This toddler activity is an easy game for little ones to try at home.
Alright, so this is not one of the most glamorous activities here, but it is so easy to get set up and so perfect for my toddler who loves posting activities, so it deserves a post.
I’m not sure where you are in your toddler-entertaining journey, but easy-to-set-up activities like this one is a lifesaver no matter if you’re a beginner or a pro at making up play activities.
I feel like I say this a lot, but I just love having simple activities ready for my kids to do.
I think the simplest ideas are the best and often the most effective.
Simple is better.
When you have the materials already at home and you only need to spend minimal energy on creating a play activity, that is what makes the magic happen.
They get more time to play and learn, and I get more time to myself. (Or to spend with them, if I choose, and I do choose to play with them a lot!)
This particular toddler activity, however, is a solo act.
How I Created the Card Slots Activity for My Toddler
For this activity, I rescued an empty oatmeal container from the recycle bin.
I cut a slot in the lid with a sharp knife, then cut out a rectangle at the bottom of the container.
Lia (aged 20 months at the time these photos were taken) came over to watch me test out the card slots container with a deck of number cards.
Then she took over.
It was a real challenge for her to get the cards in the slot.
I purposely made the slot pretty narrow so she would really have to work for it.
It was also challenging for her to do the activity on the table… because she wasn’t tall enough to see the slot!
She moved to the floor, and it was much easier for her to finish the game.
On the floor, she also noticed the extra-large slot I’d cut at the bottom for pulling the cards out.
She quickly realized that the larger hole was easier to get the cards into and proceeded to use that cutout to drop all the cards in.
Other Ways to Play
We used cards for this posting game, but you don’t have to.
You really can poke holes in your container to fit any small manipulative or posting object you have.
Here are a few ideas:
- pipe cleaners
- pom poms
- cotton balls
- buttons
- crayons
- pasta noodles and shapes
- baby spoons
- blocks
- LEGOs
Your Turn to Try a Card Slots Activity
That’s all I have for you today.
I hope you got some inspiration to play.
Do you think you’ll try this activity with cards or something else? Leave a comment below 🙂