Leaf Basket Walk
What you need
- a small basket
- a few dry leaves
How to do it
- Take your toddler outside with a small basket.
- Encourage them to pick up dry leaves and drop them in the basket.
- Walk together to find more leaves, praising each find.
- Tip the basket out together and start again if they enjoy it.
Why it matters
Bending, reaching and dropping leaves builds balance and the pincer grip toddlers need for later self-feeding and drawing.
What they're learning
- Balance while bending
- Crouching down and standing back up without falling builds the core strength used for climbing stairs and playground steps.
- Pincer grip
- Picking up flat leaves between finger and thumb strengthens the grip needed later for holding a pencil.
- Cause and effect
- Dropping a leaf into a basket and hearing it land helps them understand that their actions make things happen.
What to look for
Notice whether they can crouch down, pick up a leaf and stand back up without toppling over.
A tip
Pick a path with plenty of fallen leaves so there's no long searching and little frustration.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Hold the basket open for them so all they need to do is drop the leaf in.
Harder: Ask them to find leaves of a particular colour or size.
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Gross motor activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Toddler activities with a basket