Toddler Learning Resource
Colors, Patterns, Matching, & Shapes
I never anticipated creating activities that would give mamas the opportunity to teach their toddlers. However, four years in the classroom followed by the decision to be a stay at home mama has led me here. My hope is to equip mamas with the tools and wisdom they need to teach their toddlers. I know how overwhelming this holy task may seem. It is such an honor to teach our babies, but where and how do we start? My prayer is that these learning resources will empower you. May you feel confident and prepared as you begin to intentionally teach your child!
I know my own toddler will have dozens of teachers throughout his childhood, but I desire to be a integral part in his learning. My resources allow a path for intentional learning where I can watch and encourage my child's growth during these early years. My main objective is to help foster a love of learning before he heads off to Kindergarten. The activities I have created are simply another tool for mamas to use as they teach their child. So whether we are matching colors in the Toddler Learning Resource or building blocks or going for a walk -- there are opportunities for my child to learn all day long.
My greatest prayer in all of this is that the Lord is glorified. I am so grateful that he's allowing me to use my passions and abilities to create and share these resources with you. While I hope your child learns, more than that, I hope your relationship with your child is strengthened. Enjoy learning with your littles, precious mamas, but most of all, let love lead all of your learning together!
Want to learn more about my Toddler Learning Resource? Let's get started!
I know my own toddler will have dozens of teachers throughout his childhood, but I desire to be a integral part in his learning. My resources allow a path for intentional learning where I can watch and encourage my child's growth during these early years. My main objective is to help foster a love of learning before he heads off to Kindergarten. The activities I have created are simply another tool for mamas to use as they teach their child. So whether we are matching colors in the Toddler Learning Resource or building blocks or going for a walk -- there are opportunities for my child to learn all day long.
My greatest prayer in all of this is that the Lord is glorified. I am so grateful that he's allowing me to use my passions and abilities to create and share these resources with you. While I hope your child learns, more than that, I hope your relationship with your child is strengthened. Enjoy learning with your littles, precious mamas, but most of all, let love lead all of your learning together!
Want to learn more about my Toddler Learning Resource? Let's get started!
Set-Up
Before I walk you through the resource, let me mention a few things about set-up.
Let's start with printing. I own a color laser printer, so I print from home. If you don't own a printer, I think it's a great investment! However, always do what is best for your family! If you are looking for a reasonable printing company, I recommend The Homeschool Printing Company. I have yet to find a company with better pricing!
I chose to laminate most of the pages in this resource. I adore laminated pages because they are sturdy and essentially toddler-proof. If you want your pages to be laminated, I would recommend purchasing a personal laminator and laminating pouches. I do NOT recommend paying a company to laminate this resource because it is typically extremely expensive. However, if you decide to not laminate the resource, I'll give some tips and tricks as we chat through the resource!
If you head over to my Instagram highlights (@francieoutlaw) you can view the highlights titled "Setting Up a Resource" & "Laminating" for more information about set-up.
Let's start with printing. I own a color laser printer, so I print from home. If you don't own a printer, I think it's a great investment! However, always do what is best for your family! If you are looking for a reasonable printing company, I recommend The Homeschool Printing Company. I have yet to find a company with better pricing!
I chose to laminate most of the pages in this resource. I adore laminated pages because they are sturdy and essentially toddler-proof. If you want your pages to be laminated, I would recommend purchasing a personal laminator and laminating pouches. I do NOT recommend paying a company to laminate this resource because it is typically extremely expensive. However, if you decide to not laminate the resource, I'll give some tips and tricks as we chat through the resource!
If you head over to my Instagram highlights (@francieoutlaw) you can view the highlights titled "Setting Up a Resource" & "Laminating" for more information about set-up.
Supply List
Here is a list of the supplies I needed to set up my child's Toddler Learning Resource. Your supply list may vary!
- A printed copy of my Toddler Learning Resource
- Three 1 1/2 inch binders
- Sheet protectors
- Laminator
- Laminating pouches
- Scissors and/or paper cutter
- Binder pouches
- Clear velcro
- 3-ring whole puncher
- Binder ring (optional)
- Dry Erase pockets
- Dry Erase markers
- Crayons or Jumbo Crayons
All About the Resource
Binder Cover
I separated this resource into two 1 1/2 inch binders using the first two pages of the document as the binder covers. I like to use these binders as a place to store all of our activities. However, if you'd like, you could work on the activities directly out of these binders!
We use a 1.5 inch binder as our "learning folder". Each week, I select which activities and topics I want to focus on and move those pages to my child's learning folder. I included several different color options for you to choose from to use as the cover of your child's personal binder.
Colors
This is by far the largest section of the resource and includes so many fun activities that you can use over and over again. As I walk you through this resource, I'll give you some tips and tricks on how to make this product last forever!
In the color section, there are two matching activities and a sorting activity. I would suggest laminating these pages. If you don't own a laminator or don't plan on investing in one, I would suggest printing on cardstock paper. For these activities, I recommend using velcro to secure the pieces to your laminated pages. The velcro is a win-win: it keeps all of your pieces organized and kids LOVE it! Another option is to store the pieces in a binder pouch.
