Schedule to visit a local fire station (appropriate for children 2+ years). Emergency services teams encourage visits from parents. This is a fun and educational outing for children.
Meet where the children can ride their bikes or tricycles. Many parks have paths for riding. Look for somewhere flat if possible, so all ages can ride. |
-Sheep in a Jeep, by Nancy Shaw & Margot Apple
-Tractor (Wheelies Series), by DK Publishing Staff
-Trucks, by Byron Barton
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Tire Track Art (3+ years)
Materials: Paper, paint, paintbrush, and cars.
Description: Give each child a piece of paper and some paint on a tray. Let them drive their cars in the paint and on the paper. The wheels will make some neat tire track designs. Make sure to wash the cars off before they dry. |
Red Light, Green Light (2+ years)
Description: Line the children & their caregivers up. Have them walk towards you when you call out “green light” and stop when you call out “red light” (throw in “yellow light” to slowdown). This will help teach the children how to follow instructions.
Ride Bikes (3+ years)
Materials: Child’s bike or tricycle, boxes, outdoor chairs, paper, and a marker.
Description: Set up an obstacle course by using chairs or boxes and paper for signs. Draw out a stop sign, railroad tracks sign, mark a gas station, and so on. Children have fun with this, and if you don’t have a large enough area find an empty basketball court somewhere. |
Tortilla Wheels
Ingredients: Tortilla, refried beans, shredded lettuce, cheese, (Spanish rice-optional) Directions: Spread refried beans on a tortilla. Add a small amount of Spanish rice, shredded lettuce, and cheese. Next, take the tortilla and roll it up tightly. Finally, cut the "roll" into slices or ‘wheels’. Make them the perfect size for little fingers!
More wheel ideas:
OREO™ cookies
RITZ™ crackers with peanut butter and jelly in between
Serve stoplights:
Make stop and go lights out of red and green JELL-O®
M& M's™ (red, yellow, green) |
Traffic Jam (6+ months)
Materials: Car, truck, or anything that rolls (balls work great).
Description: Sit in a circle with your child on your lap. Roll the car or truck through the circle to a friend sitting across from you. Watch the cars/trucks roll by each other. If they crash have your child retrieve it. It's also fun to make noises as you do this activity to hear the different sounds each can make. The children will often try to imitate and make sounds of their own.
Tube Tunnels (12+ months)
Materials: Empty tube from a wrapping paper or paper towel roll and any items such as a car or ball small enough to fit through the hole of the tube.
Description: Hold the roll, slightly elevated, and roll items through the tunnels. Children love to watch them disappear and reappear. *Since items will need to be on the smaller side to fit through the tubes, use your discretion on age.
LEGO™ (18+ months)
Materials: LEGO™
Description: Build cars, trucks, buses, etc. Children have fun being creative or watching you be creative, and it helps develop their imagination
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