Winter Cotton Ball Fun for Toddlers

We all know the familiar scene, you buy your toddler this wonderful, bright, noisy, educational toy and they play with the packaging instead! Toddlers are naturally very curious, discovering and exploring everyday and keeping up with them during this busy stage of development is a full time job! So how about these simple and inexpensive activity ideas using cotton balls to keep them busy? These ideas were found on the toddler station on www.preschoolexpress.com Have fun exploring with your toddlers! WINTER COTTON BALL FUN COTTON BALL PAINTING Pour a small amount of tempera paint on a plate. Let your child use a cotton ball like a paintbrush, dipping it in the paint and then brushing it onto a sheet of paper. Use one color of paint or try two colors that mix well, such as blue and yellow or red and yellow.   FLUFFY SNOWFLAKE Cut a snowflake shape out of self-stick paper (the kind used for covering shelves, cupboards, etc.) Remove the backing and place the snowflake sticky side up on a table. Let your child place cotton balls all over the sticky side to make a fluffy snowflake. SNOWBALL WALK AND TOSS Give your child a paper plate with three cotton ball "snowballs" on it and place a basket on the other side of the room. Have your child balance the snowballs on the plate while walking carefully over to the basket. Let your child toss the snowballs into the basket before returning for more. COTTON BALL SNOWSTORN Make a "Cotton Ball Snowstorm" with your child. Place a handful of cotton balls on the floor. Join your child on the floor as you blow the cotton ball "snow" all around. Can you make your snowstorm wild and windy? How about gentle and breezy?