We are on Part 18 of our toddler workbook activities, and this set focused on observation, counting, color recognition, and early pre-writing skills. These are all simple, low-prep ideas you can put together in just 5 to 10 minutes the night before!
I love keeping our workbook time structured but playful so it feels like a fun activity rather than a lesson. Here is what we worked on in this session.
Here is the link to my 52 Workbook Activities Guide (workbook focused). I also have an 8 Week Activity Guide (list of themed activities to do at home/outside). I also made matching flashcards for Weeks 1-4 and Weeks 5-8!
Here are the links to the 3 main supplies I use – other than colored markers!
- Sketchbook – It doesn’t bleed through even with sharpie or markers.
- Dot Markers – Use this for color, number or letter recognition. There is so much you can do with these markers!
- Dot Stickers – Use this for color recognition and creative crafting. My toddler loves them!
1. Spot the Different Picture
For this activity, I created rows with four pictures in each row. Three pictures were the same and one was different. My toddler looked carefully at each row and circled the picture that did not match.
This activity encourages toddlers to slow down and really look at details. It strengthens visual discrimination and early critical thinking skills. Even something this simple helps build focus and attention span.
You can easily adjust the difficulty by making the differences more obvious or more subtle depending on your child’s age.
2. Counting Watermelon Seeds
Next, we moved into counting practice using watermelon drawings. Each slice had a different number of seeds. She counted the seeds one by one, then found the dot sticker with the matching number and placed it on the page.
This combines several skills at once. She practices one-to-one counting, number recognition, and fine motor control from peeling and placing stickers. The watermelon theme also keeps it fun and seasonal.
Hands-on counting always works better for toddlers than just saying numbers out loud.
3. Fix the Fence Line Practice
For pre-writing, we did a “fix the fence” activity. I drew simple fence posts and she drew three straight lines to each post to complete the fence.
This is a great way to build pencil control without pressure. Drawing straight lines helps strengthen hand muscles and coordination needed for future writing.
Calling it “fixing the fence” turns a basic line exercise into something playful and purposeful.
4. Color Matching Jars
I drew six jars in different colors and gave her dot stickers in matching colors. She looked at each jar and placed the correct colored sticker inside.
This activity builds color recognition and matching skills while also working on fine motor development. Peeling stickers is one of the best simple exercises for strengthening little fingers.
It is also very easy to prep and customize with whatever sticker colors you have.
5. Paint Palette Coloring
For our last activity, I drew a paint palette with different color sections. She used the correct colors to fill them in and practiced staying inside the lines.
This encourages color identification, control while coloring, and patience. Purposeful coloring like this helps toddlers focus more compared to open-ended coloring pages.
Simple Prep, Big Learning
All of these activities were quick to set up and used basic supplies like paper, markers, and stickers. You do not need anything fancy to create meaningful learning opportunities at home.
A few minutes of prep can lead to focused, hands-on learning the next day. These small activities add up and build important early skills over time.
Part 18 was a great mix of thinking, counting, and fine motor practice, all through simple play!
