Encourage body awareness through playful songs, books, and movement. Perfect for building language skills, coordination, and listening while helping your toddler connect words to their own body.
Point, pat, and play: From books to dolls to real-life discovery, body awareness starts here.
About This Play Plan:
Use this as a guide to introduce your toddler to their body through fun, interactive play. This plan encourages them to move, name, and explore their body parts while building early language and comprehension skills.
How to Use This Plan:
- Gather Your Materials: Check the list below for everything you’ll need.
- Follow the 5E Tabs: Each tab provides step-by-step guidance, creative ideas, and reflection prompts to make the experience more meaningful.
- Let Your Child Lead: Observe how your child interacts with the materials and adjust based on their interests and developmental stage.
Spark your child’s curiosity:
Begin by reading a toddler-friendly book about body parts. We read “Toes, Ears, & Noes” by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Karen Katz.
As you read, gently point to the body parts on the page and then on your child, saying things like, “Here’s your nose!” or “Can you find your toes?”
Encourage hands-on exploration:
Sing and act out the song Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes together. Go slowly the first few times, pausing to point out each body part.
Encourage your toddler to try copying the motions, even if it’s just one or two parts. You can also use a doll to demonstrate.
Provide simple, age-appropriate explanations:
Use the doll or toy to name and point to each body part again.
You can say, “These are the doll’s eyes. You have eyes, too!” Then gently point to your toddler’s eyes.
Keep the language simple and clear to build recognition and vocabulary.
Expand on the activity:
Bring out Lovevery’s Copy Me Cups and give fun, action-based instructions like “Pat your tummy,” “Touch your toes,” or “Point to your nose.”
Celebrate any attempt to follow along; this builds listening skills, language comprehension, and body awareness.
Reflect on how your child responded to the play:
- Did they show interest in the book or body part names?
- Were they able to copy any of the motions from the song?
- Did they respond when you pointed out body parts on the doll or themselves?
- Could they follow one-step instructions like “Touch your nose”? (This usually happens at around 14 months)
- Were they excited, focused, or showing new attempts during the activity?
Some toddlers may prefer to watch and listen before joining in, while others might jump right into pointing, tapping, or moving. Follow their lead and enjoy each little moment of discovery together.
Materials List:
- A toddler-friendly board book pointing out basic body parts
- A doll for pointing out body parts, such as Lovevery’s Organic Cotton Baby Doll from the Thinker Play Kit
- A device to play the song Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (or sing it yourself)
- Lovevery’s Copy Me Cups from the Adventurer Play Kit or a similar toy
Tips for the Grown-Ups:
Follow the Child’s Lead:
Observe how your child interacts with the playthings. Let them guide the session by following their interests. If they show a preference for exploring textures, sounds, or colors, embrace it. Be a silent observer, ready to expand their learning with gentle, supportive language.
Create a Calm, Inviting Space:
Set up a clutter-free area that encourages focused exploration. Use natural light and simple setups to inspire curiosity. If the weather permits, take the play outside for a richer sensory experience, connecting with the natural world.
Encourage Open-Ended Play:
Embrace imaginative twists and unexpected uses for the toys. If the activity takes a surprising turn, celebrate this as a sign of growing cognitive flexibility and problem-solving.
Our Own Play Experience
This lift-the-flap book was one of the very first things I bought while I was still pregnant, and it’s become one of our daughter’s favorites. Even before she turned one, she loved lifting the flaps and exploring each page. She also enjoys listening to the song Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, though she’s still figuring out how to keep up with the quick hand movements.
When we received Lovevery’s Thinker Play Kit, she was introduced to her first human doll, and we immediately appreciated that it had brown skin, just like us. It became a way to start pointing out body parts, both on the doll and on herself.
One day, while we were on a video call with her Nana, something amazing happened. Her Nana said, “Touch your nose,” while touching her own, and to our surprise, our daughter copied her! She was just 13 months old then, and we hadn’t realized she was already picking up on gestures like that. Since then, we’ve added more parts—eyes, ears, mouth, head—and she’s picked up each one quickly. We make it part of our daily routine and slowly add new words as she’s ready.
When the Adventurer Play Kit arrived, she was instantly drawn to the Copy Me Cups. She loved clicking them together and pulling them apart, but we’ve also been using them to practice the actions. The first one she mastered was “Pat Your Tummy,” and we’re gradually introducing the rest.
We’re excited to keep using this play plan to help her grow her vocabulary, build body awareness, and keep discovering just how much she can do.
Please Note: I am a proud Lovevery subscriber and fan, and many of the play plans shared here feature Lovevery playthings. However, this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lovevery. All ideas and recommendations are my own, based on my experiences as a mom who values meaningful, play-based learning.
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