5 Ways to Spark Curiosity in Your Toddler

Hi mama,

Isn’t it amazing how our little ones have this boundless curiosity about the world? Encouraging curiosity is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

I know “fostering curiosity” can sound a bit abstract, but there are some actionable ways we can help our little ones feel comfortable with exploration.

According to Montessori philosophy, there are five essential ingredients for nurturing this sense of wonder:

1. Trusting your child: Show them you believe in their abilities to explore and learn.

2. Offering a rich learning environment: Surround them with a variety of stimulating experiences that ignite their imagination.

3. Allowing time to explore: Give them the freedom to discover at their own pace—every moment of exploration counts!

4. Providing physical and emotional security: Create a safe space where they feel loved and supported.

5. Fostering a sense of wonder: Encourage their natural curiosity by asking questions and exploring the “why” behind everything.

And don’t forget to enjoy the process! Encouraging our toddlers to embrace their curiosity, paves the way for lifelong learning and joy.

Need some Halloween-themed activities? Keep scrolling!

In joyful motherhood,

Liz

EAT: ’Tis the season for all things apples, and I can’t wait to try this healthy apple crisp.

READ: As you know, I recently went down a Sarah J. Maas rabbit hole. I just finished the second Crescent City book, and now I need some time to process it... I won’t spoil anything, but if you know, you know. Now I’m retreating to my comfort zone with regency-era novels—no big twists or heart-stopping reveals, please! Fingers crossed this Julia Quinn novel keeps it chill.

CRAFT: Emi loves everything under the sea, so I think these wooden cutouts would make a perfect craft. I’m also thinking we could add a keyring and turn them into adorable stocking stuffers for friends and family. Check them out here. And if you’re into butterflies, these are gorgeous too! 🦋 See them here.

• Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Hide Halloween-themed items like small spiders, bats, pumpkins, and candy around the house or yard. Create a simple checklist for your toddler to find and check off each item. Or click here to download our Halloween Scavenger Hunt Printable.

• Pumpkin Painting: Instead of carving, let your little one paint small pumpkins with bright colors and designs. This keeps it safe and allows for creativity!

• Ghostly Sensory Bin: Fill a bin with cotton balls, white rice, or shredded paper, and hide small ghost toys or Halloween-themed items for toddlers to find.

• Spooky Storytime: Gather some Halloween-themed books and have a cozy storytime. Some favorites include Room on the Broom and The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.

• Monster Feet: Create monster feet using paper plates and paint. Have your child decorate them and then do a fun monster walk around the house!

• Halloween Puzzles: Use age-appropriate Halloween-themed puzzles to help build problem-solving skills and keep little minds engaged. Click here to download our Halloween Puzzle printables. If your little one is less than 18 months you can cut them in half instead of 6 pieces.

• Witch’s Brew: Set up a “witch’s brew” station with various ingredients (like water, vinegar, baking soda, and food coloring) for toddlers to mix and create bubbling potions.

• Costume Parade: Encourage your toddler to dress up in a costume and have a mini parade at home. You can even make simple props like wands or hats!

• Halloween Collage: Provide magazines or colored paper and let your child cut out or tear Halloween images to create a spooky collage.

• Spooky Dance Party: Create a playlist of Halloween songs and have a dance party! You can include songs like “Monster Mash” or fun Halloween-themed nursery rhymes.

• Halloween Bingo: A simple Halloween bingo board is a fun way to teach matching and build vocabulary! Click here to download our Halloween Bingo printable.

p.s. All my free printables are available here.

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