The toddler train lets the child find out how strong he is by using resistance. Use two packing boxes that are 18 inches or less in length. Cut all flaps from the boxes and attach 12- to 15-inch yarn strands to the boxes to connect each. The toddler pulls the train throughout the house and places objects into it. Talk about how putting in heavier objects would change the weight of the train.
Your toddler sings a song as he pretends to walk through the jungle. Use role-play to say the name of each animal and pretend to be that animal, making appropriate sounds and motions. The song lyrics are, "Walking through the jungle, what did I see? A big lion roaring at me, me, me!" As you sing, make up other verses for more animals. You also could sing about the animals in alphabetical order.
Set up blocks, milk cartons or colorful, plastic bowling pins on the lawn. Have your child roll a ball and count how many items it knocked down and the color of each. Set up the target items and let your toddler roll again. Ask him to predict how many he will knock down before each turn.
Several children can play this game. Turn on some dancing music, and invite the kids to move as they wish. When you pause the music, each child must locate someone to hug. If there is an odd number, a group of three can hug. Start the music for the kids to begin dancing again.
Place a large sheet of white paper on a table. Give each child a marker or crayon. When you start the music, the kids walk around the table in a circle. Each child scribbles what the music sounds like on the paper. Zigzags may represent a faster song and long, flowing lines, a slower tune. At the end of the song, everyone can admire the "masterpiece" they created together.