Happy Clowns!

Happy Clowns Toddler Activity will help your toddler practice body part recognition. This is an almost Free Toddler Activity as it does not require much out of the supply closet. However, you will need a few items including several brightly colored craft foam sheets, construction paper, glue, and scissors.

In preparation, cut the shapes out of your foam board for your toddler. You will need to cut out a small circle cut out of white foam sheet for a face, one square out of any color for the body, two small rectangles out of any color for arms, two rectangles slightly longer out of any color for legs, one isosceles triangle out of any color for the hat, and four right triangles of any color for feet and hands. You can then cut out two small eyes, a nose, and mouth out of foam board as well. For older children, you may want to let them cut out some of the pieces themselves. This may be especially beneficial if you are working with mixed age groups because it will give the older ones something to do while you help the younger ones with gluing their pieces. You will not need a template for the pieces as you can pretty much eyeball the shapes, no need to be exact.

*A great way to get a perfect circle for craft project is to use a Tupperware lid. You can generally find one in many different sizes straight out of your cabinet or a lid from a jar from your fridge!

Talk to your toddler about the names of the body parts and help them glue them in place onto the construction paper. It may be useful to let your little one look at a completed clown as a diagram. Depending on the skill level of your toddler, they may be able to distinguish where to place them themselves. If they are still too young, go ahead with the activity and help them along. It is still a wonderful opportunity to practice vocabulary.

Those that are one's to young two's may just like to repeat the shape names and body parts you are saying and patting the pieces down as you glue. Remember, although you may be doing much of the activity for them, they are still learning and absorbing all you are teaching! They will still love and be proud of their little man they are making!

Older two's and three's should be able to recall where to put the pieces. This will provide you more opportunity for conversation. Examples of discussion include what the parts of the body do, defining the body parts and placement, the color of the shapes, and type of shapes you are using.

Have fun with this activity, it is a great way to practice many different skills including fine motor skills, vocabulary, matching, spatial and cognitive development. Pair this lesson with the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" for more fun and dancing!

Check out our Shapes and Body Part Theme Sections for other great ideas!