This activity will allow babies to make decisions and choices, which gives you an insight into what they are thinking. Trays or paper plates are good to use because they are easy to see into and around.
* Set out trays with various objects on each - for example, wooden spoons, noise makers, rubber ducks or teddy bears.
* Place the trays and their contents on the floor so children can go over to them.
* Watch what objects individual children are interested in and how they are exploring them.
Look-outs
Provide opportunities that help babies and toddlers think about the world that they live in by creating 'look-outs'.
* Have an area where young children can pull themselves up or stand and look out at interesting spaces where different events are happening - whether outside or over another area in the room.
* Look out of a window with a child and discuss what you can see.
Out of sight
For very young children, out of sight is out of mind, but they need to learn that an object does not disappear permanently just because it cannot be seen.
* Place pieces of cloth on the floor (face cloths work well).
* Hide small objects under a couple of the cloths.
* Encourage children to play hide-and-seek with the objects by uncovering and covering them with the material.
All in order
Toddlers begin to sort shapes, sizes, colours and different objects. They can gradually follow simple directions, notice different things in their environment and constantly ask 'why?' A toddler can start to use their new thinking abilities to solve problems more easily, rather than depending on trial and error.
* Give a toddler a tennis ball and two differently sized cans - only one of which the ball will fit into.
* Watch as they find out which can the ball will go into.
* Rather than trying to put the ball into both cans, toddlers start to picture the size of the ball in relation to the size of the can and put it straight into the correct one.
Other activities
Babies are simultaneous thinkers and can do two things at once.
* Read or tell stories to babies at the same time as you feed them, or at times when they are feeding themselves.
Toddlers learn by experimenting. They look at, taste, smell and feel everything they can.
* Gather a range of interesting textures and place them in a basket so that the children can explore and think about them.
Toddlers can also transfer information they have learned from one situation to another.
* Let them experiment with their toys. For example, a child may remember that their boat floats in the bath, so let them see if it will float in a muddy puddle too.
