The Toddler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy

293 Pages·1999·2.7 MB·English

by  Trish Kuffner

THE
TODDLER’S
BUSY
BOOK
Trish Kuffner
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kuffner, Trish.
www.SimonandSchuster.com
The toddler’s busy book / [by Trish Kuffner; illustrations, Laurel Aiello].
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0-88166-357-3 (Meadowbrook)—ISBN 0-671-31774-1 (Simon &
Schuster)
1. Creative activities and seat work. 2. Toddlers. I. Title.
ISBN-13: 978-0-6713-1774-4
eISBN-13: 978-1-44240486-1
LB1140.35.C74 K845 1999
372.5—dc21 99-37931
CIP
Editors: Liya Lev Oertel, Christine Zuchora-Walske
Copyeditor: Joseph Gredler
Production Manager: Joe Gagne
Desktop Publishing: Danielle White
Cover Photography: Bigshots and Losevsky Pavel
Cover Illustration: Dorothy Stott
Interior Illustrations: Laurel Aiello © 2010, 1999 by Patricia Kuffner All rights
reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
using any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission
from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
articles and reviews.
Published by Meadowbrook Press, 5451 Smetana Drive, Minnetonka,
Minnesota 55343
www.meadowbrookpress.com
BOOK TRADE DISTRIBUTION by Simon & Schuster, a division of Simon
and Schuster, Inc., 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
Printed in the United States of America
Acknowledgments
Writing a book while homeschooling three children, chasing a toddler, and
struggling through the early months of pregnancy was not an easy job, and I
could not have done it without the help of some wonderful people.
First and foremost, I thank God for His love, mercy, and grace, for His leading
in my life, and for the daily strength He gives me to meet the many challenges of
parenting.
I sincerely thank my mother, Irene McGeorge, my mother-in-law, Betty
Kuffner, and my friend, Joy Francescini, who have been so willing this past year
to care for my children when I have needed time to write. I am so grateful for the
help you have given me.
To my husband, Wayne, and our children Andria, Emily, Joshua, and
Johanna, I thank you for being willing to put up with grilled cheese sandwich
dinners, an absence of clean clothes, and Saturdays without Mom. I really
appreciate the sacrifices you’ve all made.
Finally, to my editor, Liya Lev Oertel, and my publisher, Bruce Lansky, at
Meadowbrook Press, thank you for envisioning The Toddler’s Busy Book and
giving me the opportunity to write it. Your support of my efforts encourages me
to continue on this road called writing.
Dedication
For Johanna, our toddler-in-residence.
Writing this book with you was difficult;
without you it would have been impossible.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1:
Help! I Have a Toddler!
Organizing for a Toddler
Planning Your Activities
Stocking Your Craft Cupboard
What about Television?
A Word of Encouragement
Weekly Activity Planner
Chapter 2:
Rainy Day Play
Chapter 3:
Kids in the Kitchen
Chapter 4:
Water Play
Chapter 5:
Outdoor Adventures
Chapter 6:
Out and About
Chapter 7:
Nursery Rhymes and Finger Plays
Chapter 8:
Early Learning Fun
Chapter 9:
Music and Movement
Chapter 10:
Arts and Crafts
Scribbling and Drawing
Painting
Printmaking
Tearing, Gluing, and Sticking
Crafts and Other Fun Things to Make
Chapter 11:
Birthdays and Holidays
Birthday Celebrations
Valentine’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day
Easter
Independence Day
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Hanukkah
Kwanzaa
Appendices
Appendix A: Basic Craft Recipes
Paint
Playdough
Clay
Glue and Paste
Decorations
Appendix B: Crazy Can Activities
Appendix C: Best Toys for Babies and Toddlers
Appendix D: Best Books for Babies and Toddlers
Appendix E: Resources
Index