Teaching Your Toddler About Body Parts

Are you looking for new things to start teaching your toddler? If she is able to point out certain people or things you ask her to - for instance, if you say, "Where is your sippy cup?" and she is able to point at it or bring it to you - then she is old enough to begin learning about body parts. Here are some quick and fun ways to get your toddler to start learning the names of her parts!

Songs

"Head, shoulders, knees and toes." This is an oldie but goody that involves pointing to your head, shoulders, knees, and toes! Start out by singing it and doing the motions yourself. You can then try singing it while touching your toddler's head, shoulders, knees and toes! Even if he doesn't try it himself, he'll probably smile and enjoy watching you sing!

"Hokey-Pokey!" Here is another fun one to sing and dance to! Keep it simple for your toddler... don't try to teach him right and left just yet! Sing, "You put your arm in, you put your arm out..." I used to sing this for Hayden while she took a bath. She would crack up at the site of me turning myself about! A similar, but slower, song is "Loop-de-loo."

Games

"Simon Says." Again, keep it simple, and leave out the part about "Simon didn't say!" You can even change it to "Mommy says" or "Daddy Says." Say things like, "Mommy says, put your hands in the air! Mommy says, touch your foot!" and demonstrate for her so that she can copy you.

"Sticker Game." You'll need a sheet of stickers. Be careful not to let your toddler eat the stickers! Tell him, "I'm going to put a sticker on your hand!" and then put the sticker on the body part you named. As your toddler peers at the sticker or plays with it, say things like, "Is there a sticker on your hand?" Repeat this process with other body parts, such as feet, head, nose, etc. After a while, you can hand your toddler a sticker, and ask him to put it on his own body parts, or on yours. Say, "Can you put this sticker on your knee?"

Art Project

Body Parts Collage. Cut out various body parts from a magazine. I like to use a Parents or Child magazine, because there are lots of pictures of babies and small children! Spread the parts out in front of your toddler, along with a piece of paper and a little bit of glue. You can let your toddler choose what parts to stick on the paper, or you can hand parts to her. Even very young toddlers will be able to pat the paper as you stick it down. As you pick up each piece and paste it to the paper, name it for the toddler. Say, "Here are some eyes! Where are your eyes?" Toddlers who are able to talk can try to repeat the body part names, as well.

Toddlers are very curious and love to learn! They also love to show off what they've learned. Quiz your toddler often on the body parts, and let him show off for grandma, brothers and sisters, neighbors, etc. Every time you prompt your toddler to point to the body parts you name, you'll be reinforcing what you've taught him.

Have fun!