Good News! This Elmer the Elephant activity helps toddlers strengthen small hand muscles as YOU get to empty the dishwasher.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

We all know that entertaining our two-year-old isn’t easy, so you’ve come to the right place.

RELATED: This fine motor game uses our favorite supplies! See them here.

This Elmer the Elephant activity looks simple, but is packed with goodness!

For one, did you know that retelling a story is just as important as reading the story?

It’s true!

According to the Common Core for Kindergarten, children will be asked to:

• Retell familiar stories, including key details.

• Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

• Identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Master now?

No, thank you.

Expose now?

Yes, please!

Build up your preschoolers’ confidence when they have to meet these rigorous standards.

This is a fun, interactive way to begin practicing story retell with your preschooler. 

RELATED: Do you enjoy activities that align with books? Check out our entire collection of story activities here!

Before the Story Retell:

Read the story to your preschooler more than once.

Keep in mind this does not mean you have to do this back to back with the activity.

You can read the book a couple of nights at bedtime, then follow up when you need a minute to yourself the following week. The trick is that your child becomes familiar with the story.

And believe me, they will instantly be hooked. The story is whimsical and has such a solid message of inclusion. Your child (and you) will love this book.

RELATED: Do you enjoy elephant books? You will want to check out this elephant collection of books by Happily Ever Elephants.

After reading Elmer the Elephant comes the quick and easy setup.

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• Tape down your white paper roll.

• Draw a large elephant.

• Remind your child about the book, Elmer the Elephant.

• Ask your children to decorate the elephant how they would want to be decorated for the parade if they were a character in the book.

Just like our favorite toddler toy list, here we keep supplies simple too!

 

 

 

 

 

Why is this so Quick and Easy?

I am so happy you asked!

For one, cleanup is a breeze. When you are finished, find a place to hang Elmer for a couple of days, and then use the back for a free draw when you are ready to take him down.

Secondly, have you seen the way kids get so focused on stickers? This is my guarantee that you will be able to have 8-10 minutes to yourself as they peel and stick Elmer’s new decor.

RELATED: Read this post about fine motor development and how it ultimately helps pencil grip here.

When will you set up this Elmer the Elephant activity?