Fun on the Farm!
Farm Week! It’s Farm Week, y’all!
I have to say, I was pumped to try some new things I had been researching for sensory activities. We struggled with a stomach bug for a week after our music fun and my creative activity imagination was in survival mode for a few weeks. Sometimes you have time for enriching activities. Sometimes you’re just trying to get the vomiting baby to the sink in time.
My father was raised on a farm in Indiana, so I grew up listening to stories of raising pigs, chickens, and cattle. Like anyone who hasn’t actually lived on a working farm, I have a beautiful romanticized image in my head. That is exactly what I wanted to create for Vicky!
Supplies Needed
- Farm Tails
- Farm Animal Flashcards
- Sensory bin container
- unpopped kernels of corn
- green felt
- Farm accessories
- play-doh
- tissue box
- packing tape
The Plan
Reading: Farm Tails
Nursery Rhyme: Old McDonald had a Farm (Lyrics in case you have forgotten like me!)
Words: Farm, Pig, Cow, Chicken
Visual Aid: I took several of her “Farm Animal” flashcards and affixed them with magnets onto our door. I know it’s not especially creative, but she loves those flash cards and continually asked to hold one or two of them at a time. If it works, it works!
Sensory Play: Farm Bin
I was so excited to set this one up, I could barely restrain myself to wait until she fell asleep on Sunday. I poured some unpopped kernels of corn in the bin and laid a green piece of felt down at the end. I placed inside the bin her barn and animals I had gotten from the thrift store and set up this “invitation to play” below. It was so cute, I couldn’t stand myself. For the farm set up, any farm animals will do. We made a game of her placing them all out in the “field” and then bringing them back into the barn. In a pinch, you can substitute an open shoe box for a barn. The idea, at least for young toddlers, is to encourage them to distribute and then collect the animals ad infinitum.
Please Note: As with any sensory bin or DIY project, children should be supervised at all times. I received a concerned message about the dangers of some of our activities. I want to make it clear that nearly all of the activities mentioned on my blog are not independent play oriented.
Fine Motor: Animal Tracks in Play-Doh
I rolled out some cheap play-doh and sat her in her high chair with a few of her chosen animals. I demonstrated how to make their “tracks” across the spread out play-doh and she followed suit. This activity did not last as long as I hoped, since she really just wanted to play more with the play-doh. This was going to be a repeat of our pipe cleaner and flower activity from our spring module. I don’t bring play-doh out often. I have carpet.
Gross Motor: Farm Dice
This was a family favorite. I took an empty tissue box and stuffed it with some paper towels to give it a bit of structural integrity. Then I taped it shut. I printed out these cute farm animal printables from My Bored Toddler and cut them out. I taped each animal to a different side of the tissue box. Voila! Farm Animal Dice. We made a game of rolling the dice and then I would demonstrate the noise and behavior of the animal in question. I was doing most of the movement, but she loved it. Even my husband, Chris got in on the action.
Did you try any of these activities? Comment and let us know how it went!
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