Do your toddlers love music? Do you want to help them get into the music and maybe learn some important skills at the same time? Check out these printables musical toddlers!
The Ants Go Marching Printable
Do your kids love to sing to The Ants Go Marching? This free printable was designed to help them count, dance, and learn sight words. Click on this link to go to the Ants Go Marching Printable where you can download it for free! You will receive 3 different sets of printables with one download!
The printable comes with
Ant Armies– miniature ants which are grouped in an army with the number of ants for each portion of the song. There are 10 armies of ants.
Numbered Marching Ants– this little printable craft prints out a 4″ ant with a number on it. You can use brads to secure the legs and have the legs swing to the music.
Little Ant Action Sight Words and Images– In the song the “little one stops to…” So this printable contains a set of square images with the sight word of each action the Little One takes.
5 Little Monkeys Dancing Printables
5 little monkeys dancing on the bed? A classic favorite with my two toddler girls–unfortunately for their cribs. However, these printable crafts were inspired by the song. It helps them get into the music, recognize numbers, and go a little easier on the mattresses. Click here for the 5 Little Dancing Monkeys page where you can find the link for the free download. Or, click here for the Holiday Dancing Monkeys.
There are two free ready-made versions of the printable available for download. One version is for a full paper doll with moveable limbs, called Fully Moveable Monkeys. The limbs in this one are not attached but are separated so you can connect them with brads. Each printable has all 5 monkeys.
5 Little Specked Frog Printable Math Game
This 5 Little Speckled Frogs Pre-K Printable Math Game is an easy pre-k math game based on the nursery rhyme 5 Little Speckled Frogs. It introduces counting, reading numbers, and basic addition and subtraction. The 5 Little Speckled Frogs Printable Pre-K math game is easy to set up and my pre-k toddlers loved it! Basically, the 5 little speckled frogs jump off their log into a little pool of water. The printable also comes with bugs for them to eat!
These Itsy Bitsy Spider DIY Bath Toys are a fun, easy, durable toddler craft that helps us ensure that water fun doesn’t end when the squirty toys start to mold!
The simple construction of this craft makes sure that toddlers can get involved. The foam allows the spiders to stick to the walls of the tub, shower, sensory bin, or pool without any adhesive for long-lasting durability. This post has two free templates to make your own!
Printable Dance Pad
Do your little ones just love stomping their feet to their favorite jam or TV show? These printable dance pads can help your child build their own dance routine. The dance pad not only gives them 8 colorful steps, but the dance routine builder has notes for each colorful step they can put together for their own steps! The dance pads are designed to be printed out on 8.5×11″ paper so you can print them at home! Click here to get your dance pad download. Or if you’re feeling festive, click here for the Turkey Dance Pad!
Thanks for visiting! I hope you found some printables for your musical toddlers! Subscribe to our mailing list if you want updates on the next printables!
Printable Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Templates Made for Pretend Play
Do your kids love dinosaurs and nursery rhymes? With COVID-19 self-isolation, I have had to learn to live with the fact that my children will watch TV sometime. These cardboard dinosaur costume templates came from my desire to not only entertain my children but also keep them protected during this unusual time.
Stegosaurus Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Template
Difficulty: Easy
Sizes Available: One-size-fits-most
The Stegosaurus template is one-size-fits most. It can be worn by a person with a head circumference of up to 28inches. The template allows you to customize how large or small you want the dinosaur head to be by adjusting the head strap on the inside of the head.
All sales are final. Refunds are not given. Please ensure you have the right dinosaur before checking out! When you purchase the dinosaur templates the link will be sent to your promotions folder. The link will only be active for 48hours. Please download your dinosaur promptly.
When you purchase the printable cardboard dinosaur costume templates you will receive a confirmation email which contains your downloads. This will be in your promotions folder.
Parasaurus Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Template
Difficulty: Moderate
Sizes Available: One-size-fits-most
The Parasaur template is one-size-fits most. It can be worn by a person with a head circumference of up to 28inches. The template allows you to customize how large or small you want the dinosaur head to be by adjusting the gluing lines on the back of the head.
When you purchase the printable cardboard dinosaur costume templates you will receive a confirmation email which contains your downloads. This will be in your promotions folder. The link will only be active for 48hours. Please download your dinosaur promptly.
All sales are final. Refunds are not given. Please ensure you have the right dinosaur before checking out!
Triceratops Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Templates
Difficulty: Easy
This template has large pieces that are easily folded and assembled. The hardest part is cutting them out and making sure the right pieces are placed together onto the cardboard.
Sizes Available: Adult Size and Child Size
The Adult Size is designed for adults with heads above 21inches in circumference (crown measurement). It can be worn by an adult with a head circumference up to 28inches.
