarize with each other. You never know that your toddler may turn out to be the next Michael Jackson! So all the moms let your toddlers dance, and you can also let your hair loose and shake a leg with your little darling. Choose popular nursery rhymes or songs from children’s shows to keep them entertained and engaged. You can also teach them a specific movement and see how much they can follow.
Quick tip6. Who will eat first?
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Make all the toddlers sit together at the dining table and serve them a bowl of fruit salad each. Ask them to finish it as quickly as they can. Reward the toddler who finishes it first. The ‘healthy’ competition will help inculcate table manners in the young ones.
7. Singing nursery rhymes together
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It is one of the best group activities for toddlers. It not only offers sheer entertainment but also improves their memory as they learn some amazing nursery rhymes for toddlers in a fun way! If they like this activity, you can even engage them in storytelling and role-playing games.
[ Read: Free Apps For Toddlers ]
8. Pretending
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Tickle your toddler’s imagination by playing some fantasy game with him and his gang. Tell them to act like different animals in a jungle and watch them go wild! Such pretend play activities also develop the social and emotional skills of toddlers.
9. Musical chair
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The game is an eternal favorite among children across different age groups. Let all the toddlers run around the chairs while you play the music. Let them grab a seat when the music stops. This is one of the best fun toddler group activities that will make them proactive & alert.
10. The run-around
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In this game, your toddler will need to give different instructions to his friends. For example, he can ask them to run and touch the tree, go and touch the table or a window, etc. All the other toddlers will need to follow his orders. This outdoor game for toddlers helps develop listening and communication skills in toddlers and teaches them to be obedient.
11. Playdough exploration
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Playing with playdough not only sparks creativity but also enhances muscle strength and fine motor skills (1). Encourage toddlers to experiment with the playdough, introducing techniques like rolling or flattening. Discuss the sensory aspect while emphasizing the fact that it is not for eating. This art activity for toddlers fosters imaginative creation, expanding their creativity over time.
12. Ice cube transfer
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The ice cube transfer activity provides a delightful learning experience in both indoor and outdoor settings. Set up a large tub with two smaller ones — one with ice cubes and water, the other empty. Equip toddlers with a measuring cup or spoon as they engage in scooping and transferring. Not only is this activity great for fostering teamwork, but it is also a fun sensory activity that can help young toddlers develop fine motor skills.
Safety Tips For Group Activities With Toddlers
While group activities are fun for toddlers, you must ensure their safety at all times. Here are some useful tips you can follow.
- Supervise constantly: Always supervise toddlers closely. This is especially true for activities that involve small objects, like beads, water, or any kind of physical play. Ensure that an adult is always present to monitor and guide the toddlers.
- Create a safe play area: The play area should be free of hard surfaces and sharp objects. Remove choking hazards or unstable furniture. Moreover, the space should be well-lit and toddler-proof.
- Select age-appropriate tasks: Every activity should be vetted for age-appropriateness. Avoid tasks that involve advanced motor skills that may frustrate them.
- Use safe materials: The materials the toddlers handle should be non-toxic and child-safe. For instance, if they are making crafts, the paints, crayons, and glue should be non-toxic and washable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are group activities important for toddlers?
Group activities have shown proven results in developing peer feelings among children. Group and turn-taking activities build the spirit of teamwork among toddlers as they learn to focus on a common goal. Also, group activities involve physical activities that keep them mentally and physically fit and teach them the value of sharing (2).
2. What are the benefits of small group activities?
Small group activities allow you to meet children and get introduced to activities with the right level of difficulty. Such group activities make way for the child to ask questions and help the child to find answers. So, they inculcate problem-solving skills. You can even customize the activities and follow your child’s interests (3).
3. Do children learn better in groups?
When it comes to a group study, there is an increased chance of understanding the subject better with better decision-making power. Children learning in groups also know about important social issues and how to solve them. It fosters healthy relationships in the classroom and makes learning enjoyable (4).
Toddlers love engaging in fun games, sensory play, and activities such as running, hide-and-seek, musical chairs, and painting. These activities promote motor and coordination skills and aid in the development of several life skills too. They also facilitate kids to cooperate in a social setting. So, why wait? This list of fun group activities for toddlers is just what you need to plan a day of exciting and engaging activities for your little one and their friends. Choose activities as per your toddler’s preferences and age to make their weekends and playtimes super fun. The games will also let them strike a friendship with others.
Infographic: Unique Activities For Toddlers
Toddlers have high energy levels and channelizing it can be challenging. Also, it is crucial to engage them in activities that entertain and engage them and also help in their overall development. So give this infographic a read to learn about interesting group activities that help build your toddler’s motor and social skills. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Exciting Group Activities For Toddlers
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. And we had fun as we planted treeshttps://catchingbubbles.wordpress.com/tag/lets-plant-trees/
References
- Playdough activities: children 3-6 years
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/making-and-building/playdough-activities - Importance of group activities for kids
https://www.bgctx.org/blog/Importance-of-Group-Activities-For-Kids - From circle time to small groups: Meeting children’s needs
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/tyc/apr2020/circle-time-small-groups#:~:text=Smaller%20groups%2C%20deeper%20learning&text=Differentiated%20learning%3A%20Children%20come%20toof%20challenging%20for%20each%20child. - Benefits of group study
https://www.jbcnschool.edu.in/blog/benefits-of-group-study/#:~:text=When%20it%20comes%20to%20studyinginfluence%20of%20the%20peer%20group. - The importance of music and movement
https://www.chhs.niu.edu/child-center/resources/articles/music-and-movement.shtml#:~:text=Explore%20cause%20and%20effect,plays%20and%20playing%20musical%20instruments
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