Creative Challenge… Magazine Ripping with Toddlers

I have some really great news!  Rachelle at Tinkerlab is starting up her creative challenges again!  If you haven’t seen the ones she’s done in the past start by clicking here.  Today’s challenge is Magazines.  She has invited a group of really awesome bloggers to join in and link up.  And lucky us… we get to be included!!!

The other day my sister called and asked if I could watch Baby J for a couple of hours while all the other kids were in school.  I had a full to-do list of cleaning, blogging and errands… but hanging out with my niece sounded like so much more fun!  So I scratched my list and wrote in some fun toddler sized activities just for the two of us!

I had a stack of magazines so I decided to work on Baby J’s fine motor skills while having a ton of not so messy fun.

Magazine Ripping with Toddlers

what you need:  magazines ~ containers (optional)

I took some pages (about 20) out of the magazines BEFORE I gave them to Baby J.  My sister already has to deal with muddy messes, paint stains and dog hair when she picks up her kids from our house… I don’t want Baby J to start ripping books too!

I set out a few empty containers.

I ripped one in front of her.  (Getting her excited!)  To get her started I ripped a few sections of each piece of paper.  Then I handed one to her.

She grabbed hold…

 and rippppp…

hee hee… I DID IT!  (can you see the smile?)

 Baby J loved filling the containers too.

Tips (to maximize learning):  1.  This is a great activity for working little fine motor muscles.  (the ones kids will later use for writing, drawing, and buttoning their clothes) 2. Your kid may be able to start the rips on their own, so let them try first.  If they need the starters, let them try again the next time you prepare this activity! 3. This one is awesome if you are babysitting and your house isn’t prepped for toddlers.  No need to buy fancy toys!  (so email this idea to Grandma and Grandpa before you head out to do your Christmas shopping.)

Now let’s hop around and see what everyone else is doing!!!

Child Central Station , kids in the studio, Teach Mama, The Imagination Tree,Childhood101, Teach Preschool, hands on as we grow, Artful Parent, Paint Cut Paste, A Mom With A Lesson Plan, Toddler Approved, Kiwi Crate, Art 4 Little Hands,  Red Ted Art, The Chocolate Muffin Tree,  Imagination Soup, Michelles Charm World, Messy Preschoolers, Tinker Lab, Mommy Labs, Putti Prapancha, Sun Hats Wellie Boots.