The Child Size is designed for toddlers and children with head sizes up to 21inches.
When you purchase the printable cardboard dinosaur costume templates you will receive a confirmation email which contains your downloads. This will be in your promotions folder. The link will only be active for 48hours. Please download your dinosaur promptly.
All sales are final. Refunds are not given. Please ensure you have the right dinosaur before checking out!
I am a big fan of finding and reading scientific studies about child health and wellbeing. And the studies always say that screen time is bad. I was worried my children’s brains would melt with any screen time. My husband is pretty convinced it’s my brain that melts every time the TV gets turned on.
Now, after months of being trapped inside, I don’t mind working in a little screen time. I cannot believe how much the toddler shows have helped the girls learn to love singing. Their language skills are exploding because they are obsessed with bursting into song…everywhere and ALL THE TIME.
Use The Costumes to Encourage the Kids to Be Active
However, I still hate having the kids sit idle in front of the TV. I first came up with the idea of these dinosaur heads to get them to interact with their favorite shows. And guess what, it worked!
My two toddler girls love to put on their dinosaur heads and run around growling at each other and singing their favorite dinosaur songs from the shows. I’m pretty sure they invented half of the songs 🙂
It turns out, them pretending to be dinosaurs is actually an important skill! Pretend play is critical for language skills, problem-solving, creativity, responsibility, brain development, and much more!
Read this post for more on pretend play and other skills.
When making these dinosaurs I realized the kids in cartoons have unusually large and round heads (duh). The first time I put one of these heads on the kids I was like, oh, well that doesn’t fit well. So, I enlisted the help of my dad, who is a mechanical engineer. He then helped me understand how to realistically shape cardboard (yes, that’s how hard I found it at first.)
Now, the project has evolved into multiple sizes and dinosaurs. These are no longer just for the toddlers, but for the entire family.
Dinosaur Heads for Birthday Party Props or Halloween Costumes
These templates build cardboard dinosaur costumes are a great addition to any party. For instance, kids can play dress-up or use them as props at a photo booth.
Need an inexpensive but durable Halloween costume? These will fit the bill!
The best part: you can ADD A FACE SHIELD into the dinosaur head or match it to your child’s face mask to protect them when they’re around all those other kids!
Does your child refuse to wear any protective face gear? Maybe if it looks like a dinosaur, they’ll be the ones asking to put it on.
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These Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Templates Include:
A printable template for 8.5″ x 11″ paper. This template has each piece you will need to construct the head of your dinosaur and fit it to the wearer’s head.
Detailed step-by-step instructions with demonstration pictures.
Construction Support – Upon purchase you will receive an email receipt from Growing Up Goddesses. You can reply at any time if you need and I will try to get back to you within 48hours.
Coming soon: a YouTube video to walk you through the instructions. If you have any questions prior to purchase, reach out to me on the Contact Us page.
Supplies You’ll Need for the Construction of Your Cardboard Dinosaur Costume Templates
You’ll want to have the following supplies before starting this project.
Scissors If you have them, cardboard scissors make this project much easier! Regular scissors work too.Cutting out the paper template is a great time to get the kids involved if they are learning or have scissor skills.
Corrugated Cardboard Packing boxes, shipping boxes, project boards…any corrugated cardboard works! I used project boards for mine. The thinner cardboard is much easier to cut and fold.
White Glue This type of glue is great for getting the paper template to stick to the cardboard, it also makes it easier to remove when you’re ready for the exciting part: decorating.
Hot glue gun and glue Hot glue sets fast and makes the dinosaur heads strong. It’s a great way to bind the cardboard together!
Ruler or Straight Edge A straight edge will make sure your folding lines are crisp.
Paint, Markers, Feathers, or Construction Paper Once you’re ready to decorate, get the kids involved. The sky is the limit! Add feathers, use vibrant acrylic paints….whatever you want! These are fully customizable costumes!
Optional Supplies
Want something that will last a little longer and be more adaptable to multiple users? You can order helmet padding to make sure the helmet stays in place and allows multiple users in the same size.
These Dinosaur Heads have room for a face shield if you want to add some protection to your costume. These have the added benefit of ensuring the dinosaur head doesn’t wiggle when you move your head back and forth. The template does include a way to build your own head strap to keep the head in place.
Decorating Tips
There are endless ways to decorate these guys. Here are a few ways to jazz your dinosaur up.
Acrylic paint on cardboard allows for vibrant colors and easy touch ups. If you have young painters in the house this stuff is perfect! You can get non-toxic acrylic paint that is easy to wash off. You also can paint over it as many times as you want and each new color will still be bright and expressive.
