Written by: TFVstaff • April 21, 2020• Children COVID-19

Lockdown Learning: DIY Projects to Keep your Toddler Growing this Spring

It’s important to keep kids learning whilst they’re stuck in the house. But for many parents, taking on their children’s education during lockdown is a daunting prospect. Many are struggling with traditional teaching methods.

DIY is a great interactive way to maintain your child’s education while cooped up at home. Victorian Plumbing revealed what DIY tasks are perfect for your toddler and which skill set each task is helping to develop.

The DIY Tasks Perfect for Toddler Learning

Learning how to paint

Get your little DIYers in the garden to practice their painting skills! Grab a clean paint roller and a tray full of water, and let your child paint the floor outside. They will be a pro in no time!

Skill Set developed: Creativity skills

DIY Tip: Use this time to teach your toddler the different uses of each style of painting tools, show them when you would use a roller, a small brush or a large brush.

Matching different sized nuts and bolts into cups

Layout a selection of different sized bolts and let your child decide what sizes match by placing them in cups. This is a task they shouldn’t be left alone with, small bolts can be dangerous if swallowed.

Skill Set developed: Motor Skills

DIY Tip: Allowing young children to play with small bolts and parts can be a dangerous task if left alone. Assist your child at all times when using small parts, but don’t do the work for them.

Sanding wood

Sanding is a great woodworking task for kids to get involved in. Start them out with a sanding block and some sanding paper, and just let them have fun – though make sure to keep an eye on them in case they get a bit too carried away! As ever, safety comes first when it comes to DIY with toddlers.

Skill Set developed: Hands-on experience skills

DIY Tip: Once they have practiced sanding down an old piece of wood till smooth, let them get creative by decorating with glitter, paint and all things colourful.

Organizing their bookshelf into a rainbow

Show your toddler the importance of tidying up by turning their bookshelf into a rainbow, or you can display books on your windowsill to show your support for the NHS. Being home with a toddler 24/7 means a lot more mess than usual, so little tasks like this show them how fun tidying can be. Sparking up their creativity to paint and craft.

Skill Set developed: Creativity skills

DIY Tip: Books can be heavy, so ensure your child is assisted when organizing their bookshelf to avoid injuries and tears!

Measuring tape

Teach your kids the importance of measuring by letting them run loose with a tape measure, have them record their findings in a book. Measure all things weird and wonderful, from the size of the kitchen table to the garden outside.

Skill Set developed: Patience/attention span skills

DIY Tip: Keep the excitement flowing by encouraging your child to monitor their own growth by measuring their height as the months go on.

Spirit level

Introduce your child to a spirit level by asking them to go around the house and using it to test wherever all the picture frames are straight or not. You can even do a loop around first to make sure there are a few wonky frames to find! If you don’t have a bubble or spirit level to hand, have your kid use an app on your phone or iPad.

Skill Set developed: Problem-solving skills

DIY Tip: Use this opportunity to give your little helper the chance to assist in putting up a picture frame or art piece. Show them how you would measure, mark and secure the picture.

Paint the garden fence

Paint the garden fence together! It’s important to get children outside during lockdown. So if the sun is shining, get them out into the garden to finally paint that fence. Let your kids choose the colours and just have fun with it!

Skill Set developed: Hands of experience skills

DIY Tip: Before your child begins to paint, get the area ready. Cover areas not to be painted, and give them a small section at a time to work within.

Toolbox Organization

Turn toolbox organization into a game where you teach your kids what each tool does as you put them back. Another handy task in teaching the importance of tidying up to children, this allows them to practice organising and sorting tools correctly.

Skill Set developed: Organization skills

DIY Tip: Introduce tools one at a time, allowing them to examine and get to know the tool before starting to use. Practice holding the tool safely, talk about how to use it and how to carry it.

Build a Squirrel Picnic Table

DIYers across the country have shared their home-made squirrel picnic tables. So, why not give it a try with your little DIYers help, with their measuring skills they can help measure and mark the wood and help find the right tools to use.

Skill Set developed: Hands-on experience skills

DIY Tip: Have your toddler design their very own squirrel picnic table, and decorate when completed. So, they have the opportunity to participate in a DIY task from start to finish.

Please credit all stories by linking to www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/

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