Learning for Little Ones: Toddler Field Trips!

We think of field trips for our school aged children, but we forget that we can take our little ones on field trips too! The best part is that toddler field trips can be very simple (and frugal!) Think about the things your little one likes or is learning. A history museum is probably not going to work out. :)

My 14 month old loves animals these days! He would love the zoo, especially a petting zoo! In the winter though it isn't practical... and it isn't the cheapest thing to do (especially when my little guy wouldn't last long!)

When DS was younger (maybe 6 months ago) we discovered the pet store! WOW... he was so excited. All the birds and fish... and the puppies in the back! That was a treat. Those aren't always there, but he got to touch them and everything. He had just started noticing fuzzy things and this was a great treat!

Last weekend we took things to another level. If you are lucky enough to have a Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop or the like near your home, those are a great place for fun and learning! We walked all around our Bass Pro Shop, stopping at all the taxidermied animals (sorry if you disapprove of that practice, but I've found a way to use it for educational purposes!) to look. (We stopped at all the stuffed and plastic animals too... DS didn't seem to sense a difference!) DS was soooo excited. For each animal we stopped at (most of them anyway, I don't know everything) we would look and I would show him the sign. Then DH and I would both sign it and help him to as well. He loved it! The wolves were great fun as dogs are a personal favorite these days! He almost has the idea of the sign for bear... and the moose were great fun (they are really big!)

Our Bass Pro Shop also has a HUGE fish tank in it. We spent 20 or more minutes just standing at the tank watching them. DS loved it! Out in the rest of the mall, BPS trickles out in the form of other taxidermied animals and fish swimming around in a pool. We stopped at every pool to watch the fish. It was here that DS signed fish for the first time! What fun to see him learn new things and put things together!

One step simpler??? Today DS and I did our weekly trip to CVS. With Easter coming, there were decorations everywhere. Just in the last couple days DS has learned bunny (a cute story all in it's self!) He had so much fun in the store. Every time he saw a bunny on a sign or hanging from the ceiling or for sale on the shelf he would do his sign for bunny (most signs are still works in progress... what's important though at this stage is that he knows what he's talking about and I know what he's talking about.) :)

So you see... anything can be a field trip! Just take the time to focus on what your little one can learn wherever you are! :) This definately works for me!

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Labels: As it happens..., Learning for Little Ones, Little Moments

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:26 PM