The template includes eyes for each of the dinosaur, but these are just suggestions. There are all kinds of expressions you can make your dinosaur have, just by changing the shape and placement of the eyes.You can also try out these large googly eyes. They’ll give your dinosaur lots of character!
Does your child have a favorite dinosaur from a cartoon? Try to make the dinosaurs look like their favorite and they’ll love it!
Feathers can easily be added to these designs. Imagine some great plumage sticking out the top of the triceratops frill or along the crest of the parasaur!
5 little monkeys jumping on the bed! I prefer these 5 Little Monkeys Printables for my girls to be acting out this song than jumping on our ridiculously elevated bed.
These printables are great birthday party favors for themed parties! Just drop one in each treat bag and guests will have something to remember your child’s party by. If you’d like custom monkeys to match the theme of your child’s party let me know so I can add that service to the options below.
There are two free ready-made versions of the printable available for download at the bottom of this page. One version is for a full paper doll with moveable limbs, called Fully Moveable Monkeys. The limbs in this one are not attached but are separated so you can connect them with brads. Each printable has all 5 monkeys.
The second 5 Little Monkeys Printables are safer for younger children who may still find small brads very edible looking. This one is labeled Non-Moving Monkeys.
These monkeys are a great way to get your child involved in their nursery rhymes or favorite show.
You can build these any way you want, but if you need any guidance, check out the step by step instructions below.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. I do my best to only recommend products I have tried and would use again for these activities.
Assembly Instructions for the Fully Moveable 5 Little Monkey Printables
Supplies
You’ll need the 5 Little Monkeys Printables. You can either print it on cardstock or print it on regular paper. I recommend cardstock as it will ensure the dolls are more resilient for playing. I prefer to print my stuff at FedEx because of the quality of the laser prints and their printers can handle the thicker paper better than my wimpy home printer.
You’ll need mini brads to connect the limbs of the monkeys.
1/16th Hole Punch (or you can use a hammer and nail if you prefer low-tech).
Arm Assembly
Cut out the monkey’s body. Keep track of the lettering on the body so you know where to place the limbs.
Using the 1/16th hole punch, punch out holes at the shoulders (A and B). Center the hole roughly a 1/8th of an inch from the edge of the paper. You need enough space to keep the brad from ripping the paper.
Find the arm that has the letter A above it and C below it. Cut it out.
Punch holes at both ends of the arm centered a 1/8th of an inch from each end.
Match the A end of the arm with the A shoulder on the body of the monkey. Layer the arm beneath the shoulder so that the monkey’s shirt is in the forefront and visible.
Line up the holes, place a brad in the hole. Make sure the brad head is on the front side while the clasp is on the blank backside. Spread the clasp loosely–enough to keep it in place but loose enough to let the arm swing. Dancing monkeys require loose feet :).
Now find the small arm piece with the letter C above it and the letter E below it. Cut it out.
Punch holes at both ends of the small arm piece with the hole centered a 1/8th of an inch from each end.
Match the C end of the larger arm piece with the C end of the smaller arm piece. Layer the large arm piece beneath the small arm piece so that the small arm piece is in the forefront.
Line up the holes, place a brad in the hole. Make sure the brad head is on the front side while the clasp is on the blank backside.
Hand Assembly
Find the hand with the letter E below it. Cut it out.
Punch a hole in the wrist area of the hand, centered between the three edges of the paper.
Match the E end of the small arm piece with the wrist on the E hand. Layer the small arm piece over the wrist so that the small arm piece is at the forefront.
Line up the holes, place a brad in the hole. Secure the clasps.
Repeat steps 2-14 using the large arm piece labeled B and D, the small arm piece labeled D and F, and the hand-labeled F.
Leg Assembly
On the monkey’s body punch a hole in the center of the leg side G.
Cut out the large leg piece with a G above it and I below it.
Punch holes at both ends of the large leg piece. Center the hole a 1/8th of an inch from each end.
Match the G on the large leg piece with the G on the leg area on the body. Layer the large leg piece under the leg area of the body so that the leg is in the forefront.
Line up the holes, place a brad in the hole. Secure the clasps.
Cut out the small leg piece with I above it and K below it.
Punch holes at both ends of the small leg piece. Center the hole a 1/8th of an inch from each end.
Match the I end of the larger leg piece with the I end of the smaller leg piece. Layer the small leg piece beneath the large leg piece so that the small leg piece is in the forefront.
Line up the holes, place a brad in the hole. Secure the clasps.
Foot Assembly
Find the foot with the letter K above it. Cut it out.
Punch a hole in the ankle area of the foot.
