Fun for Black Hills Early Learners
We are here to bring you fun activities for any child age 0-5 years. We hope you find this useful and helpful during this very unusual time.
Happy learning!
How to find the right activities for your child. Each activities is marked by dots (•):
• = Infant •• = Toddler ••• = Preschooler
Fun Activities
• Create a fun play space for you baby using cut up pool noodles and a plastic pool. Link to Activity Here

 Sensory activities are important for a child's growth and learning. Bath time can be a great spot for sensory activities. To stimulate their sense of touch, sound, and sight cut up pool noodles and put them in the bath. Link to Activity Here
•• Make large beads from pool noodles for your toddler to string. Great activity to for fine motor skills. Link to Activity Here

•• Catapults teach about motion and forces in simple ways. Once you’ve created a catapult you can do different experiments to figure out which materials fly better, how much force is needed to launch an object, etc. Here is a simple Toddler approved catapult made with pool noodles and rubber bands. Link to Activity Here

•• Use cut up pool noodles for blowing bubbles! Just pour some bubbles in a tray, dip and blow!
••• Help your child hear the difference between loud voices and soft voices, while refining their listening skills using an easy to make pool noodle phone.

••• These pool noodle lightsabers are perfect for lightsaber duels because they are lightweight and won’t hurt anyone. Depending on your space, they can be a good option for indoor play! Link to Activity Here

••• Your preschooler will enjoy batting a balloon with pool noodles. Link to Activity Here
Outdoor Fun
• Cut a pool noodle into smaller pieces and float in shallow water for your baby to splash and grab.
•• Here is a super cool pool noodle obstacle course using only pool noodles, pencils and a little duct tape! Fun for 2 year old kids on up!
Link to Activity Here

•• Continue the pool noodle fun with a Marble Run Water slide. Link to Activity Here

•• Make Toddler safe ball racquets from pool noodles. Link to Activity Here
••• Fun balancing activity with pool noodles and Frisbee. If you can't make it a race it is still fun activity to get your child moving. Link to Activity Here

••• Another pool noodle activity that is as fun for adults as your kids! Have a pool noodle fliip challenge. Link to Activity Here

••• There are just so many fun ways to use pool noodles Make them into gigantic paintbrushes and have a blast creating works of art! Link to Activity Here
Everyday Moments
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• When you try to change your baby's diaper, find something safe for them to hold on to. As they wiggle around, talk to them about what's in their hand. What do they see and feel? Be sure to respond to their babbles. Even the most routine tasks can be an opportunity for your child to explore and learn.
• Even very young children can help around the house. Include your toddler in everyday chores. "It's time to sweep! Can you hold the dustpan for me?" Let them dump the dirt into the trash. Don't be surprised when they ask you to hold the dustpan for them. Go back and forth taking turns. Not only is your toddler learning by imitating you, they are learning by doing.
••• Turn choosing food toppings into a matching game. At mealtime, ask your preschooler, "How about some ketchup on the cereal? Bananas on the spaghetti? What would taste good?" Take turns thinking of funny possibilities. Figuring out what goes together is an important learning skill. Making unusual connections is the basis for creativity.
Literacy
•• Encourage your toddler to draw with this giant "pencil" made with pool noodles, chalk and duct tape. Link to Activity Here

•• This is a great hands-on way to help kids recognize and spell their names. Directions for assembly and ideas for additional literacy activities are included. Link to Activity Here
••• Who knew so much learning could happen with just ONE pool noodle? That’s right, you can make this interactive pool noodle alphabet basket using just one pool noodle. Make a Pool Noodle Alphabet Basket. Link to Activity Here

••• One of the activities you can do with your alphabet basket noodles is stacking sight word towers. Link to Activity Here
••• For less than a few dollars, you can make and build this pool noodle alphabet boat matching game with your child to help them learn their ABC’s. Match the alphabet mast to the corresponding boat, then float in a pool or bathtub. A fun pool noodle game for summer learning! Link to Activity Here