Looking for an interesting textural addition to your play dough? Add birdseed and try this no-cook recipe, written to use with young children. Note: Skip the food coloring you might normally use to allow children to really notice the distinct colors of each type of seed.

• 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
• ¾ cup Salt
• 2 tablespoons Cream Of Tartar
• ¼ cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 ¼ cups Boiling Water
• 2 cups birdseed

1. Help children measure the dry ingredients.
2. In a large bowl, have each child add an ingredient then take turns whisking together the flour, salt and cream of tartar.
3. Adult adds the vegetable oil and boiling water, and using a spatula, mix until combined.
4. Once it’s cool enough to handle, bring the children back together to knead the playdough in the bowl until it becomes smooth, about 2 minutes. (It may appear wet at first but will dry as you knead and the water gets fully absorbed.)
5. Form the dough into a “bowl” and add birdseed to the center. Help children incorporate the seeds into the dough.

The progression in abilities from first motor reflexes to intentional movement, from rolling to sitting to crawling, walking, running, jumping, and more. This also includes fine motor skills, the ability to control the small muscles in the hands and fingers to pinch clay, roll dough, and hold tools to make marks.

These Milestones from the CDC offer some clues to a child’s development:

2 Month Physical Milestones:

Open hands briefly; holds head up when on tummy; moves both arms and legs

4 Month Physical Milestones:

Holds head steady without support when being held; holds a toy when it is put in their hand; uses their arm to swing at toys; brings hand to mouth; pushes onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

6 Month Physical Milestones:

Rolls from tummy to back; pushes up with straight arms when on tummy; leans on hands to support self while sitting

9 Month Milestones:

Gets into a sitting position by themself; moves things from one hand to the other; uses fingers to “rake” food towards themself; sits without support

12 Month Milestones:

Pulls up to stand; walks while holding furniture; drinks from a cup without a lid, held by an adult; picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small pieces of food

15 Month Milestones:

Take a few steps independently; uses fingers to feed self some food

18 Month Milestones:

Walks without holding on to anyone or anything; scribbles; drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes; feeds self with fingers; tries to use a spoon; climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

2-Year-Old Milestones:

Kicks a ball; runs; walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help; eats with a spoon

30 Month Milestones:

Uses hands to twist things, like unscrewing a jar or opening a doorknob; takes off some clothing independently, like loose pants or a jacket; jumps off the ground with both feet; turns book pages one at a time when being read to

3-Year-Old Milestones:

Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni; puts on some clothes independently, like loose pants or a jacket; uses a fork

4-Year-Old Milestones:

Catches a large ball most of the time; serves self some food or water, with adult supervision; unbuttons some buttons; holds crayons or pencil between fingers and thumb (not in fist)

5-Year-Old Milestones:

Buttons some buttons; hops on one foot

Exploring textures is an excellent activity for toddlers.

This simple activity encourages curiosity, the development of hand-eye coordination, and language development in describing textures. You will need a few materials to get started.

• An empty tissue box works best, but any box will work; just cut a hole in the top.
• Place a variety of objects inside the box. For example, shiny ribbons, scarfs, feathers, shells, rocks, bark etc.
• Encourage toddlers to explore the box’s content by using their senses.  Model what this looks like, rub the fabric on your hand, smell it, rub two items together, and be sure to describe what you feel and see.

Have fun and alternate the material in the box to explore more textures!

Maple samaras or helicopters are winged seeds of maple trees; because of their shape, it is fun to see them fall and twirl in the air. Stephanie Mckinstry of My Caterpillar Clubhouse shares fun ways to utilize these seeds in your program.

Start by collecting the leaves, having children gather as many leaves as possible, and then setting them out so they can explore.

• Encourage children to toss them to see them twirl or to separate the leaf from the seed.
• Opening the seed and observing what they see, feel, and hear. You can also add a muffin tin or container to separate the leaf from the seed.
• They are a great addition to the mud kitchen, or incorporate them in your indoor dramatic play area.
• Use the seeds to count or create patterns.
• Once dried, they are an excellent collage material and can easily be glued or painted.

Get creative and encourage the kids to use their imagination!

Do you have a fence in your yard?

If you do, you can give children yarn, fabric scraps, streamers, paper strips, and more, to create a weaving in the fence.  After children have a chance to explore and get the idea about how to weave the material in the fence openings, you can encourage them to create patterns or scenes.

Goal: Children will refine fine motor skills while creating a pattern through weaving.