For someone who only works with her nanny kids 8 days this month, I sure have lots of ideas to share! I just like having options, ok? Whenever I am planning activities for my charges I try to think of as many possibilities I can using limited tools. If I’m going through the effort to pack everything up, driving it in my car, and taking it back home at the end of the night;I have to make the most out of what I present. I have 10 Christmas Tree Themed Toddlers Work Trays to share with you today. Each one is created using limited supplies. A few trays can be used in multiple ways.
This is a classic for a reason. Kids love to decorate and undecorate their own tree without someone telling them to “Be Careful!” I found this sturdy tree in the Target Dollar Spot last year for $3. It has held up pretty well. Add some mini ornaments and you’re in for some fun!
This puzzle came about after having leftover felt from another DIY you’ll see next! I free handed some graduated triangles, traced them on cardboard, and colored it green. I shared a Reel of this and another DIY puzzle on my Instagram if you want more info on how to make them!
I loved my Button Turkey from last month so much I had to make a tree version. Since introducing buttons to E last month, she got a new coat full of buttons. Her interest in working her own buttons has gone through the roof! I’m so glad I made this tree for her. She was able to remove all the ornaments without help but her frustration level stopped her from putting them back on. I put them aside to try another day. I know she can handle it, she just needs tons of gentle reinforcement!
My original plan for the wrapped tree was to have E wrap the ribbon around by herself and then take it off as well. It became evident pretty quickly that this was asking too much. “My muscles are hurting” is E’s cue that she’s had enough! I quickly grabbed a clothespin from the other tree, clipped it to the end and showed her how to it could windup. It worked much better for her and me!
I shared a video of this on my Instagram as well if you’re interested!
J was happy to pull the clips off the tree while I put them back on for him!
I love these dollar tree magnet sets and wish they would bring them back. If they ever do, I’ll be buying them for all my friends! I wish I had a taken a video when I presented this to E. Her vocabulary and thought process has exploded in the last year.
Back in September I saw these trees in the Target Dollar Spot. I knew I wanted them, but it was too early in the season for me to buy them. Of course when I was ready to purchase they weren’t there. I happened to find them a few weeks ago! I snagged these six beauties. I imagine we will get lots of use out of them in our winter sensory bins. I can even see pulling them out in the spring for some small world play.
This tray was intended for J to practice his fine motor skills and balancing. However, E has gotten the most use out of it. I had her color match using the muffin tray.
I love using Hobby Lobby holiday themed scatter for so many things. They are a great fine motor, color match, and shape matching tools. You can even use them in the water table or for math activities. In this tray I’ve added a few Christmas boxes to change it up a bit for both kids. You could also use jars or bowls. The wooden trays were a great find from Dollar Tree.
Here is another example of my best laid plans not always being in the child’s best interest! I had wanted E to shape sort inside the muffin tin. I even asked her if she wanted to show me how to sort them, a surefire way to get her engaged in something. She responded in the cutest, “No thank you, Rachel!” that I just had to let her continue on her merry way! Ahh, kids. They’re the best!
While this is not completely Christmas Tree themed, I still had to share it. These boxes came from the Dollar Tree nested together which is how I presented it to J to begin with. He spent almost 5 whole minutes taking off the lids and putting them back on. He kept trying to place the boxes back together along with matching the lids. It was one of those moments as an educator where you couldn’t be happier! I’m almost tempted to find either a smaller or larger box so we can use them as a stacking tool as well.
I shared this box in my Pom Pom and Bow Play, but I think it deserves a place here as well because it was such a labor of love to make! Check the link for all the details!
Well, I hope and pray that your Christmas season has started off magical! As always, connect with me on Instagram or theteachingnannyblog@gmail.com! I’d love to see if you try any of these trays this season!
The Teaching Nanny 