Match the K end of the small leg piece with the K on the ankle. Layer the small leg piece over the ankle so that the small leg piece is at the forefront.
Line up the holes, place a brad in the hole. Secure the clasps.
Repeat steps 16-28 using the large leg piece labeled H and J, the small leg piece labeled J and L, and the foot labeled L.
Using either white glue, hot glue, or tape, secure the large popsicle stick to the back of the monkey, centering it on the monkey’s body.
Construction Instructions for Non-Moveable 5 Little Monkeys Printables
Supplies
You’ll need the Non-Moveable 5 Little Monkeys Printables. You can either print it on cardstock or print it on regular paper.
Glue a jumbo popsicle stick in the center of the back of the monkey.
Tada! That’s it! Enjoy the dancing monkeys!
Coming soon! Customizable monkeys for your child’s party!
Do you want custom colors for your monkeys to match your child’s party theme? Let me know through the contact us page. Hosting a virtual party? Want to send the guests their favors? Let me know that you want this service.
COVID-19 has changed so much about parenting. It is so much harder to keep kids active without playdates and open playground equipment. Activities are restricted to whatever living space is available.
I was very anti-TV before all of this happened. The only time I was OK with screen time was when I needed to get my younger daughter to sleep. This often wasn’t possible with her 15-month-older sister demanding attention or becoming a flight risk.
But now, we are crammed into our 900sq foot house while we work on our not toddler-friendly backyard. This has forced me to become a little more flexible and creative with our time.
My husband is the girls’ favorite climbing thing. The limited space is even more difficult when my husband occasionally works from home.
I want my girls to keep learning even when I can’t be hands-on with them and when independent play just isn’t happening and I need to get some work done.
Yes, it would be great if I could give them constant attention. I would love to come up with activities for them to do independently every day, all the time. But really, it doesn’t always happen like that. Activities I find on Pinterest often take longer to set up than the actual time my kids spend doing the activities.
Nursery rhyme shows catch my kids’ short attention spans better than any other type of show. Netflix has all kinds of children’s shows that immediately hook my girls and turns them into quiet little zombies. I hate the idea of my children zoning out to a television screen.
How to change screen time from zombie time to learning time
I am determined to change this. I want to be able to clean, cook, or work without having the girls becoming screen zombies.
I want them to continue to learn and move but without the need for me to watch their every move or constantly participate.
I need them to be engaged for more than 5 minutes so I have a chance of getting things done.
And very importantly, I don’t want to have to create a mess to clean the ones we already have.
Many activities aren’t worth the effort they take to set up. Permanent toys are expensive and the girls forget about them after a couple of months. Or they get dunked in water. Torn. Just plain gross after the 5th time pretending to eat oatmeal.
Screen Time Doesn’t Have to Be Passive Time
All those nursery rhyme shows intrigue my girls. The girls still sing all the songs when they are turned off.
This gave me a plan. If they are so engaged in their screen time, why not use it to get them to do the things that are good for them? Such as exercising, learning, and eating vegetables.
I made crafts. Crafts that can be printed out as many times as we need. Cheap crafts that can be made at home. They can be ruined. They can be changed.
I also developed strategies to get the girls involved in the music and the stories.
Do you need some time to get work done? Need a break from your energetic toddlers? Below are some tips for getting your children engaged and be active with their screen time.
I’ve included some interactive PRINTABLES to engage children with their screen time at the bottom of this post. It’s no longer a passive activity but something they can learn from and exercise with.
How To Get Your Toddlers ENGAGED BUT ACTIVE at Screen Time
1. Play shows or movies that have lots of music.
The music instantly hooks many children into watching the screen. Studies have shown children develop important language skills when they sing along to their favorite songs,
Children memorize and use words faster and more easily when they sing to a beat and in repetition. Do you learn everything by seeing or hearing it once? I don’t, and I imagine not many people do.
If something is repeated, it gives a child a chance to create connections. Kids create an association if that word is repeated and they can see it. They are more able to remember how to use that word because they know what it does or what it means. If that word is repeated and they can touch it, they create an association with that touch.
For example, fire. When a child sees it they can relate the word, fire, with those flames. Next, if they hear fire again and touch it, they understand how the fire made them feel and are much more likely to remember it. Hopefully, once they’ve touched the fire they won’t be trying to taste it 🙂 But that’s the gist. Children will be much more likely to understand and remember repeated words that have been linked to each of their senses.
The great thing about reading and some screen time is it gives children a chance to put the words in the context of images which can further their retention of the words and show them how to use them. If they see how a character reacts to something associated with the repeated word, it gives them an idea of how they interact with that word.