Each color included in the packet (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Black, White, Gray, and Brown) has 7 pages dedicated to learning that color (oh, except white- because coloring white just isn't very fun!). While laminating these pages will ensure that they last a really long time, it is NOT necessary. Each color has a page specifically for coloring, so I did not laminate those pages. However, I did laminate everything else. If you aren't interested in laminating everything, my recommendation would be to purchase some dry erase pockets and dry erase markers. This will save you from laminating for hours, but it will also save you from making lots of copies in the future! All you would need to do is print the pages, 3-ring whole punch them, and stick them in your binder. When you're ready to use a page with your toddler, just slip the page into the dry erase pouch and use the dry erase marker for writing! Even though my pages are laminated, I actually still put my pages in dry erase pouches. If you write directly on the lamination, the dry erase markers will often stain the lamination. The dry erase pouches keep my resources in perfect condition! I chat about this in my Instagram highlight titled "Laminating" -- @francieoutlaw
In the color section, there are two matching activities and a sorting activity. I would suggest laminating these pages. If you don't own a laminator or don't plan on investing in one, I would suggest printing on cardstock paper. For these activities, I recommend using velcro to secure the pieces to your laminated pages. The velcro is a win-win: it keeps all of your pieces organized and kids LOVE it! Another option is to store the pieces in a binder pouch.
Each color included in the packet (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Black, White, Gray, and Brown) has 7 pages dedicated to learning that color (oh, except white- because coloring white just isn't very fun!). While laminating these pages will ensure that they last a really long time, it is NOT necessary. Each color has a page specifically for coloring, so I did not laminate those pages. However, I did laminate everything else. If you aren't interested in laminating everything, my recommendation would be to purchase some dry erase pockets and dry erase markers. This will save you from laminating for hours, but it will also save you from making lots of copies in the future! All you would need to do is print the pages, 3-ring whole punch them, and stick them in your binder. When you're ready to use a page with your toddler, just slip the page into the dry erase pouch and use the dry erase marker for writing! Even though my pages are laminated, I actually still put my pages in dry erase pouches. If you write directly on the lamination, the dry erase markers will often stain the lamination. The dry erase pouches keep my resources in perfect condition! I chat about this in my Instagram highlight titled "Laminating" -- @francieoutlaw
As you work through these activities with your child, I encourage you to model everything! Your little one is learning how to learn, and it is your role to scaffold their learning. This includes a lot of modeling and guidance.
Also, make these activities your own. Use your own creativity and experiences to extend these activities beyond the worksheet. Maybe go on a scavenger hunt for things that are the color "red" or create a box of different colored objects and sort them out together. There's something to be said about sitting still and learning on paper (well, using dry erase markers because that's more fun!) but there is also something very powerful about hands-on learning!
Also, make these activities your own. Use your own creativity and experiences to extend these activities beyond the worksheet. Maybe go on a scavenger hunt for things that are the color "red" or create a box of different colored objects and sort them out together. There's something to be said about sitting still and learning on paper (well, using dry erase markers because that's more fun!) but there is also something very powerful about hands-on learning!
Matching
I am a huge advocate for laminating this section. From personal experience, this is my child's favorite section of this resource which means he is touching all these little matching pieces all the time. Laminating them ensures that they will last us forever! To keep up with all the little pieces, I decided to use clear velcro, but you could also use the binder pouches. If you choose to not laminate this section, I would definitely print on cardstock paper.
The matching section was created to help expand vocabulary and work on fine motor skills. Is your child ready to learn animal names and sounds? Use the "I can match the farm animals" page and include animal sounds in your teaching! Maybe you're going on a beach trip soon. Use the "I can match the ocean animals" page to talk about the animals that live in the ocean!
If you're just getting started with your young toddler, offer a whole lot of patience, let them move at their own pace, model everything, and give them grace when they throw pieces on the floor! Let love lead your learning together!
The matching section was created to help expand vocabulary and work on fine motor skills. Is your child ready to learn animal names and sounds? Use the "I can match the farm animals" page and include animal sounds in your teaching! Maybe you're going on a beach trip soon. Use the "I can match the ocean animals" page to talk about the animals that live in the ocean!
If you're just getting started with your young toddler, offer a whole lot of patience, let them move at their own pace, model everything, and give them grace when they throw pieces on the floor! Let love lead your learning together!
Patterns
I guess I should mention the "I can" statements throughout the binder. In this section you will see the statement "I can finish the pattern". Well, the first time your toddler works on this section, that statement may not be true. Could it be true with some modeling? Absolutely! Could it be true after lots and lots of practice? Yes! These "I can" statements give you a goal in your child's learning. My hope is that your toddler will one day be able to confidently proclaim every single "I can" statement in this resource.
I suggest laminating this section.
I suggest laminating this section.
Shapes
The final section is all about shapes. This resource reviews the following shapes: Circle, Square, Triangle, Rectangle, Star, Oval, Diamond, Arrow, and Heart. In choosing which shapes to include I decided to truly make this toddler friendly. One day, our babies will learn all about a rhombus and a trapezoid, but today just isn't that day. Each shape has 3 pages dedicated to identifying, tracing, and drawing that particular shape. I have also included matching and identification activities.
In regards to set up, I would encourage you to laminate the matching and identification activities. While I laminated all of the individual shape pages, it is not essential! I would recommend using the dry erase pouches and dry erase markers.
In regards to set up, I would encourage you to laminate the matching and identification activities. While I laminated all of the individual shape pages, it is not essential! I would recommend using the dry erase pouches and dry erase markers.
I am so grateful for your love, support, and excitement over this resource! If you love it, I would love for you to rate it on Teachers Pay Teachers! Feel free to send me a DM through Instagram @francieoutlaw or an email to [email protected]. I would love your feedback!