With Easter around the corner, I’ve been looking for some new springtime activities to keep my toddler entertained. I love activities that are simple to set up and use inexpensive household items that I already have.
This Easter egg scoop activity was definitely a
Not only does it use cheap materials that you will have lying around your house,
This activity can be done with both babies and toddlers! Babies from around 8 months and up would love this activity. At this age, they should be able to grasp a plastic Easter egg, splash the water, and even stir with the spoon.
Around 18 months is when they will start learning and understanding the concept of colors. They can start identifying and even sorting colors. You can start working on them verbally telling you the colors, as well as pointing to or handing you different colors.
I put a towel down on my floor to reduce the mess (even though it was only water). However, doing this activity in a
Items you will need:
- Plastic Easter eggs
- Large Tupperware or plastic storage bin
- Slotted spoon (works best to reduce water mess) or any large serving spoon
- Towel
What to do:
This activity is so simple! Fill a Tupperware or plastic storage bin half way with water. Toss in some Easter eggs and give your child a large serving spoon. Let them play, splash, stir, open the eggs and close them for as long as possible! Use plenty of language during this activity (see below).
Skills that this activity addresses
Our children are constantly learning everyday by just observing their surroundings. Play is the primary way that babies and toddlers learn about the world around them.
They can learn language, problem solving, cause and effect, shapes, sizes, colors, animals, and
You can pretty much find skills that will be worked on through any playtime activity. For this Easter egg water scoop activity, the following skills are being strengthened for both babies and toddlers:
- Language/Vocabulary: Hearing and talking about different objects
- Cognition: Learning and understanding new objects and concepts
- Fine motor skills: Strengthening the muscles of their hands by using them to pick up and manipulate small objects
- Sensory play: Feeling and seeing different textures can be calming or stimulating for a child
Ways to incorporate cognition and language
You really can and SHOULD incorporate cognition (knowledge) and language into any activity you are doing with your little one. Just merely talking through the steps that they’re performing will help build their vocabulary and understanding about new words and concepts.
Remember your baby or toddler is constantly listening and absorbing everything around them, including language.
Here are a few ways to build cognition and language during this activity:
- Pick up an egg and ask, What color is this?
- Ask them to point to or hand you the green egg, pink egg, etc.
- Work on concepts like in, out, on top, under, above, below, open, close, big, and small
- Vocabulary words such as water, eggs, bowl/container, towel, spoon
Ways to work on fine motor skills
Fine motor skills allow us to use the small muscles of our hands and fingers. They enable us to grab, manipulate, turn, twist, and hold objects. Bilateral coordination also allows us to use both hands together in a coordinated manner usually to transfer objects and stabilize with one hand to manipulate with the other.
This activity can help develop these skills in a variety of ways.
- Have your child open and close the eggs
- Pick up the eggs and take them out of the container
- Squeeze the eggs open
- Transfer egg from one hand to the other
How did your toddler like this activity? Write in the comments below!
