We invited our toddlers to explore the icy lands of the Arctic! The white tuff tray was filled with white fluffy snow, sand and some artificial snowflakes to represent snow. There were plastic polar bears and seals scattered around. Some blue glittery snowflakes mimicked ice, scoopers and colourful bowls and wooden blocks were set up to create igloos.
The children were eager to begin. They were holding a polar bear and then gently placed it on the snow. The educators observed that the toddlers were curious about the material and felt the texture of the snow and touched the snowflakes. An educator also sprinkled the artificial snow and the children joined the educator singing, “Snowflake, snowflake, we love snowflakes.”. The children manipulated the scoopers and bowls to construct the igloos. The children worked together to build while using the blocks and some colourful bowls and real snow.
The main purpose of this activity is to enhance the imaginative play while exploring the Arctic in the tuff tray. It allowed the toddlers to use their imagination, pretending to be explorers, animals, or builders. This experience enhanced their creativity and storytelling skills. The toddlers demonstrated their fine motor skills through manipulating the small objects like animals, snowflakes, and wooden blocks. Building helped the children strengthen their hand-eye coordination. Touching different materials like soft snow and snowflakes, and smooth plastic figures, helped develop sensory awareness. The texture contrasts (soft, cold, squishy) provided tactile learning.
As the children worked together to create igloos or play with animals, this encouraged cooperation, turn-taking, and social communication skills.
