Originally Posted by Liz90:
I recently posted a thread seeking advice for a 12-18 month group. Here are some activities I've come up with.
Fingerprinting- Fingerpainting? Huge hit with my group, I change it up and add flour, sand, salt, or cornstarch sometimes for different textures. Really any painting activities becomes fingerpainting. 
Play dough (either purchased or homemade, opinions?)- Homemade lasts longer and is better IMO http://www.playathomemomllc.com/2011...playdough.html
Outdoor play (when weather allows)- 
Story time
Music time (listening to music, playing instruments, etc)- Dance time! 
Prayer time (likely before lunch)
Coloring- I cut paper sheets of paper into fours and leave it out with crayons (which at first always ended up in the mouth ). I hate coloring sheets
Age appropriate puzzles- 
Kitchen and food (I will have to see if the daycare would provide this or find one myself)- Maybe another classroom has one they can trade out?
Sensory bottles (any ideas for items to put in them?) http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=discovery+bottles
http://familylicious.com/category/science-bottles/
http://www.teachpreschool.org/abcs-o...overy-bottles/
Here's some ideas I had for incorporating into the classroom.
Weekly newsletter- I prefer monthly, one less thing for me to deal with each week If you have assistants it may give you more time but its just me here so time is limited for things like this
A sheet attached to the newsletter that asks if there's a favorite activity their child is currently enjoying, something they'd like to see their child doing at daycare, and I don't know what else (these would maybe be bi-weekly or monthly)- but I'd stick to what the child enjoys at home, the "what you'd like to see" section is good in theory but my parent's don't have realistic expectations of what can be done in a group setting and may be annoyed if they don't see their "suggestions" in action
A baby sign language of the week/bi-week or month (thoughts??)- We use it everyday, adding more when they pick up the newest on. Some signs are easy (a few days) and others are harder for them to catch on, I just give parents a handout of signs the will learn and touch base with each as the DCK picks it up.
Maybe a color and or letter of the week/bi-week or month
Personalized letters/reports once a month- Depending on how many kids you have it could be a time drain or something you'd be doing in your off time. My non-potty trained kids get a daily report (diapers, how much they ate, nap and a quick "I enjoyed..." comment) everything else goes on a white board by the door.
Also, how would you handle communicating with parents who don't speak yenta English? Specifically regarding written communication? -Google translator? Then run it by someone that actually speaks/reads the language as Google's not always spot on. I've had to do this when I worked in apartment management but now all my DCPs read/write English even if its not their 1st language
Please let me know your thoughts, if there's anything I should add or get rid of. And when I say activities I mean they won't be required to participate. Also, their feeding, nap and diaper change schedule will all remain the same. Looking forward to everyone's thoughts! Please be honest!
Answered in bold above
sounds like you have some great ideas.
My kids love blocks, sorting (large buttons, cotton balls, pom poms, rocks, gems) into buckets/ice trays, sensory (water, ice, goop, playdough, dirt/sand, corn, birdseed, shaving cream), bubbles, cars, animals...
Good luck.