Last month I decided I wanted to create more structure and intentional play for my toddler. This lead me to the idea of creating weekly themes that would allow for us to learn casual lessons through song and play with a focus in mind. Rather than posting about this weekly, I created a monthly “toddler lesson plan” series that goes live at the beginning of each month.
The next few months will be a lot of fun with all the holidays coming up! I highly suggest looking on Pinterest to find simple crafts that you can tie into these weekly themes. You can keep this as simple or involved as you want!
Life happens and some weeks are crazy. We even jump in and out of these lesson plans. What I love about planning ahead is that on a slower week I already have ideas ready to go therefore I don’t have to scramble in the moment. It takes so much pressure off of myself and keeps our play time that much more fun!
October Lesson Plan
WEEK 1
Numbers – One through Five
- Focus on a new number each day
- Song Example: Pinkfong Counting 1 to 5
- Count everything all day long
WEEK 2
Opposites – Hot/Cold, On/Off, Big/Little, Fast/Slow, Up/Down
- Focus on one opposite action per day
- Find items around your house that you can demonstrate the action with
WEEK 3
Jungle Animals – Monkey, Snake, Tiger, Crocodile, Hippo
- Focus on one animal per day
- Learn the animal sounds
- Go to a local zoo to see the real deal
- Read animal related books
WEEK 4
Place setting – Cup, Plate, Fork, Spoon, Bowl
- Focus on one item per day
- Song Example: Mealtime Song For Kids
- Set the table together for each meal
WEEK 5
Halloween – Costumes, Trick-or-Treat, Pumpkins, Ghosts, Spiders
- Focus on one Halloween topic per day
- Read books about Halloween
- Song Examples: Halloween Costume Party
- Point out all Halloween decor around your house or neighborhood
- Go Trick-or-Treating or to a Halloween party/festival
NOTES
Sensory Bins
- Grab a bin laying around your house and fill it with materials you will need for the week. It is exciting for the toddler to explore “new” toys daily or even just weekly!
- You don’t have to buy new stuff… look around your house and search through your existing toys. Presenting old toys in a new manner will make them fun again, I promise.
- If you want to spend a little money, the dollar store is fantastic for these activities!
Field Trips
- Try to plan an activity that relates to your weekly theme. I’ve included some activities above, but if there is something available in your area that pertains to the weekly theme, go check it out!
Language
- If your child is learning a secondary language or sign language, you can teach these words as well! Just say them frequently and interchangeably throughout the day. Don’t know what they are? Just google them!
Print Your Toddler Lesson Plan Here
Shop for Learning Materials Here
Need more ideas? Check out my September Toddler Lesson Plan! If you have ideas you want to share, leave a comment below. I’d love to hear!
XO, Lauren