2. Dance with them a couple of times.
I know you’re busy, but if you get involved in their TV time every once in a while, they’ll remember how much fun it was and continue the tradition when you need to be doing other things.
You can also dance for a few minutes and then encourage them to do it on their own by quietly resuming your own activity in the same room.
An important part of dancing is spatial awareness: understanding how we interact with our environment safely. Dancing helps kids develop this! As they dance they learn more about their environment and how to judge how close they are to things. When toddlers are first learning to be mobile this is hugely important!
Do your toddlers EVER sit still? I know mine don’t. So giving them an outlet such as dancing allows them to get their energy out which has been shown to improve their mood and behavior. Dancing provides all kinds of benefits for children and adults. It’s a form of exercise that provides all the benefits as other forms such as running and weightlifting. It improves cardiovascular health, balance, strength, flexibility, posture, and more!
3. Develop a dance routine– come up with moves you do every time a particular beat comes up.
If certain notes work with it, run in a circle. Throw in a couple jumping jacks during a particularly upbeat section. Lay down if there’s a mellow/sleepy part, and jump back up when the song picks up again. Slowly sway to sweet ballads. Do some squats when the beat is heavy. Whatever you like! Just put as much action into dancing as possible, the kids will love it!
When your child repeats actions while dancing, it stimulates their brain! It challenges their brain andteaches it important memory skills. The challenge comes from remembering the sequence of the routine and how to do each move. Have you ever heard of brain exercises or brain teasers? That’s what you’re providing for your children when you introduce a dance routine. How cool is that?
If you want help with a routine, use this printable Dance Pad (COMING SOON) to create it. This gives your child a tool to see the steps and remember them.
4. Play the songs after the TV is off.
Repetition, repetition, repetition.
Your child is training her mouth and brain to form words when she repeats those words over and over. She’s not just trying to drive you crazy.
Speaking is not fully developed when we are born. We have to train ourselves to be able to use specific sounds at specific times to form language. Our mouths have to form the correct muscles.
Learning all the songs by heart when the screen is off expands the number of words children are repeating to better train their mouths and brains.
5. Encourage your children to imitate the characters.
If you’re watching a show or movie with breaks in between the music, encourage your kids to pretend they’re with the characters. Run with the characters when they run, walk when they’re on a journey, bounce as if you were on a horse… stimulate their already active imagination!
This encourages your child’s pretend and imaginary play. These critical forms of play have been shown to help with social skills, language skills, independence, and confidence.
6. Use Props
Do you have a toy that looks like it could go with the show? Pull it out and watch the kids animate it. This further encourages pretend play.
Designate different interactive baskets for different shows or movies. If your toddler is anything like mine, they probably love watching the same things OVER AND OVER so having their baskets ready for each movie can help them get into character when their favorite scene comes up.
Print out the interactive printables below and play along. Depending on your kids’ age, they may need some encouragement to get the printables out. If you show them the first time, they’ll be able to figure it out on their own the next time or a few times after that.
Be sure to store the props in the same place every time so your children can find them without your help. Build that independence, woo!
Printables for Screen Time
My girls LOVE THESE PRINTABLES, and I love to see them singing, dancing, and acting out their favorite scenes even when the TV has been turned off!
My older daughter was showing signs of a minor speech delay, but now, getting involved in singing and acting out her favorite show has helped her pronunciation and word use! Not to mention she suddenly eats peas and put cans in the recycling :).
I have a screen-time basket in our living room for screen time. When we turn on their nursery rhyme shows, the girls run to the basket, pull out the interactive printables, and sing along.
Their interactive basket makes transitioning from TV Time to Play Time much easier because they still have the printables and can continue to play using their own imagination.
Not to mention, I get time to work or just sip my tea while they wear themselves out.
Printables Optimized for At-Home Printing
I made sure that all these printables and templates can be printed on 8.5″ x 11″ paper so you don’t have to go anywhere to print them–perfect for lockdown.
However, if you can get out, I do recommend your local FedEx, their laser printers make the colors and lines of these pop!
The materials for these printable craft templates are low cost and easy to make. And the best part: you can customize them to be whatever you want so the kids can participate in making them too!
Use them for everyday TV Time, or (if we ever get out of isolation) these are great favors and activities at a CoComelon themed birthday party!
Click the pictures below to go to the printable pages.
The Dinosaur Heads are a little more challenging to make. These make great Halloween and Party Costumes! They even look fabulous with matching face masks 🙂 Or if you want added protection, there’s room for face shields too.
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Hi! I’m Katie. I’m a mom with two toddlers born 14 months apart. Growing Up Goddesses is about empowering toddlers and parents with educational printables, activities, and articles.
