All of the above tot tray (or busy bag) games were made prior to starting The Learning House. I made them for my kids as busy bags originally but have since realized that busy bags and tot tray games are pretty much exactly the same in most cases and right now I am more interested in using them for tot school.
If you are not familiar, tot school and tot trays were created (I believe) over at 1+1+1=1 Lots of moms and homeschoolers are using them with their tots and tiny tots as a fun and gentle introduction to preschool at home. That's what I am doing, more on that in a different post. Let me show you some tot tray games!
Colors and Shapes Memory Game
First up is a little matching game. I got the idea HERE
I got the wood disks and wool blend felt from two different Etsy sellers. Felt HERE and wood disks HERE
I made the shape patterns in Photoshop CS6 and used that for my pattern.
Targeted skills: Color identification, matching, shape identification, memory, vocabulary building, turn taking.
Color Shade Matching
I found this idea HERE
I made this game using standard size clothes pins from Walmart and paint chips also from Walmart. I grabbed two cards for each color set I made. One is kept whole and on the other I used a square punch to get a little square of each shade. I then glued all of the squares to the clothes pins.
Targeted skills: Color identification, distinguishing between shades of color within the same color family, fine motor, hand strength, vocabulary building (lighter, darker, darkest, lightest etc)
Pom Pom Push
Really simple activity, just push the pom poms through the little slot in the lid. I used a little container from the cake decorating section of the grocery store. I can't find the original source for this game. If I come across it later I will add it.
Targeted skills: Color identification, fine motor.
ABC Ice Cream Cones
I got this idea HERE
I followed this idea almost exactly, although I could not find a cone clipart that I liked so I made one using Photoshop CS6. I wrote all of the upper and lowercase letters on with a Sharpie, but in retrospect I wish I had just added them in Photoshop since my writing is not the best even when I am trying my hardest. I added half circles of velcro dots on to the scoop and cone after I cut, laminated and cut the pieces again.
Targeted skills: Alphabet identification, upper and lowercase matching.
Counting Cream Scoops
I got this idea HERE
When I originally came across this idea I don't believe there was a link to the printable pies, so I ended up making them myself in Photoshop CS6. There seems to be a link there now but it wasn't working for me. After I made and printed the pies I wrote the numbers on and cut and laminated them and cut them out again. I filled the Cool Whip container with the exact amount of cotton balls needed in the hopes that this would be a self correcting activity.
Targeted skills: Number identification, counting, fine motor.
Magnetic Fishing
I made this fishing set by getting a fish shape from google images and using that as my pattern to cut the wool blend felt. I purchased the felt from the Etsy seller Sweetemmajean (link near the top of this post)
I sewed a magnet inside each fish, sewing completely around each magnet so it would not move out of place. I liked how that made a "target" on one side of the fish because you could see the circular stitches so I repeated the circle in back stitch on the other side of the fish as as well. I blanket stitched around each fish.
I made the fishing poles using dowels and rainbow cord from the craft store. "Hooks" are just binder rings.
Targeted skills: Color recognition, fine motor, patience!
Toothpick Counting
I don't have an original source for this, if I find it later I will add it.
Counting activity made with fancy toothpicks and an ice tray for making ice for bottled water. I labeled each slot with a label maker. Sort the correct amount of picks into each slot.
Targeted skills: Counting
Pony Bead Transfer
Simple fine motor activity. Spoon the beads from one bowl to the next.
Targeted skills: Fine motor
Straws in a Bottle
Hey! An original idea, what do you know! At least I think this one is originally mine, I haven't seen it anywhere yet. This was just a ketchup bottle with a rubber spout thingie. I had these little cocktail straws and they fit perfectly in the hole. I may cut them in half to make it easier, I think the longer the straw the bigger the challenge.
Targeted skills: Fine motor
Color Match Cards
This idea is from HERE
I got all the images from google images. I edited some in Photoshop. Supplies: Cardstock (Stampin Up!) Corner rounder, laminating machine, paper cutter, velcro dots.
Match the colored pictures to the color card.
Targeted skills: Color identification
Color Popsicles
This idea is from HERE
Popsicles are two pieces of craft foam glued together along the edges with hot glue. Popsicle sticks in tongue depressor size. Match the stick to the pop!
Targeted skills: Color recognition and identification
Clothes Pin Number Match
Free printable HERE on this blog. I just printed them and laminated them. Standard size clothes pins from Walmart numbered 1-20.
Targeted skills: Counting, number identification and recognition, fine motor.
Popsicle Sticks in a Mayo Jar
Idea from HERE
Targeted skills: Fine motor fun!
Easter Egg Alphabet Matchup
It took me forever to find Easter eggs that were not hinged. I wanted to be able to separate them so that the colors were not a hint at matching upper and lowercase letters. I wrote the letters on with a Sharpie.
Targeted skills: Alphabet identification, uppercase and lowercase matching, fine motor.
Dry Erase Alphabet
Idea and printable from HERE
These need to be laminated to make them dry erase but you could print them on regular printer paper for one off use.
So there are all of the tot tray ideas I have made so far. I have hundreds pinned so I will be adding and posting more soon.
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