I shared previously that I will be attempting to plan activities for Little Lion this year based on a monthly theme. March’s theme is Farm Animals. These activities are intended for Little Lion, who will be 12 months old, but they could easily be adapted for an older or younger child. Please consider your child’s current development when planning activities for him/her since you know your baby best.

Discovery Baskets

Discovery Baskets are simply baskets of items that have a common theme. They provide an opportunity for baby to investigate, and also for conversation about individual items. They also allow babies to start seeing patterns and categories (pre-math skills).

Most of the items in my baskets were found around the house. Make sure items put in your baskets are safe for your child. Some can be used during independent play, but sometimes you may want to include items even though they require close supervision. Use your best judgment, and always err on the side of caution. For more information about creating your own treasure baskets, you can check out How We Montessori!

Animal Basket

This basket will require a special purchase since we don’t have any animal toys yet for Little Lion. But, I know they will be put to good use for more than just this month, so I decided it was worth the investment. I really like this set, since they are large and realistic looking.


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Art/Sensory Activities

1. Pig in the Mud – I love this! Brown finger paint (you can use this edible one!) painting on a pig cutout.

2. Sticky Sheep – So fun, and much easier than trying to use glue!

3. Painting with Animals – For this activity we will use the animals from our discovery basket.

4.  Play Dough with Animal Cookie Cutters –  You can use store bought dough or you can make your own. My favorite recipe is really simple. Mix two parts flour with one part salt and one part water. You can also add a Kool-Aid packet for color/scent if you want (this is a fun variation).

5. Play in the mud – Dress in clothes that can get dirty and find some mud! Squish it between your fingers, smell it, stomp in it. Try not to eat it.

Songs/Videos –

1. Old Mac Donald

2. Baby Einstein: A Day on the Farm – (This video is 30 minutes long. Since LL is still too young for much screen time, we probably won’t watch this one, but since I found it in my searching for songs I thought I would share!)

3. A Fresh Breath of Farm Air (Fresh Prince Parody) – These guys have an entire series of parody songs about their farm. Hilarious! Plus they show video of the farm in action, so it is a win-win for LL and me.

Outdoor Adventures

1. Plant a Garden – March is the month we will be planting our backyard garden. Use this as an opportunity to talk about plants that grow on a farm. Little Lion wont be old enough to really understand, but he can help me water the plants and rake the soil. Older toddlers may get into this even more.

2. Visit a Farm – This may take a little bit of planning, but I would like to take LL to visit a farm this month so that he can see animals in real life. I did a quick Google search and discovered this one that we can visit that isn’t too far away.

Mrs. Lion’s Monthly Activity Series part 3 of 4

1. January Activities for Infants/Toddlers by Mrs. Lion
2. February Activities for Infants/Toddlers by Mrs. Lion
3. March Activities for Infants/Toddlers by Mrs. Lion
4. April Activities for Infants/Toddlers - Outside Play Edition! by Mrs. Lion