Feed the Animals: An Easy Toddler Activity

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Feed the Animals is a fun and easy toddler activity using a puzzle board and coloured rice for toddlers and preschoolers. It’s makes a great fine motor activity and a wonderful way to use a old puzzle that hasn’t been used in a while!

Feed the Animals: An Easy Toddler Activity

Repurposing Toddler Puzzles

Do you have more than a few puzzles at home that are collecting dust? Maybe a few are missing pieces? Not lost really- they are obviously somewhere in the house just haven’t been seen in months? Before you sell or toss them, try this easy to set up activity with your toddler. It’s great with farm or zoo animal puzzles but would be a lot of fun with dinosaur puzzles as well!

Feed the Animals: An Easy Toddler Activity

The Best Sensory Bin and STEAM Books

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.

Also check out my new book coming out in the Summer 2021: Super STEAM Activity Book! Stay tuned for more information!

Toddler Homeschool Program

I am currently developing a new Toddler Homeschool Curriculum called Play2Learn Toddler Homeschool Program. Be sure to sign up for my newsletters so that you get first dibs when it is released!

How to Set Up Feed the Animals Activity

Feed the Animals: An Easy Toddler Activity
  1. Grab your wooden farm puzzles and remove the puzzle pieces.
  2. Place your farm animal puzzle boards in a large sensory bin.
  3. Hand your little one some coloured rice in a small bowl (see recipe below) and a small spoon.
  4. Ask them to feed the animals by spooning out the rice into the area where the puzzle piece would go thereby covering the animal in rice!

Extend the Activity

Extend the activity by adding in farm animal toys, more bowls and spoons for a fun and easy sensory activity!

Skills Learned with Feed the Animal Activity

  • Language development
  • Fine motor skills
  • Imaginative play
  • Hand Eye Coordination
Feed the Animals: An Easy Toddler Activity

How to Make Coloured Rice

What You’ll Need

  • 1 Cup of White Rice
  • 1/2 tsp White Vinegar
  • Several Drops of Gel Food Coloring
  • Large Ziploc Bags
  • Parchment Paper
  • Baking Sheets or Tupperware containers

How to Make

  1. Combine the rice, white vinegar and food coloring in a Ziploc bag. 
  2. Seal it carefully and mix the contents throughly. 
  3. Repeat for each color.
  4. Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet or line a Tupperware container. 
  5. Spread the colored rice out on the parchment paper and allow it to dry overnight. 

Troubleshooting

If you don’t have gel food coloring, regular food coloring will work fine. If you want your rice to be more vibrant add more than just a few drops of food coloring and a small amount of white vinegar. Although the instructions calls for 1 cup of rice I usually make between 6-7 cups of rice for a sensory bin. 

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Supplies

(This post and list contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission. Please visit my disclosure policy for more information.)

  • Wooden Farm Animal Puzzle Board without the pieces
  • Spoon
  • Bowl
  • Coloured Rice (See recipe above)
  • Sensory Bin

WILL YOU TRY FEED THE ANIMALS ACTIVITY WITH YOUR TODDLER OR PRESCHOOLER? PIN IT FOR LATER!

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